Grow Detroit’s Young Talent is a public-private partnership to make sure that Detroit young people, ages 18 – 24, are exposed to valuable work opportunities. The campaign chairs are Peter Karmanos, Jr., CEO of Compuware, Inc.; Carol Goss, CEO of the Skillman Foundation; and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing.
In 2009, with the help of federal stimulus dollars, more than 7,000 young people were able to work for at least six weeks. Without the promise of continued federal support, the Detroit community has made a commitment to continue to provide work exposure to the city’s talented youth. As the Mayor said in his 2010 State of the City address, “We must give young people reason to believe in Detroit again.”
City Connect Detroit is a 501(c)(3) that has been asked to spearhead the partnership and help raise private support for youth jobs. City Connect Detroit increases the effectiveness and sustainability of Detroit nonprofits through collaboration, technical assistance and strategic fundraising. Nearly a decade ago, area agencies and foundations were concerned that the good works of Detroit charitable organizations were going bo
th unnoticed and unsupported because of the lack of teamwork between agencies. City Connect was founded in 2001 to help build collaborations between agencies around critical issues facing Detroit, including homelessness, education reform, health and youth development. Since its inception, City Connect has raised more than $118 million in support of these important initiatives.
A key factor in the success of local nonprofits is fiscal responsibility. City Connect often acts as a grant developer and fiduciary for organizations while helping to link them with private funders for long-term viability. For example, in 2007, City Connect convened and managed a citywide collaboration on the issue of urban access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity. After two years, the collaborative was able to produce a ground-breaking, Detroit action plan for Food & Fitness and garner a multi-year implementation grant from the Kellogg Foundation.
In was in its role in leading collaborative initiatives that City Connect was asked to assist in the expansion of the Detroit Summer Youth Employment Program in 2009. After the city received $11 million in federal stimulus dollars, City Connect became the implementing agency for the 2009 summer program. Through public/private partnerships, it insured that more than 7,000 14-to-24-year-olds received valuable work experience. A University of Michigan assessment of the 2009 Detroit Summer Youth Employment Program revealed that 98 percent of the employers would participate in the program again and encourage other employers to do the same. One in four of the private employers offered their summer employees a permanent position.
Grow Detroit's Young Talent 
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