May 27, 2026
Detroit Future City’s “Career-Connected Learning: Investing in Detroit’s Future Talent” report, funded by The Skillman Foundation, examines how Detroit’s education, youth development, and workforce systems can better prepare young people for long-term career success and economic mobility. Drawing from youth surveys, labor market data, focus groups, and conversations with educators, employers, and community leaders, the research highlights the growing need for earlier career exposure, mentorship opportunities, and more hands-on learning experiences that connect students to real-world career pathways.
In a new Crain’s Detroit Business op-ed, Detroit Future City CEO Anika Goss and Skillman Foundation President and CEO Angelique Power build on the report’s findings by exploring what Detroit’s future growth means for the city’s young people. The piece argues that Detroit’s long-term success will depend not only on economic development and business investment, but on whether young residents can see themselves reflected in the future the city is building — and whether systems across education, workforce development, and industry can work together to create clearer pathways to opportunity.
