Northwest Wayne News

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on Feb. 5 officially opened the application period for Grow Detroit's Young Talent 2022. 

The city of Detroit’s summer work experience program for the youth of Detroit officially kicked off today as Mayor Mike Duggan was joined by employers, philanthropic organizations, and youth to officially launch the application period for Grow Detroit’s Young Talent 2022 (GDYT). The application portal opened today at www.GDYT.org and will remain open until May 20, 2022, according to a press release from the city of Detroit.

“In 2021 we provided our 50,000th summer work experience through Grow Detroit’s Young Talent,” Duggan said, according to the release. “That is a simply remarkable achievement, particularly given the fact that over the last two years we have had to operate with the safety of participants during COVID at the forefront of our minds. Detroit is one of very few cities nationally that has been able to do this during the pandemic, and I want to particularly recognize our partners for their commitment to providing opportunities for the city’s future leaders under such challenging circumstances.”

According to the release, 8,048 Detroit youth were employed through GDYT during the 2021 program, the seventh year in a row exceeding the program’s target of 8,000. To maintain social distancing protocols, GDYT made more than 6,000 of the 2021 summer opportunities virtual and the program will provide similar accommodations in 2022.

"The youth of today are our leaders of tomorrow, and we are committed to providing meaningful enrichment experiences through our tremendous partnership with GDYT," Rocket Community Fund's Director of Education and Employment Jayme Powell said, according to the release. "We are proud to continue our support of GDYT so that young Detroiters have equitable access to educational and economic opportunities that empower them to work toward their bright futures." 

The Rocket Community Fund, the philanthropic partner of Rocket Companies, supports inclusive, thriving and resilient communities by making data-driven investments in housing, employment and public life, according to the release.