New $1.5 Million Grant Will Support Growth Plan for Education and Workforce Programs in the Detroit, MI Tri-County Region
(June 16, 2021 – New York, NY) NAF is thrilled to be the recipient of a new round of funding from Ballmer Group, which will lay the groundwork for significant expansion of opportunity for young people in the Detroit Tri-County area. Ballmer Group, which aims to improve economic mobility for families and communities, is a current donor of NAF’s. This new grant will support the planning process for one of the key components of NAF’s new strategic plan – the development of local career readiness systems that build local economies, upward mobility, and a diverse talent pipeline, with the Detroit Tri-County area being the first location in which NAF will focus its efforts. Lessons learned through this first iteration will inform the design for future geographies.
As part of its Future-Ready Communities initiative, NAF will expand its footprint by partnering with Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), School District of the City of Pontiac, Southfield Public School District, and neighboring districts, to establish additional career-focused academies in public high schools in the region. NAF will collaborate with Detroit-based Strategic Community Partners to create strategies for work-based learning and innovation in the Tri-County Area, oversee the regional career fairs, and help facilitate professional development for educators, administrators, and advisory board members.
NAF will build and expand employer partnerships and advocate for legislative support of career and technical education and work-based learning, with the goal of establishing NAFTrack Certification, as a state-recognized credential that high school students earn upon graduation.
“We are grateful for the continued support from Ballmer Group to invest in this effort to support the great work happening in the Detroit Tri-County area,” said JD Hoye, Chief Executive Officer of NAF. “NAF believes that this investment will pay dividends to the local community and the young people in the community who are primed and ready for successful futures.”
“Education coupled with opportunity is at the heart of improving economic mobility, and workforce development programs pave the way for young people to have a seamless pathway from school into a career by learning industry-specific skills for in-demand job opportunities,” said Kylee Mitchell Wells, Executive Director, Ballmer Group – Southeast Michigan. “NAF is a recognized national leader in supporting school districts and engaging local employers to ensure that high school students graduate prepared for careers, and we are excited for southeast Michigan to benefit from their programs.”
NAF initially partnered with DPSCD in 1993, opening its first academy at the Golightly Career and Technical Center in 1993. It continues to partner with the district, helping to drive funding from organizations such as Ballmer Group, into more than 20 DPSCD schools that provide career-focused educational opportunities.
“This new grant provides us an opportunity to further develop programming and further reimagine our high schools, so they are more relevant to our students’ lives and a genuine springboard to college and careers,” said Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District. “We are proud to extend our partnership with NAF and Ballmer Group and believe this will enhance our reform to increase high school enrollment, attendance, and overall student achievement.”
About NAF:
NAF is a national network of education, business, and community leaders who work together to ensure high school students are college, career, and future ready. NAF’s educational design is uniquely comprehensive in its approach to skill development, enabling students of all backgrounds to participate in a meaningful education and gives businesses the opportunity to shape America’s future workforce by transforming the learning environment to integrate STEM infused, career-relevant curricula and work-based learning experiences, including internships. During the 2020-21 school year, over 117,000 students attended 619 NAF academies across 37 states, plus DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. In 2020, NAF academies reported 99% of seniors graduated with 87% of graduates planning to go to college.
NAF opened its first academy with Detroit Public Schools Community District at Golightly Career and Technical Center in 1993 and has partnered with the district every year since to bring quality career-focused education to local high school students. DPSCD has changed significantly since 1993, experiencing tremendous challenges followed by revitalization, and NAF has been a constant throughout DPSCD’s evolution over the past 27 years.
About Ballmer Group:
Ballmer Group works to improve economic mobility for children and families in the United States who are disproportionately likely to remain in poverty. We believe that building pathways to opportunity requires broad, systemic change, and we work to mitigate the systemic and inequitable impact of race on economic mobility. We invest in many stages of a child’s life by supporting strong community partnerships among public, private, and nonprofit organizations that use data to more effectively serve families. Ballmer Group was co-founded by philanthropist and civic activist Connie Ballmer and her husband Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, founder of USAFacts, and chairman of the Los Angeles Clippers. Learn more at www.ballmergroup.org and on Twitter @BallmerGroup.