College & Career Pathways
Our College & Career Pathways work forges partnerships between K-12 schools, youth-program providers, postsecondary institutions, and employers to ensure youth are prepared for and connected to options after high school. And it’s not only the first year of college or an entry-level job that we want to ensure young Detroiters are prepared for. We want them to be able to confidently choose from and succeed in a broad range of paths to meaningful, living wage work and remain resilient lifelong learners who can navigate job changes. We want them to have a foundation of knowledge and skills required to do so, allowing them to adapt to—and lead in—an ever-changing economy.
We want Detroit youth to be the authors of their future. In order to do that, they must have pathways to choose from and the agency, readiness, and connections needed to succeed along the way.
Key Indicator
Meaningful High-School Graduation
Schools don’t operate in silos. They are part of a community-wide fabric that must be knit closely together to adequately support and prepare youth for life beyond high school. Nevertheless, the connections between K-12 institutions, higher ed, and the economy are often thin. Too many young people exit high school unsure of their options or how to pursue them. Our College & Career Pathways work forges partnerships between K-12 schools, youth-program providers, postsecondary institutions, and employers to ensure youth are prepared for and connected to options after high school.
Recent News
Recent Grants
Collaborations
Detroit College Access Network
The citywide coordinating body for the college access and enrollment strategies in Detroit
Detroit Drives Degrees
A collective impact initiative to improve the talent pipeline in the Detroit region
Grow Detroit’s Young Talent
A developmentally appropriate summer youth employment opportunity to provide young people with valuable work experiences
Learning & Evaluation Reports
College & Career Pathways Team
Ashlee Schmidt
Works across the organization to design, strengthen, and implement processes and practices to foster greater efficiency, integration, and ultimately impact of the Program & Strategy team.
Lindsey Barrett
Lindsey Barrett is a partnership manager of Ground Building with The Skillman Foundation. She leads the Foundation’s efforts to build power with Detroit youth.