The Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) recently announced the start of its second Industry Club. The second of three industry clubs due to launch this year, the immersive program will offer Detroit youth an entrepreneur fellowship in Data Science and Risk Management.
BGCSM has employed a five-year strategy to bump up the workforce and entrepreneurship development efforts across the city; the success of the Fashion Industry Club laid the foundation for each of the clubs set to unroll programs this year under the Club’s Reimagine efforts. The Reimagine initiative is the BGCSM’s multi-year effort to revamp the organization’s Club experience and offer youth assistance to navigate today’s hurdles.
This Industry Club comes as the result of a collaboration with anchor industry partner Amerisure. The Industry Club will work to employ children ages 14 to 18 from May until August. Empowering kids to learn about different career paths that include data science, business analytics, social media analytics, insurance and risk management, but through an entrepreneurial lens, The Industry Club also works to give children the chance to earn money throughout the summer and learn financial responsibility.
“This Industry Club is the backbone of our economy as it represents the convergence of business and financial acumen, combined with the opportunity to make a real impact. We look forward to surrounding our youth with the finest industry professionals, educational resources and hand’s-on mentoring enabling our next generation to be career, start-up and homeowner ready” says Jennifer DeMello-Johnson, BGCSM board chair and vice president of Agency Services at Amerisure. “We welcome our club members and all eligible youth within our community to discover one of the best kept secrets in finding a job.”
To help fund the quest, community organizations banded together with partners and the community to ensure the success of the program. With the help and donations of organizations like Detroit rapper Big Sean’s Sean Anderson Foundation which donated $10,000 and Amerisure which provided $70,000 towards the program, BGCSM is well-positioned to support Data Science and Risk Management Industry Club operations.
“People often say that youth are resilient and that’s true, but that’s only true if we give them the tools and support to be so. The Sean Anderson Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan are committed to supporting youth through these difficult times, not only in the short term, but the long term as well,” says Myra Anderson, executive director and president of the Sean Anderson Foundation.
Amerisure will take the lead in the risk management curriculum. Other partners include MAPSCorps and Olivet College who will lead the data science portion of the curriculum.
“I am very excited and thankful for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan for providing this opportunity to our young people,” says Commissioner Alisha Bell, chair of Wayne County Commission. “BGCSM is the perfect vehicle to really help our children in their future goals. Myself and my colleagues on the Wayne County Commission are excited to help out in any way to make this program a success.”
According to a report from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, data science and risk management are on the list of the top 20 fastest-growing occupations. With a projected 31 percent growth over the next 10 years, Detroit’s youth will have first-hand experience and a jump on the competition.
“The field of data science and risk management is booming more than ever before,” says Shawn H. Wilson, president and CEO of BGCSM. “The Data Science and Risk Management Industry Club will provide an opportunity not available anywhere else in Metro Detroit and accelerate this next generation of professionals toward greater economic mobility and success in a career. These Industry Club programs will not only impact these fellows and their families, but our neighborhoods and community as a whole.”
For children and parents looking to apply, Industry Club are for students from ages 14 to 18 who have the ability to attend in-person and virtual programming up to five times a week after school. Youth employees will earn $10 dollars per hour for the 20 hours per week program. Students who express an interest in entrepreneurship, science and math or simply looking to exploring career options are strongly encouraged to join.
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