important for them to have mentors,
(educational) webinars and people
to pour into them outside of school
and their parents." Considering that
the organization is led by millennials,
the founders believe that they are
potentially able to relate to the
younger demographic on a more
receptive level then older teachers
and counselors.
Positively, the three want to equip
youth with the resources that they
weren't aware of at their age. A
big lesson that the organization's
founders would like to pass on is
financial awareness, especially when
it comes to funding college. "I didn't
know what it meant to fill out a FAFSA
or what impact it was going to make
when I had to take out $80,000 worth
of loans," Alexander said. "I get it now
and I want to pass that knowledge
on and let the youth know they have
options."
Ultimately, Detroit Speaks is here to
empower the city's up and coming
generation to encourage them that
they do help to reach their goals
and dreams. The founders grew
tired of the mumbles and grumbles
and stood up to say "if not us, then
who?" and set out to make the impact
themselves. "We all share the same
sentiment of being who we wish we
had when we were younger," Hughes
remarked. "Detroit cultivated us and
it's time to pour back into the city."
Through programming and initiatives
that educate and inspire with use
of digital tools in order to reach
their participants as they are spread
across the country, Detroit Speaks
is designing what philanthropy looks
like from their own perspective and
doing it their way. | EL
LEARN MORE ABOUT DETROIT SPEAKS
AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED HERE!
17
EMPIRELIFEMAG.COM | FALL 2016