Coffee with a Purpose

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.  

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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.

• Ian Watson, 16:  He enjoys botany and the study of everything plants and nature. He loves the outdoors and enjoys music.

• 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.

•  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.

• 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.

• 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!

• Brooke Triplett, 16:  She plans to be an anesthesiologist one day and loves helping people.

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Information on part two and three will be available soon!