Davison Index

Michigan College Access Network awards $10,000 grant to Youth Solutions and its Jobs for Michigan Graduates program


LANSING — In celebration of its 10th year, Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) awarded a $10,000 grant to Youth Solutions/Jobs for Michigan Graduates in support of college access and postsecondary attainment.

This grant is one of 10 grants MCAN is awarding in a 10-day period in connection with its 10th year as part of its “10-10-10 Birthday Tour.” MCAN has helped Michigan’s postsecondary attainment rate increase for the 10th consecutive year, from 35.6 to 45.5 percent.

Leaders of Youth Solutions/ Jobs for Michigan Graduates were surprised by an orchestrated visit from members of the MCAN team to present the “larger-than-life” $10,000 ceremonial check.

The mission of Youth Solutions is to equip young people with the skills to overcome barriers and succeed in education, employment, and in life. They envision a world where every young person is educated, employed, and career-bound. Their Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates program includes valuable dropout prevention, dropout recovery, and school to career resources.

“Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates is doing incredible work with youth across the state to ensure they have a future that includes education and employment. I’ve been impressed with their focus on postsecondary attainment and their innovative program model,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, Executive Director of MCAN. “They certainly deserve the acknowledgement and support we are giving them through our birthday celebration.” — G.G.