In an effort to provide employment opportunities to the youth of Detroit, Mayor Mike Duggan, alongside City Council members and community partners, has announced the 11th edition of the summer work program, 'Grow Detroit’s Young Talent' (GDYT). The program aims to place over 8,000 young Detroiters, aged 14-24, in various summer jobs, marking a decade since its inception with a consistent offering of opportunities for the city's youth. "Detroit always has had an abundance of talented young people. Before GDYT, what they had lacked was the opportunity to use those talents," Mayor Duggan was quoted in the official announcement.
The program, which began in 2015 with Mayor Duggan at the helm, has progressively expanded from 5,594 participants to consistently provide summer job experiences to over 8,000 youth annually. According to the City of Detroit, GDYT has afforded more than 87,000 summer employment slots overall, with many participants finding their pathway into career positions or higher education.
Highlighting the impact of GDYT, Matthew Jackson, a former participant and a Morehouse College graduate now studying for a postgraduate degree in data science at the University of Michigan, detailed his journey saying, “In the ‘Journi’ program through GDYT, I was able to get additional experience in tech that I might never have had otherwise." Jackson added in a statement to the City of Detroit that the GDYT program played an instrumental role in paving his path toward a promising career in technology.
This year, Detroit City Council remained committed to the initiative, with Council President Mary Sheffield supporting GDYT as a "strategic investment in the future of Detroit’s youth." Funding for GDYT has successfully reached over $12 million for 2025, with contributions mainly from long-term partners and employers, as stated by GDYT Program Operations Director, Misty Evans. "Grow Detroit’s Young Talent is a shining example of what it means to invest in the next generation," Council Member for District 7, Fred Durhal affirmed, as noted in a city release.
Participants will be placed at more than 450 work sites, averaging 20 hours per week over a six-week period. The 2025 program is scheduled to conclude in mid-August. Additional information about GDYT, including the types of opportunities available and the program’s stated goals, is provided in the City of Detroit’s official announcement.
