Local Circles (Detroit) Information

Our mission is to facilitate youth-led research in which young Detroiters (ages 15-19) pose their own questions and conduct research to inquire upon social issues that are meaningful to them. Our Youth-Led Research Program – and in fact our entire organization – is our response to what Detroit teens tell us they need from a developmental opportunity, specifically: job readiness, engagement in their community, and a way to learn the skills they need to be successful. Youth want to be ready for work and career: We know young people need jobs. We infuse job readiness training into our daily program activities so that youth can practice specific skills, like communication and teamwork. Youth feel called to make a positive impact on their communities: A key feature of our projects is engaging community around a need. Our Youth Researchers recruit other teens to participate in their project. They ask questions, listen, and bring participants together in their action project. Youth need meaningful leadership opportunities: Local Circles challenges young people to offer their ideas, solutions, goals, and decisions through every step of our research and action process. As they develop their project, Youth Researchers have the opportunity to learn and practice new leadership skills both within their cohort, and with a wider audience. By engaging with issues that are relevant to their lives, youth can find the power to act on those issues, thereby learning critical thinking and leadership skills.