Detroit has always been a city that makes things. Today, robotics, precision machining, and advanced materials are changing what a manufacturing career looks like, and we want Detroiters first in line for those opportunities.

That’s why the Gilbert Family Foundation is investing $300,000 in Lightweight Innovation for Tomorrow (LIFT), a Detroit-based advanced manufacturing institute, to expand training and career exposure over the next two years.

 

Building the Careers of Tomorrow

Expanding opportunity to career pathways in skilled trades and construction is a core focus of our Economic mobility work in Detroit. Jobs in skilled trades offer a clear path to a quality career without a four-year degree. But those paths only work if people know they exist and can get the training to follow them. LIFT helps close that gap. Creating access to opportunity is part of our mission at Gilbert Family Foundation, and it’s one that Sr. Program Manager Kinnus Paul is deeply dedicated to advancing.  “One of the greatest barriers to entering the skilled trades is the lack of awareness and understanding of how to access those opportunities,” he says. “Unless you have family members in the trades, young people are rarely exposed to the trades, their entry points, or hands-on experiences that would allow them to see themselves in these professions. If we want to build a stronger pipeline, we must be intentional about creating earlier opportunities for exploration, exposure, and skill development.” And the impact of this kind of exposure will support the economic mobility of the city long-term, Paul says. “The real opportunity goes beyond the paycheck. It’s about building businesses, investing earnings, and ultimately generating generational wealth, and many of these pathways let people earn while they learn, without the burden of traditional college debt.”

 

LIFTing Up The Next Cohort

About 600 Detroit high school students will visit the LIFT Learning Lab for hands-on tours and demonstrations, with the goal of sparking interest in manufacturing jobs early. The young learners will build skills in the classroom. LIFT plans to bring its flagship IGNITE: Mastering Manufacturing curriculum to at least three Detroit high schools. Another part of this program focuses on adults who want to start or advance their careers in the industry. This investment will support at least 30 adults with training for nationally recognized certifications in welding, CNC operations, and robotics – all credentials that can lead to high-demand careers. LIFT will track participant progress and work with employers, with a goal that at least 70% of completers move into jobs, apprenticeships, or further education within six months.

And ultimately, that’s the point of the program. “Our focus is on giving students real-word opportunities which will lead to real world careers,” says Joe Steele, LIFT’s Executive Vice President of Public Affairs.  “This means providing high school students the chance to see and interact with both manufacturing techniques and equipment being used by manufacturers, and for our adult students, giving them the opportunity to learn at their pace. Everything we do at LIFT, from our technology programs to our talent programs is to accelerate the time to market.”

 

Opportunity that lasts

“We want more Detroit residents to access high-quality careers that increase earning potential and create lasting financial stability,” says Linda Nosegbe, Director of the Economic Mobility at Gilbert Family Foundation. “Ultimately, we want these pathways to help Detroiters build careers, support their families, and create greater economic opportunity for the next generation.” Dr. Robert Shaner, LIFT’S Chief  Workforce Development Officer, agrees. “Serving our youth, our manufacturers, and our home city” is at the core of LIFT’s mission. We share that commitment. When Detroiters have access to the specialized skills employers are looking for, we are able to match talent with rapidly growing industry. That’s how the whole city moves forward and stronger futures are built.

Learn more about LIFT’s programs at lift.technology.