Our Programs

L!FE’s programs empower youth ages 14-24 with the training, skills and real work experience in their community today, to position them to be leaders in their community tomorrow.

 

L!FE = LEADERSHIP! Fueled By Entrepreneur-ISM

 
L!fe Leaders Youth Program

Entrepreneur-ISM: WHAT IS IT ANYWAY??

 

L!FE programs help students Find Their Voice, guide them as they establish goals, and teach them the skills and knowledge they need to achieve them! We do all of this through what we call Entrepreneur-ISM: utilizing the concepts and skills essential to being an entrepreneur, to build YOU and your FUTURE!

Detroit Youth Program L!fe Leaders

Excellence Corps

Excellence Corps builds leadership skills to achieve academically, professionally, & civically through immersive, experiential learning, with Detroit as our classroom. Utilizing experience-based learning while working in Detroit’s communities, Excellence Corps trains participants in public speaking, networking, design thinking & creating strategic plans of action grounded in the history & goals of their community. Culminating in a presentation to members of the community and political & community leaders that is clear & compelling, participants attain the leadership skills to participate actively in the growth of Detroit, understand their own vision for the future of Detroit & how to be actively involved in making these visions a reality.

Beginning with a training intensive, Excellence Corps helps develop future community leaders by providing experiential workshops, classes, fields trips and working in the community to build interpersonal and professional skills as they network into their city’s growth. Learning includes: the community’s history, neighborhoods, businesses and social initiatives; active citizenry (meeting with community, business, city leaders); fundamental business skills (marketing, branding, finance, business acumen); the role of the media; conflict resolution; public speaking skills (storytelling, audience engagement, improvisation and presentations), personal leadership, building & working within a team, and more. Following the training intensive, students continue to build their skills as they put what they’ve learned into action by working in the community. Each program culminates in a Town Hall Presentation, where students present what they’ve discovered and their intended goals moving forward to family, friends, and members of the community.

Click here for highlights from inaugural Town Hall Presentation at Cass Technical High School in 2018 (you’ll need to scroll through our videos - Thanks!).

The Big 10 Skill Set

We have found that one of the key components for youth to succeed in pursuing their goals is accessing their Confidence. That skill can be supported by developing these other key competencies

 
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Verbal & Non Verbal Communication

  • Networking

  • Writing Composition

  • Online Research

  • Social Media Outreach & Event Marketing

  • Training in creating and formatting Resumes, Cover Letters & College Application Essays

Professional Etiquette

  • Professional rapport with Employers and Fellow Employees

  • Email & Phone Etiquette

  • Thank You Letters & Follow Up Training

Collaboration & Teamwork

  • Conflict/Resolution Training

  • Active Listening Skills

  • Appreciation for Diverse Backgrounds & Perspectives

  • The Confidence to ask for Help when needed

  • College Application Essays

 

Leadership

  • Delegation & team-building training

  • Conflict/Resolution Training

  • Improv Training for decisive and inclusive leadership

  • Integrity and Group Communication Training

Public Presentation

  • Audience Engagement Coaching

  • Vocal Articulation & Volume Training

  • Physical Presence & Presentation Style Training

Financial Literacy

  • Budgeting

  • Prioritizing & Saving

  • Recognizing Credit/Debt Cycle Traps

  • Understanding Credit

 

Remote Work Skills

  • Video Conferencing use and Etiquette Training in Google Suite, Zoom, Slack & Meets

  • Professional Correspondence

Community Engagement

  • Researching Local Community Issues To Make Informed Decisions

  • Networking with Community Leadership to Effect Change

  • Organizing and executing Social Empowerment Strategies to spread information to the Community

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

  • Solution-based problem-solving skills

  • Inductive & Deductive Reasoning

  • Brainstorming

  • Strategic Planning & Goal Setting

L!FE Afterschool Clubs

L!FE Clubs are launched by inaugural graduates of L!FE programs as a way for students to continue to build their projects (or start new ones), support one another during the process, host guest speakers and round table discussions, participate in field trips, present Idea Slams, and more. L!FE Clubs are a safe place to work on projects within an open network of communication and support.

L!FE Clubs are open to all students who want to participate, and are led by L!FE program graduates. Student leaders create their L!FE Club mission statement, projected goals, programming and events.

L!FE Clubs meet weekly at a regularly scheduled time with L!FE instructors for continued support and direction.  Ideally, there is a designated space where L!FE Club members can study, work on projects, do research and congregate. 

What L!FE Alumni Are Saying

 “L!FE will always be another home for me, and I am incredibly excited to see you find the same solace in it!”

– Angelica Williams, L!FE Leaders Alum

“It’s just something I can’t see myself not doing or letting go based off the people I’ve met and the opportunities they gave me. ”

— Alayza Hugghis, L!FE Leaders Alum

Get in touch to learn about upcoming programs.

Are you a student and interested in becoming part of one of our programs? Are you a parent considering enriching activities for your child? Are you an educator looking to expand your students’ opportunities in the city?

Contact us to learn more about our mission, curriculum and opportunities!