Coffee with a Purpose

By way of taking action, “Coffee with a Purpose” was created; virtual conversations exploring a range of youth education and employment related topics with guest speakers who share our passion for Michigan’s young people. By giving youth this platform and encouraging them to use their voice for good, these productive conversations will enable us to listen, understand, and take appropriate actions to ensure an equal and great future for all of Michigan’s youth.

It’s essential to encourage youth to use their voice for good. It’s equally essential to have productive conversations where we listen, understand, and take appropriate actions to ensure an equal and great future for all of Michigan’s youth.
- From the Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates equality statement


As Part 1 of this 3-Part Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and YOUth series around the state, Julie Earle, Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan Student Success Manager for Kinexus Group, and Terri Albers, Population Health Specialist at Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), co-moderated this discussion with a panel of Jobs for Michigan's Graduates (JMG) youth from the Bridge Academy.
This 3-Part series focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); how it affects our youth today and how it is shaping their hopes for the future. We would like to introduce the Bridge Academy's JMG panel who participated in this informative and collaborative discussion:
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Za'Indya Street, 15: She wants to be a nurse so she is able do what she loves: helping people! She is excited about starting a school peer-to-peer counseling program.
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Ian Watson, 16: He enjoys botany and the study of everything plants and nature. He loves the outdoors and enjoys music.
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Jasmine Harris-Branscumb, 16: She wants to be a gynecologist, specializing in helping women of color by creating the narrative that gynecology and women's health should be talked about openly.
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Owen Hamlett, 16: He is passionate about history and one day wants to be a historian. He is very interested in the lessons that can be learned from the past.
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Zakari (Zack) Morris, 16: He works hard to be the best version of himself and positively influence everyone around him to be their best selves. He is also into fashion, videography, and photography.
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Jaylen Banister, 18: He has a dream to start his own homeless shelter and is passionate about helping those in the homeless community. He also loves all animals, especially his dog Zeus!
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Brooke Triplett, 16: She plans to be an anesthesiologist one day and loves helping people.
Information on part two and three will be available soon!

Recordings of Our Past Events
YOUth and the Future of Careers in Energy
October 20, 2022

Youth Discuss Mental Health and the Impact of Social Emotional Learning
May 12, 2022
Change Makers: Empowering YOUth through Civic Engagement
February 16, 2022
Unique Opportunities in Nontraditional Careers:
A Youth Discussion
October 6, 2021
Mental Health Awareness:
A Youth Perspective
May 27, 2021
The Pandemic's Effect on Youth Disengagement from Education and Employment
March 23, 2021
Youth Leadership Development and Civic Engagement
February 8, 2021
Striving for Racial Equity: Youth Call to Action
Part 3 of a 3-Part Webinar Series
November 10, 2020
Striving for Racial Equity: Youth Voice on Education and Employment
Part 2 of a 3-Part Webinar Series
September 30, 2020
Striving for Racial Equity: Youth Perspectives, Concerns, and Calls to Action
Part 1 of a 3-Part Webinar Series
August 13, 2020
COVID-19: The Pandemic's Impact on Michigan Youth
June 24, 2020