We've grown from serving about 5, 600 youth in the first year to now over 8, 000 every year. And this year was a record. We served 8, 527 students this year, which was outstanding. We have 8, 000 participants in Go Detroit Young Talent. Those 8, 000 participants are placed within employer worksites, industries that are high growth, high demand, information technology, construction, manufacturing, mom and pop businesses, large manufacturing organizations.

So, there's an array of jobs available. But I know how popular this program is, because we flipped the website on late last night just to make sure it was working so we could announce it today. 125 people went out last night and registered before we were even open. This is how much GDYT is a part of the lives of our young people.

It's something I'm very, very proud of. It's a great opportunity for young people just to be able to find an avenue. I think it's a great opportunity for young adults to like find more opportunity, work together and build the, build their futures really. So yeah, I think this is great. Young adults can expect just an exciting summer.

You know, we provide DDOT transportation free of charge 'cause we are partnering together to just create a meaningful summer work experience for our young adults and our employers. Over the years we've also doubled the income that we put into the hands of youth and their families. I found GDYT because I wanted to earn some money and at least get some experience for my resume.

I think it's about four years that I've done GDYT. A construction program, a entrepreneurship program. And I've been with Life On Purpose for those two years. In this particular program, we're learning how to design applications. And in terms of skills moving forward, like not even in app development, it helps you out at how to interact with people.

It just gave me so many great experiences, whether it's working or mentorship. You know, the financial support. Without it, I don't know really where I would be at. The overwhelming majority of youth, when surveyed, say that they are more likely to finish high school and also to pursue post graduate education.

You can go to school, but finding opportunities and getting experience isn't necessarily easy all the time. And then I got the certificate in UX UI Design through Coursera. So that was something else I could add to my resume. A youth may become a CNA. They may have their certification in IT. They may have their certification in Google.

That stackable credential gives them another foot in the door for career choices. Apply. GDYT is a great program. You're going to get paid. You're going to bring great skills, great career development, great personal development, and the professionalism, the customer service skills. Different things you can put in your resume that other students wouldn't have because they don't have the experience that the city of Detroit gives their students.

Uh, so now it takes about 13 million dollars to run the program. Significantly increased in scale the number of students who were able to support and significantly increased the number of opportunities. I think that employers really see the benefit. We have lots of repeat employers because they're offering our youth opportunities like permanent opportunities at the end of the summer experience.

I think coordinating a city wide approach was very, very helpful. We've really become, you know, a best practice across the nation. And it takes community partnership, philanthropic partners, the community, marketing, everything that is needed to be successful. Youth are our future. I mean, that, that's really the, the core of it.

And especially now our youth are desperately in need of more opportunities and difference. opportunities. I think it's really important to invest in our young people and make sure that they have a quality experience and they're able to be productive adults, right? We need workers. We need productive workers.

We need kids who understand social skills and this, that's what this program does.