Leadership Next believes in the region's potential and we are encouraged by the increasing number of advantages that Detroit offers young professionals over other large urban areas. 

In Detroit, young men and women who are interested in making their community great can play a significant role in creating lasting impact. That is exactly what the members of United Way for Southeastern Michigan's Leadership Next program want to do -- create positive change in the lives of people around them, while making area neighborhoods better places to live. 

On April 12, Leadership Next members will get their hands dirty while helping to maintain the vibrancy of a west side Detroit neighborhood.  Volunteers from the group will remove grafitti, landscape a playgound and spruce up a baseball field in Stoepel Park, in partnership with the Grandmont Rosedale Redevelopment Corporation. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to noon.

The project is designed to make the neighborhood around Stoepel more visually appealing and attractive to potential homebuyers, while also providing a cleaner and safer place for area children to play.  

So far, 20 Leadership Next members have registered as volunteers for the event. The goal is to have 40 volunteers participate. Our members have never been content to sit and talk about what our region needs- and this is a demonstration of how we intend to get out into communities and work together, inclusively, to make the tri-county area stronger.  We hope that others will join us as we begin to be the change we want to see in our region. 

Bring a friend or colleague with you and help us make a difference.  You can RSVP or send questions to leadershipnext@LiveUnitedSEM.org.   

A new community initiative in a Detroit neighborhood offers professionals an opportunity to get involved in a very natural way -- using their business development skills. 

Consider this your invitation to get involved in an innovative microenterprise initiative that will help local individuals and families build brighter futures. It is called the LTU Osborn Entrepreneur and Microenterprise Project, and was launched in January 2008 by the Center for Nonprofit Management at Lawrence Technological University. A grant from the Skillman Foundation, through its Good Neighbors Initiative, made the project possible. Skillman's partners in the program include, the Knight Foundation, Comerica Bank, St. John Health and Matrix Human Services.  

The grassroots effort aims to develop and launch microenterprises and small business ventures initiated by the residents of a northeast Detroit neighborhood known as Osborn. Osborn is one of six neighborhoods -- which are home to nearly 30 percent of Detroit’s children -- targeted by the Good Neighbors Initiative. The foundation has committed $100 million over 10 years to support revitalization in these areas.

The LTU Osborn project was created in response to needs expressed by northeast Detroit residents, which included a desire to create and strengthen locally-owned and family-owned businesses in the neighborhood. The Center for Nonprofit Management made its goal for the initiative to ensure that “Osborn families have all of the resources and support necessary to make their children successful in life.”

What is Microenterprise?

Microenterprise is being defined as "an income-generating strategy that helps poor, low- to moderate-income and other disadvantaged individuals start or expand microenterprises. Specifically, microenterprise development fulfills personal, family, and community needs by creating income, building assets and contributing to local employment creation. As a proven economic development tool, microenterprise development assists these disadvantaged individuals in working their way out of poverty, fulfilling their dreams and contributing to their community.”

Jack Litzenberg of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, an expert in microenterprise development explains it this way; “In summoning people to match their talent and labor with small amounts of credit, microenterprise development meets low-income communities where they are, introducing new opportunities to create work, income and assets, and thereby affirming human worth and dignity.”

The primary goal of the LTU Osborn Project is to identify entrepreneurs in the targeted neighborhood and provide them the training and mentoring needed to start small-scale, in-home businesses such as daycare, transportation or messenger services. As the neighborhood utilizes their resources, a sustainable community network is establish and continues to grow.

Activities and Volunteer Opportunities

The LTU Osborn Project will draw upon the resources of students, faculty, volunteers, and neighborhood leaders and residents. The following is an overview of program activities, to take place at the Osborn Business Development Center (4777 E. Outer Drive Detroit, MI 48234). 

• Program Outreach – The first six months have primarily focused on publicizing the program to Osborn community residents, to organizations that can help spread the word, and individuals and organizations with the skills and available resources to train and launch the new enterprises that develop

• One-on-One Consultation – Individual meetings and discussions of preliminary business plan ideas, along with one-on-one sessions and tailored support to residents who are in various stages of business development

• Mentoring – The mentoring process has been outlined and an initial cadre of business mentors has been identified to begin work with the first group of trainees starting in April of this year

• Business Plan Competition -- A business plan competition is sponsored by Comerica Bank

• Delivery of Course Curriculum -- A 10-week schedule of courses has been prepared, and instructors are being recruited to teach the various modules of the curriculum

Volunteer Spotlight
Leadership Next member helping area kids read

Kim Clayson leads a full life. Between her law career, renovating her historic home in Detroit and trying to improve her community through Leadership Next, it’s hard to imagine Clayson has time for much else. Yet, she recently chose to take on a new role.

Clayson is one of the latest volunteers to agree to become a tutor with United Way’s Operation ABC™.  United Way aims to recruit 2,000 volunteers to work with first- and second-graders at schools across southeast Michigan. United Way believes it is important to ensure our region’s youth have the literacy skills they need to succeed because reading is the foundation for learning throughout a person’s life.

Clayson agrees.

"Learning to read is very important to a child’s future success," she said. "I believe that if you can help a child develop an interest in reading early on, they’ll be interested and open to learning throughout their entire lives."

That’s why Clayson signed on to give four-five hours a week as an Operation ABC volunteer. She recently attended the training session and is hoping to get placed in one of the pilot schools that will begin serving students this month. Otherwise, she will begin in the fall.

"Attending the training was really informative and made me even more enthusiastic to get started," said Clayson. "I was given some great ideas to help kids get excited about reading and encourage them along the way. They also presented some alarming statistics about literacy levels in this area that made me feel the urgent need for this work."

"I had great support from my parents and other adults who helped me overcome initial struggles with reading and eventually helped me enjoy it and get where I am today. I just want to be that influence in another child’s life."

United Way is still looking for Operation ABC volunteers. If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of our region’s youth, please call 2-1-1 or log on to www.uwsem.org/operationabc.

Upcoming Events

CEOs: Off the Record
Join us Thursday April 10th from 5:30 to 7 p.m. when Sandy Pierce, CEO of Charter One Bank, hosts Leadership Next members at Asian Village!

CEOs: Off the Record is an opportunity for a small group of Leadership Next members to have a candid conversation with a local CEO about the region. Space is limited- so RSVP now to reserve your space! Send questions and RSVP requests to leadershipnext@LiveUnitedSEM.org.

Spring kickoff
Join Leadership Next  as we team up with Detroit Young Professionals for a laid back spring kickoff at Centaur, April 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

We recognize the need to enjoy, appreciate and learn from our colleagues and partners in building a strong community.  That's why Leadership Next looks forward to this evening with DYP supporters. We hope you will consider coming out for some unofficial, agenda-free fun. 

Take Action Now
Town Halls designed for Leadship Givers

United Way is offering Leadership Givers an opportunity to have their voices heard while getting answers to important questions about our current and future work through a series of Town Hall meetings.

The sessions kick off May 8, when United Way for Southeastern Michigan President and CEO Michael Brennan and CFO Cathy Adcock welcome members to 1212 Griswold and field questions about the organization's plans for the community. Visitors will have an opportunity to tour our 2-1-1 call center prior to meeting with Brennan and Adcock. The event runs from 9-11:30 a.m.

Each Town Hall will offer Leadership Givers an opportunity to get to know an aspect of UWSEM a bit better while having their voice heard by a member of United Way leadership.  If you are interested in joining us for the May Town Hall simply e-mail tiffany.chaney@LiveUnitedSEM.org. 

Want to become a Leadership Giver?  Go to www.uwsem.org/leadership, or contact Tiffany Chaney at 313-226-9239 for more infomation.