The DTE Energy Foundation believes in energizing and uplifting our communities – including investing in Detroit’s youth – and remains committed to a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment. Within the vibrant city of Detroit, there are multiple programs providing job readiness training, educational development and exposure opportunities to various career paths.
“At the DTE Foundation, we know a strong workforce is key to our state’s future. By creating meaningful paths to employment and developing skills to fill in-demand positions, we are helping set communities and the state up for future successes,” said Rodney Cole, vice president of the DTE Foundation.
These programs boost the possibility of equitable access to educational and employment opportunities for youth and adults, including the differently-abled, veterans and returning citizens.
“Junior Achievement recognizes the financial literacy challenges generations of Detroit youth face due to lack of exposure. We understand business operators – regardless of the type of work or business location – are seeking employees who can think locally and globally with an entrepreneurship mindset,” said Jason D. Lee, Junior Achievement president. “DTE Energy Foundation’s grant helped us provide more than 2,000 scholars with tools to help them build life skills related to financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career success”.
The Foundation is furthering its commitment to delivering greater accessibility to workforce development and career pathways by removing barriers through grant funding in support of the following organizations and their respective programs:
- Greening of Detroit – $30,000 grant will be used to provide underserved Detroit teens with meaningful summer employment through their Green Corps program.
- Junior Achievement of Southeast Michigan. – $25,000 grant will deliver supplemental youth development programming.
- Midnight Golf Program – $20,000 grant to provide high school students with life skills training, proactive college coaching and mentorship to remove barriers to post-secondary success.
- National Black MBA Association, Inc. – $10,000 grant will focus on facilitating a high school mentorship program.
- Npower – $10,000 grant will provide tech skills training, professional development, social support, job placement, and post-program career support.
- SER Metro-Detroit Jobs for Progress, Inc. – $20,000 grant will focus on the construction trades and information technology credentialing for individuals ages 16-24.
“Our Green Corps program is important to the youth in Detroit as several students had the opportunity to earn their own wages for the first time. It’s not just a work experience for our youth – it’s a way to introduce them to natural resource related fields and careers,” said Lionel Bradford, Greening of Detroit president. “One of the main goals of The Greening of Detroit is to cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards – Green Corps allows this goal to be achievable. Without DTE Foundation support, this wouldn’t have been possible. We are extremely grateful.”