Grow Detroit’s Young Talent: From Virtual Learning To Real-world Impact
Virtual learning has evolved from a temporary solution into a powerful, often preferred way for young people to explore careers, build skills, and connect with employers. In Michigan and across the country, cities, employers, and community-based organizations are investing in innovative youth employment programs that combine paid work experience with meaningful career exposure.
Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (GDYT) is one such initiative—one that continues to demonstrate how thoughtfully designed virtual and hybrid programming can open doors for youth while building a strong talent pipeline for employers. EDSI has been proud to partner with the City of Detroit on this impactful work, supporting youth as they explore in-demand industries and prepare for their next steps.
A Citywide Investment in Youth Talent
Launched in 2015 by the City of Detroit and the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC), GDYT was created to provide Detroit youth ages 14–24 with paid summer employment opportunities that emphasize career exploration and skill development. Participants engage in occupational training aligned with high-priority industries across the city, including healthcare, information technology, construction, and customer service.
Since its launch, GDYT has helped thousands of Detroit youth gain early work experience—an important advantage, as studies show that youth who participate in paid work-based learning are significantly more likely to be employed and enrolled in postsecondary education later on.
The six-week program employs youth for 20 hours per week and blends live, facilitated instruction with independent and team-based project work. Each participant completes a capstone project tied to their chosen career pathway, allowing them to demonstrate both technical and employability skills.
EDSI’s Role as a Training Partner
EDSI was invited to partner with the City of Detroit after being recognized as a trusted provider of training solutions across multiple industries. Through this partnership, EDSI supports GDYT by developing and delivering online curriculum and managing the digital learning environment that powers the program. (To learn more about how the GDYT program started, read this previously published blog.)
Akilah Paramore, EDSI Learning Solutions Manager, has played a pivotal role in the program’s growth and success. After starting as an instructor, she now serves as Project Manager, overseeing instructors, coordinating with city partners, and ensuring youth receive a high-quality, well-supported learning experience.
Learning That Mirrors the Workplace
GDYT’s curriculum is designed to feel less like school and more like work. Youth participate in live sessions that focus on career pathways, technical foundations, and employability skills, using interactive tools such as polls, breakout rooms, and group discussions. Outside of live instruction, participants complete self-paced, project-based assignments that mimic real-world tasks.
Through EDSI’s digital learning platform, Keywe, youth collaborate with peers, engage with instructors, and track their progress through gamified elements and digital badges. This approach aligns with research showing that project-based learning can improve student engagement and skill retention by more than 20%.
Each cohort also benefits from guest speakers and career panels featuring local employers, helping participants connect classroom learning to real jobs and industries. The program culminates in a capstone presentation showcasing completed projects, certificates, resumes, and future goals.
Expanding Opportunities Through Employer Partnerships
A notable enhancement to GDYT has been the introduction of employer-sponsored projects. Local employers—including Carhartt, DTE, Verizon, Ford Motor Company, and Henry Ford Health System—partnered with the program to give youth firsthand exposure to business challenges.
Using a digital collaboration platform, youth teams worked through real industry problems and presented their solutions, building critical skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Employers increasingly value these skills, with workforce surveys consistently ranking them among the top competencies sought in entry-level candidates.
Measuring Growth and Impact
GDYT continues to expand its reach. Participation grew significantly between 2020 and 2022, with approximately 140 youth enrolled in the 2022 summer program—up from 80–100 in prior years. EDSI was contracted to serve 40 youth in each industry cohort and 20 in construction, reflecting both program growth and confidence from the City of Detroit in the partnership.
Check out this published article in the Michigan Chronicle featuring DTE’s involvement with youth at Cody High School during one of the GDYT summer programs.
Curriculum Highlight
Our live facilitated sessions focus on a combination of career pathways, technical content introduction, and contextualized employability skills and use interactive features such as polling, chat rooms, videos, breakout rooms, and discussion opportunities in both large and small group settings. The self-paced project work combines some additional learning content as well as application-based activities. For example, in the Information Technology cohort, youth learn coding, create a game, design infographics, and develop their own website.
Guest speakers and career panel discussions happen throughout the 6 weeks, connecting youth to local employers. The program concludes with a capstone project and presentation highlighting program work projects, certificates, what they learned, resumes, skills, goals, and next steps.
Youth Voices and Lasting Connections
Youth feedback consistently highlights the accessibility of instructors, the flexibility of the virtual platform, and the value of employer engagement. Many participants stay connected long after the program ends—reaching out for resume reviews, interview preparation, and career advice.
What are the youth saying about their experience in GDYT?
The youth complete a survey after finishing the program where they offer their feedback, including what they loved and offering any improvement ideas. Overall, the youth give the program high praise for the virtual platform, instructor accessibility and guest speakers.
A Model Other Cities Can Learn From
Programs like GDYT demonstrate how cities can combine paid employment, industry partnerships, and virtual learning to prepare youth for long-term success. By aligning training with regional workforce needs and engaging employers early, cities can create sustainable pipelines that benefit both young people and local economies.
With youth unemployment often exceeding overall unemployment rates nationwide, programs that offer early exposure to work and career pathways are more critical than ever. GDYT shows what’s possible when public-private partnerships invest intentionally in the next generation.
Coming Summer 2026: Another cohort of Grow Detroit’s Young Talent!
Let’s build the next generation of talent—together.
EDSI works alongside workforce boards, municipalities, funders, and community partners to create scalable, industry-aligned youth programs that deliver measurable impact. Reach out to learn how our training solutions and digital learning platforms can support your goals.