Category Archives: Blog
2022 Call for Nominations: President’s Youth Council
by: Jessica Eiland Anders | Aug. 18th, 2022 The Skillman Foundation works to ensure Detroit youth have the tools and supports they need to be the designers of their destinies. We invest in their formal and informal education; in experiences that help them learn about the world and about themselves. And we help to amplify […]
Read more »Trust is transformational, and complicated
by: Angelique Power | Aug. 16th, 2022 Over the past 11 months, we’ve spoken to hundreds of people through individual and 17 group listening sessions. Each perspective shared has been transformative. We’re grateful as candid conversations like these take trust. Trust that we are listening with openness to change ourselves and our organization. Some listening […]
Read more »Detroit youth have a podcast and its awesome.
by: Natalie Fotias | Aug. 1st, 2022 Here at The Skillman Foundation, we are big fans of Authentically Detroit, a podcast hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Orlando Bailey that takes a comprehensive look at contemporary issues—such as housing, spatial racism, economic development, neighborhood planning, self-care, and community trauma—and how they impact Detroit. With a […]
Read more »2022 Skillman BMe Vanguard Fellows
by: The Skillman Foundation | Jul. 18th, 2022 Video production and graphic design by Porter Media Group, communications agency founded by Skillman BMe Vanguard alumnus Ken Porter We’re intensely proud to offer a Skillman BMe Vanguard Fellowship to a third cohort—and to have this latest cohort focus on young leaders. Ten wholehearted, hardworking Detroiters in […]
Read more »Youth artists tell us what they need to keep creating
by: Aja Allante | Jul. 11th, 2022 Photos by Matthew Cole (Instagram @_edgeportraits_) The saying goes: A picture is worth a thousand words. Picture 10 youth artists around a table. How many words are we worth? As artists, we share our experiences and perspectives through what we create. Art is our main, if not only, […]
Read more »Youth act up, youth fight back for LGBTQIA+ justice in Detroit
by: Hafiza Khalique | Jun. 30th, 2022 Photos by Ali Lapetina Since this blog was published the DPSCD school board has voted to officially recognize Pride Month. Read more here. On June 1, 2022, I walked through the halls of Cass Tech draped with 11 vibrant colors wrapped around my body. Throughout the day, I […]
Read more »Education leaders say change is on the horizon
by: The Skillman Foundation | Jun. 29th, 2022 Detroit is home to nearly 120,000 school-aged kids. Its school landscape consists of close to 200 K-12 schools across Detroit Public Schools Community District, charters, and private schools. Additionally, the city’s education system includes early childhood education providers, afterschool and summer programs, educational authorities, teacher recruitment and […]
Read more »Family service agencies create a net for neighbors in need
by: The Skillman Foundation | Jun. 29th, 2022 Five leaders of local family service agencies joined us in conversation to share what stands in their way to reaching more community members in need, and what funders can do to help. On the call was Brad Coulter of Matrix Human Services, Deborah Matthews of the Children’s […]
Read more »Work with Gen Z to change the world
by: Jeremiah Steen, Logan Newman, and Mohammad Muntakim | Jun. 6th, 2022 This op-ed was originally published in The Detroit News. What will the future look like? As young people headed into adulthood, it’s a question we answer through plans and action. And we answer it not just for ourselves but for our collective future. […]
Read more »The Vision Of Youth: Engaging Gen Z In Future Building
by: Detroit Regional Chamber | Jun. 2nd, 2022 This blog was originally published by the Detroit Regional Chamber. View the original post. Key Takeaways: Of all current generations, Gen Z’ers are predicted to hold the most economic power, reaching $33 trillion by 2030, accounting for more than a quarter of global GDP. Gen Z is […]
Read more »Work held in good hands
by: BreAnna Lockhart | Jun. 1st, 2022 We cannot ignore the impact that violence has on our Detroit communities. It affects many aspects of our lives—from metal detectors and security guards in public places (including schools) to the comfort one has walking the streets. But we also cannot ignore the people working diligently to ensure […]
Read more »What Detroit youth want for wellness
by: Lindsey Barrett | May. 26th, 2022 Last month, The Skillman Foundation launched its first-ever Youth-Led Wellness Grant opportunity, giving young people the chance to apply for funding to support their own programs to support wellness with their peers. Before we opened the application (which you can find here), we asked young people to share […]
Read more »The indelible mark of afterschool
by: Terry Whitfield | May. 26th, 2022 Growing up in Detroit, I had many opportunities to engage in a variety of activities. Whether it was the Cub Scouts, tap dance, drum lessons, or sports, my childhood was filled with awesome experiences. These opportunities taught me the importance of time management, emersed me in a myriad […]
Read more »Youth Council take the stage at 2022 Mackinac Policy Conference
by: The Skillman Foundation | May. 17th, 2022 On Wednesday, June 1, Foundation President & CEO Angelique Power moderated a conversation at the 2022 Mackinac Policy Conference with three members of The Skillman Foundation’s Youth Council: Jeremiah Steen, Mohammad Muntakim, and Logan Newman. The session was entitled, “The Vision of Youth: Engaging Gen Z in […]
Read more »Learning Detroit
by: Angelique Power | May. 12th, 2022 How do you learn a city? We often study other places using Google or as a tourist, hitting the spots labeled as well-known destinations. There are reports and diagrams published, books written, movies created, and songs sung. For me, you learn a city through the people. I am […]
Read more »A love letter to community organizers
by: Punita Dani Thurman | May. 5th, 2022 When I first joined The Skillman Foundation in 2014, I knew little about community organizers. I had spent years amassing credentials and experiencing how education reform was happening inside school districts across America. But there was a lot I didn’t know. I entered the Foundation during its […]
Read more »We’re ready to be recruited—but not by gangs and drug dealers
by: Cornelius Mitchell, Jr. | Apr. 29th, 2022 On April 7, I had the privilege and honor of co-facilitating a Listening Tour session with the president & CEO of The Skillman Foundation, Angelique Power. This meeting was attended by youth living in Detroit. We were able to speak on things that impacted our lives as […]
Read more »Announcing youth-led wellness grant opportunities
by: Lindsey Barrett | Apr. 26th, 2022 At The Skillman Foundation, Detroit youth are our bosses. We rely on them to help steer our organization and its work. When they say we should do something, we listen and take their directives to heart. Over the last two years, the topic of wellness has been on […]
Read more »Announcing youth-led wellness grant opportunities
by: Lindsey Barrett | Apr. 26th, 2022 At The Skillman Foundation, Detroit youth are our bosses. We rely on them to help steer our organization and its work. When they say we should do something, we listen and take their directives to heart. Over the last two years, the topic of wellness has been on […]
Read more »La voz de la juventud (the voice of youth)
by: Esther Guerrero | Apr. 19th, 2022 Meeting with young Hispanic and Latino/a/x leaders all connected to southwest Detroit was an enlightening experience. In a group of varying age groups and levels of experience, we all still found common ground when it came to discussing our passion and dedication that all stems back to building […]
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