Building Confidence.
Developing Leaders.
Shaping Futures.
Preparing Youth for Success is a Detroit-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering inner-city youth with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become the next generation of leaders — in their communities and beyond.
Mission
Seven Years.
One Community.
Real Skills.
Built in Real Neighborhoods.
We meet young people where they are — in their neighborhoods, schools, and communities — and give them real experiences that build real skills.
Media & Storytelling
Teaching youth to use media as a tool for self-expression, financial opportunity, and community representation.
Urban Agriculture
Partnering with Michigan State University to bring youth into the garden — the science of growing food and the pride of building something with their own hands.
Financial Literacy
Equipping youth and young adults with the money management skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and financial confidence they need to thrive.
Community Giving
From toy drives to neighborhood events, we show youth what it means to show up for each other.
There Is a Place for You in the PYFS Community.
Whether you want to volunteer, donate, or partner with us — we welcome you. The work we do is powered by people who show up.
Seven Years of
Showing Up for Detroit Youth.
PYFS was founded on a simple but powerful belief — that every young person in Detroit deserves access to opportunities that build their confidence, expand their skills, and prepare them for a successful future. We have spent seven years turning that belief into action.
Detroit's inner-city youth are some of the most resilient, creative, and capable young people in the country. But resilience alone isn't enough. What young people need is access — to mentorship, to resources, to spaces where they are seen, supported, and challenged to grow.
PYFS was built to close that gap. We started with a commitment to community and a belief in the power of showing up consistently for young people. Over the past seven years we have grown into a trusted organization delivering programming that spans media production, urban agriculture, financial literacy, and community service — all rooted in the neighborhoods and families we serve.
We don't operate from the outside looking in. We are Detroit. We are the community. And we build every program with that in mind.
Our Values.
Community First
Everything we do starts with the people we serve. Our programming is shaped by the real needs of Detroit's inner-city youth and families.
Confidence Building
We believe confidence is the foundation of every other skill. Our programs are designed to help young people discover what they are capable of.
Practical Skills
We focus on skills young people can use right now — in school, in their communities, and in their future careers and lives.
Mutual Aid
PYFS was built on the spirit of community lifting community. Volunteers, donors, and partners are the backbone of everything we do.
Representation
Young people need to see themselves reflected in the programming they receive. Every workshop, event, and partnership is built with that intention.
Leadership.
Real Programs.
Real Skills.
Real Detroit.
Every PYFS program is built around one question: what does this young person actually need to succeed? The answers have led us to build programming across media, agriculture, financial literacy, and community service — delivered by real professionals and community leaders who know Detroit.
Media as a Tool for Life.
In a world where media shapes everything — careers, culture, community — young people need to know how to use it, not just consume it. PYFS's media and storytelling seminars teach youth the fundamentals of content creation, digital storytelling, and how to leverage media as a real tool for self-expression and financial opportunity.
Through our partnership with The Creative Union and Menace Media, youth work alongside professional Detroit creatives — learning camera setup, content strategy, editing fundamentals, and how to tell stories that matter. These aren't just skills for social media. They are skills for life, careers, and community leadership.
- Content creation and camera basics
- Digital storytelling and narrative development
- How to use media to build a personal brand and generate income
- Healthy and authentic self-representation in digital spaces
Healthy Body.
Healthy Mind.
Healthy Future.
PYFS's health and nutrition seminars bring wellness education directly to Detroit's inner-city youth — covering nutrition basics, healthy eating on a budget, mental wellness, and the connection between physical health and personal confidence. We believe a young person who understands how to take care of their body is better equipped to show up fully in every other area of their life.
These seminars are designed to be interactive, accessible, and grounded in the real food environments Detroit youth navigate every day. No judgment, no lectures — just practical knowledge delivered with care.
- Nutrition basics and reading food labels
- Healthy eating on a limited budget
- Mental health awareness and self-care practices
- The connection between wellness and confidence
Growing Food.
Growing Confidence.
In partnership with Michigan State University, PYFS brings Detroit youth into urban gardens and teaches them the full cycle of growing food from seed to harvest. Over the course of the summer program, youth don't just learn about agriculture — they build their own gardens, take ownership of the growing process, and experience the deep satisfaction of creating something with their own hands.
This program connects young people to Detroit's land, to the science of food systems, and to a tradition of community growing that has deep roots in urban neighborhoods across the country. It also builds patience, responsibility, teamwork, and pride — skills that transfer far beyond the garden.
- Soil science and plant biology basics
- Planting, tending, and harvesting crops
- Urban food systems and community agriculture
- Teamwork, responsibility, and project ownership
Money Skills That
Last a Lifetime.
In partnership with EOO Nonprofit Organization, PYFS delivers financial literacy programming that gives Detroit youth the tools to understand, manage, and grow their money. Too many young people enter adulthood without basic financial knowledge — and that gap has real consequences. PYFS is committed to closing it.
Our financial literacy courses cover budgeting, saving, understanding credit, and the basics of entrepreneurship — all delivered in a way that is practical, engaging, and relevant to where young people actually are in their lives.
- Budgeting and money management
- Saving strategies and goal setting
- Understanding credit and debt
- Introduction to entrepreneurship and income generation
Setting Up for Success
From Day One.
PYFS partners with the University of Michigan to deliver programming specifically designed for young college students — helping them navigate the financial, personal, and professional challenges of college life from the very beginning. Through workshops and seminars, participants learn financial literacy tailored to the college experience, skill-building for the modern workforce, and how to use media strategically as a young adult to generate income and build a sustainable college life.
This partnership reflects PYFS's commitment to following young people beyond high school and supporting them through the next critical chapter of their journey.
- Financial literacy for college students
- Skill-building for career and personal development
- Using media and content creation as a source of income
- Building a sustainable and successful college experience
Community Taking
Care of Community.
Every year PYFS organizes a community toy giveaway that has served over 50 Detroit families — bringing joy, dignity, and the spirit of mutual aid directly into the neighborhoods we serve. This program is fully donation-based, powered by community members who believe in giving back and showing up for each other.
The toy drive is more than a giveaway. It is a demonstration of what community looks like when it operates from a place of abundance and care — and it is an experience we invite youth to participate in, so they learn from an early age the power and responsibility of giving back.
- 50+ families served annually
- Fully donation-based sourcing
- Community-powered logistics
- Youth invited to participate in giving back
Stronger Together.
PYFS believes the most powerful outcomes for youth happen when organizations, institutions, and community leaders work together toward a shared goal. We are proud of the partnerships we have built — and we are always looking to grow.
The Creative Union is a Detroit-based coalition building infrastructure, resources, and collective support for the city's independent creative sector. TCU and PYFS are co-developing Signal Detroit — a youth media and cultural production hub that will bring professional creative programming directly to Detroit's inner-city youth. Through this partnership, PYFS youth gain access to production pods, media equipment, professional mentorship from Detroit's working creative community, and a permanent space designed for their growth.
Menace Media is a Detroit-based video and brand production company and founding member of The Creative Union. Menace Media brings professional media production expertise, equipment, and storytelling experience directly into PYFS programming — giving youth access to the same tools and knowledge used by working professionals in Detroit's creative economy.
MSU partners with PYFS to deliver urban agriculture programming that brings Detroit youth into hands-on garden experiences over the summer months. MSU's resources, expertise, and commitment to community education make this one of PYFS's most impactful and beloved programs.
U of M partners with PYFS on college readiness and sustainability programming for young students, delivering financial literacy, skill-building, and media monetization workshops that help new college students build sustainable and successful academic and professional lives.
EOO is a fellow youth-focused Detroit nonprofit and PYFS's partner in financial literacy programming. Together PYFS and EOO deliver financial education that gives Detroit youth the money skills and economic confidence they need to thrive.
We are always open to collaborations that serve Detroit's youth. If your organization shares our commitment to community, confidence, and opportunity — let's talk.
Contact Us to PartnerSeven Years of Impact in
Detroit's Communities.
Numbers tell part of the story. The rest lives in the young people who walked through our doors uncertain and walked out with a skill, a confidence, and a community.
The Work, in Detail.
Annual Toy Giveaway
Every holiday season PYFS organizes a community toy giveaway serving over 50 Detroit families. Fully donation-based and community-powered, this program reflects the mutual aid spirit at the heart of everything PYFS does.
Media & Health Seminars
PYFS has delivered youth media and nutrition seminars bringing together creative skills and wellness education in programming that meets young people where they are.
Urban Agriculture Summer Program
In partnership with MSU, PYFS has brought Detroit youth into urban gardens across the city — teaching them to grow food, build gardens, and take ownership of something real over the course of a full summer program.
Financial Literacy Courses
Through our partnership with EOO, PYFS has delivered financial literacy programming to Detroit youth covering budgeting, saving, credit, and entrepreneurship basics.
University of Michigan Partnership
PYFS has partnered with U of M to deliver college readiness workshops helping young students build financial skills, professional capabilities, and media literacy from their first days on campus.
The work continues. Every program we run, every young person we reach, every family we serve — it all adds up to a Detroit where the next generation has what they need to lead.
There Is a Place
for You Here.
PYFS runs on community. Whether you want to volunteer your time, donate to our programs, or explore a partnership — we welcome you.
Volunteer
Our programs are powered by community members who show up. From garden workshops to toy drives to seminar facilitation — there are meaningful ways to contribute your time and skills. Reach out to learn about current volunteer opportunities.
Donate
Your donation directly supports youth programming, community events, and the operational needs of a nonprofit that keeps overhead low and impact high. Every dollar goes toward the young people we serve.
Partner With Us
If your organization, business, or institution shares our commitment to Detroit's youth — let's build something together. We are always open to new collaborations that expand what we can offer the community.
Spread the Word
Follow us on social media. Share our story. Tell someone about the work PYFS is doing. Community awareness is one of the most powerful tools we have.
Get in Touch.
Reach Out
Detroit, MI
Send Us a Message
Volunteer interest, partnership opportunities, program questions — we read everything that comes through.