YouthTank Detroit
Founding Member, Google Code Next MLL Intern, Detroit Youth Mobility Leadership Summit Program Aid, Volunteer, Contributor.YouthTank is a 501c(3) non-profit startup incubator - created for youth, by youth in Detroit. YouthTank encourages students to effectively use technology, art, and design to solve problems within Detroit.
The story of YouthTank starts back as a Cranbrook High School student. In 2022, I had the priviledge of taking veteran entrepreneur and educator Ms. Holly Arida’s Startup Entrepreneurship course. Here, we learned the fundamentals of founding, growing, and sustaining our own business concepts - informed by her real experience and simulated in class.
As one of our final projects, the idea of a “for youth, by youth” startup incubator was conceived, and rapidly held significant gravity. The entire class adopted the idea, and excitement grew. The substance and build out of the inital project firstly exceeded the assignment - then the class, with support from outside students and faculty, and eventually, the walls of the school entirely.
Holly piloted the program over the summer of 2022, and it has only grown since. Youthtank has had the fantastic opportunites to occupy and collaborate with innovation centers at Durfee, Marygrove Schools, Central Michigan University, NewLab, and most recently alongside Google Code Next as the first occupants of Michigan Central Station.
My personal role at YouthTank has varied from initial concept construction, volunteer program creation and facilitation, youth mentorship, and paid internship experience as a leader of the Mobility Leadership Lab arts team.
My work at YouthTank has been additionally intertwined with the opportunity to work alongside the fantasically inspiring visual artist Elton Monroy - Duran.
Being with the program in every step and capacity has been a profund experience. It has led to a deep appreciation for fostering the next generation of innovators from Detroit, and instilled a duty to ensure the expansion of opportunities to innovate in ones backyard are as acessible as possible.
As one of our final projects, the idea of a “for youth, by youth” startup incubator was conceived, and rapidly held significant gravity. The entire class adopted the idea, and excitement grew. The substance and build out of the inital project firstly exceeded the assignment - then the class, with support from outside students and faculty, and eventually, the walls of the school entirely.
Holly piloted the program over the summer of 2022, and it has only grown since. Youthtank has had the fantastic opportunites to occupy and collaborate with innovation centers at Durfee, Marygrove Schools, Central Michigan University, NewLab, and most recently alongside Google Code Next as the first occupants of Michigan Central Station.
My personal role at YouthTank has varied from initial concept construction, volunteer program creation and facilitation, youth mentorship, and paid internship experience as a leader of the Mobility Leadership Lab arts team.
My work at YouthTank has been additionally intertwined with the opportunity to work alongside the fantasically inspiring visual artist Elton Monroy - Duran.
Being with the program in every step and capacity has been a profund experience. It has led to a deep appreciation for fostering the next generation of innovators from Detroit, and instilled a duty to ensure the expansion of opportunities to innovate in ones backyard are as acessible as possible.