Category Archives: Blog
President’s Youth Council: Youth Leadership Grant Application
by: The Skillman Foundation | Jul. 18th, 2024 The insights of Detroit youth guide The Skillman Foundation’s priorities and strategies. While we solicit youth input and insights in many ways, our President’s Youth Council is a formal structure to do so. Our youth council serves as advisers and grantmakers. Each year, they have the opportunity […]
Read more »Upgrade Public Education from PreK to 14 for all of Michigan’s Children
by: Angelique Power | Jun. 18th, 2024 This opinion piece was originally published by the Detroit Free Press. Recently, I met a sixteen-year-old junior named Layla. She was a combination of slightly shy and remarkably self-possessed. She talked about how college had always been a dream and a source of worry due to the high […]
Read more »President’s Letter: The Skillman Visionary Awards
by: Angelique Power | May. 15th, 2024 Today, we launch the Skillman Visionary Awards, recognizing 10 education changemakers with a $50,000 individual award and celebrating the future they’re building for students of today and tomorrow. Who is a Skillman Visionary?At The Skillman Foundation, we say there is the job and then there is the work. […]
Read more »Launching the Skillman Visionary Awards
by: The Skillman Foundation | May. 15th, 2024 Today, The Skillman Foundation launches the Skillman Visionary Awards program to recognize Detroit education changemakers. This award program underscores the Foundation’s commitment to recognizing and supporting visionary leaders who are transforming the education system to better prepare students to navigate and shape the future. Through the Skillman […]
Read more »Understanding Gen Z’s Political Sway
by: The Skillman Foundation | May. 13th, 2024 This panel discussion took place at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Wednesday, May 29 at 10:30 a.m. Gen Z adults account for about one in six Americans eligible to vote, and they’re turning up at the polls more than any other youth cohort in history. This panel […]
Read more »What is systems change?
by: Laila Bell | May. 3rd, 2024 How can foundations effectively contribute to changing complex systems, like Detroit’s education system? The team at The Skillman Foundation is on a journey to deepen our understanding of how we can best leverage our organization’s resources to improve education in Detroit. The following blog shares practical insights from […]
Read more »Learning from Detroiters through community design workshops
by: Laila Bell & Tyler Parlor | May. 2nd, 2024 The Skillman Foundation has been deeply engaged in listening, learning, and co-designing with Detroiters. We’ve heard young people paint bold visions for their future, teachers share the joys and heartache of the profession, grassroots leaders reflect on how philanthropy has both helped and harmed change […]
Read more »Detroit Education Narrative Collective
by: Natalie Fotias | Apr. 29th, 2024 The Skillman Foundation and 482Forward are teaming up to form a Detroit Education Narrative Collective. This is a collection of storytellers who want to use their craft to defend and improve K-12 education, and who care deeply about Detroit youth. The DEN Collective will meet monthly from September […]
Read more »President’s Youth Council speak on mayor’s State of City Address
by: Tyler Parlor | Apr. 26th, 2024 We support Detroit youth in understanding and exercising their power to create change in education systems and policies. On the approach of Detroit’s State of the City (SOTC) address we invited two of our President’s Youth Council members to get in on the conversation. We asked them to […]
Read more »Job opening & staff updates
by: The Skillman Foundation | Apr. 17th, 2024 The Skillman Foundation is activating new, community-informed strategies, partnering with people to transform the education system. To support our efforts, we’re welcoming new team members. We’re seeking a Vice President of Program. This role will lead the Foundation’s grantmaking strategies and team. Reporting to the president & […]
Read more »Our journey toward racially equitable grantmaking
by: Jessica Brown | Apr. 5th, 2024 What does it mean to be an equitable grantmaker? And a racially equitable grantmaker? We’re figuring it out day by day, learning from others and trying out our own new ideas and approaches. Our latest learning exchange was at the PEAK Grantmaking conference, which I had the pleasure […]
Read more »There is a Direct Line Between Quality Public Education and Quality of Life
by: Angelique Power | Mar. 25th, 2024 This piece was originally published with the Detroit Regional Chamber. If fewer than 20% of Detroiters believe children have access to high-quality public schools, as the Detroit Resident Voices Survey Report suggests, the first question is: how does one define a quality school? We have asked Detroiters of all ages. The […]
Read more »Storytelling Across Capitol Hill
by: Tyler Parlor | Mar. 15th, 2024 Throughout my experience with the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF) and Michigan philanthropy my strong belief in the power of storytelling and narrative has been reinforced time and again. I recently attended Foundations on the Hill (FOTH) with a cohort of over 30 representatives from Michigan foundations. This experience […]
Read more »Representation matters in our schools
by: Carmen Kennedy-Rogers | Mar. 14th, 2024 Representation matters in our schools at every level, from who leads a classroom all the way out to who sets an education policy. Together, students, parents, caregivers, educators, and community members know what’s needed to boost educational outcomes and nurture whole child development, caring for the brains and […]
Read more »Sharing our offices with the McGregor Fund
by: The Skillman Foundation | Feb. 27th, 2024 The McGregor Fund has moved from its longtime location in downtown Detroit to offices within The Skillman Foundation suite at the Talon Centre on the Detroit River. The McGregor Fund’s staff of six will occupy a suite of offices and share meeting and convening spaces that we […]
Read more »A Change Is Gonna Come
by: Angelique Power | Feb. 15th, 2024 It’s going to be a monumental year—in the world, in Michigan, in Detroit, and inside of The Skillman Foundation. Another election year is here and all eyes are on Michigan. Campaigns have launched to determine a new President of the United States and will kick off in a […]
Read more »Let’s Talk: Education Equity from Advocacy to Implementation
by: The Skillman Foundation | Feb. 12th, 2024 Over the past few years, the State of Michigan has dramatically increased its investment to support out-of-school-time learning. There is greater bi-partisan recognition that an exceptional and equitable education system requires investment in learning opportunities after school and over the summer. Budgeting the dollars is only part […]
Read more »How One Teen is Changing the Youth Justice System From the Inside
by: Tyler Parlor | Feb. 9th, 2024 Photo of Cayden Brown courtesy of Kim Brown Photography. Videos and family photo taken by Tyler Parlor. Youth today have complicated, demanding schedules. With so many things for them to juggle, it’s hard to imagine how 17-year-old Cayden Brown also manages his obligations as a Juvenile Defense Attorney […]
Read more »Shifting our strategy to support Detroit’s afterschool system
by: The Skillman Foundation | Feb. 7th, 2024 The Skillman Foundation shares the evidence-informed and equity-centered process we developed for a grantmaking transition as well as key lessons learned. What we did and what we learned The Skillman Foundation team spent 2023 carefully transitioning one changemaking strategy while forming a new one. This is the […]
Read more »Remembering Leonard Smith
by: The Skillman Foundation | Feb. 1st, 2024 Change makers are among us everywhere, the majority of them working behind the scenes. They are lawyers and accountants, administrators and assistants, evaluators and creatives. Many hands are needed to achieve massive change. On January 21, 2024, we lost a tremendous set of hands that helped communities […]
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