Mohammad Zaman is in our College Success Mentoring program and on his way to becoming a user experience designer.
November 5, 2022 Uncategorized
Mohammad Zaman received our Alumni Scholarship at our 2022 Awards Celebration. Mohammad Zaman is entering his senior year at Michigan State University (MSU), working towards a Bachelor of Science in computer science and his dream of becoming a user experience designer. He’s focused, motivated, and… Read More
Black Male Career Mentors: You are the Key to Inspiring the Next Generation
August 8, 2022 Mentor, Students
I had the privilege of meeting with one of our most dynamic career mentor-student pairings, Aubin Williams and Aidan Watkins. Williams is the president and CEO of Ekklesia Building Corporation, a general contracting, program management, and construction company. Watkins is a 19-year-old full-time student at Wayne County Community College studying… Read More
Paying It Forward as a Career Mentor
July 11, 2022 Alumni Success Stories, Mentor, Students
Pay it forward is an expression for when the recipient of kindness does something kind in turn for someone else rather than simply accepting or repaying the original good deed. Tamara Taylor, complexity lead at Stellantis, has been the recipient of many acts of kindness and encouragement throughout her… Read More
Pete Hockey, Global Director of Supply Chain Operations at Ford Motor Company, Joins our Board
July 11, 2022 Announcements
Pete Hockey, Ford Motor Company’s global director of Supply Chain Operations has joined our Board of Directors. “I’m honored to be a part of the Winning Futures team. The vision of using top-notch mentoring programs to positively impact our youth is something that resonates with me. I’m excited to join… Read More
Razzaaq McConner, Vice President of Purchasing & Supply Chain – Americas at Adient, Joins Board of Directors
July 11, 2022 Announcements
We are pleased to welcome Razzaaq McConner, vice president of Purchasing & Supply Chain – Americas, to our Board of Directors. “Winning Futures gives me the opportunity to mentor and develop young people who faced the same challenges as I did as a high school student in Pontiac,” said McConner.… Read More
$50,000 Awarded and 17 Mentors Honored, Our 2022 Awards Celebration in Review
July 11, 2022 Event, Mentor, Students
Our 28th Annual Awards Celebration was held on May 17, 2022, at The Gazebo Banquet Center in Warren. We awarded a grand total of $50,000 to 24 phenomenal students from our Workforce Prep program. We also honored 17 dedicated local business professionals who completed their fifth year as career mentors! … Read More
Career Mentors: How Monica Labe helped Lourin Younan achieve her dream.
June 14, 2022 Uncategorized
Lourin Younan (left) in 2016 with her Career Mentor, Monica Labe (center). Monica listened intently to an anxious high school student who described a “rudderless” feeling hanging over her like a cloud. The student was worried about not knowing what to do after graduation or how… Read More
The Journey of a Student Becoming a Mentor.
May 16, 2022 Mentor
When an individual decides to mentor someone it’s a gift. A gift of shared knowledge, experience and most precious of them all – their time. In the story of Tom Zara, his experience with our program is something he carries with him and it has inspired him to come full… Read More
Why Career Mentors Matter
April 4, 2022 Alumni Success Stories, Mentor
Our Workforce Prep Program is designed to support teenagers and for good reason. Adolescence is a time when youth search for a sense of identity, and the belief that they can accomplish their chosen dreams. That self-belief touches every aspect of a young person’s life and can determine whether they… Read More
Dreams are worth supporting.
March 30, 2022 Announcements
In 2021, we launched our pilot College Success Mentoring program (CSM) for students who completed our high school program and are now enrolled in community colleges, universities, trade schools, or apprenticeships. In the CSM program, students are paired with a college success mentor for monthly one-hour video calls and discussion… Read More
The Career Mentor Experience
“It has been so fulfilling to me to be able to share my experiences and see that it matters and that students are taking the information I’ve shared with them and doing something positive with it. It has been a blessing and a wonderful experience.” This past year we had ... Read More »
Nazifa Kadir is in our Year 6 (continuing education) program and attending the University of Michigan, studying for a degree in pharmaceutical science.
If you knew Nazifa Kadir back when she was in high school, you might be surprised to see the person she is today. Nazifa is a junior at the University of Michigan studying for a degree in pharmaceutical science. She is more assertive, outgoing, and confident in who she is ... Read More »
Rei Struga is in our Year 4 (continuing education) program and on his way to Wayne State University where he will study computer science.
“High school is a confusing and stressful time. You need all the help you can get.” These are the words of Rei Struga. He just graduated from Warren Mott High School and is on his way to Wayne State University where he will study computer science. He has a vision, ... Read More »
30th Anniversary Awards Celebration: $30,000 in scholarships awarded to 16 students; Seven students celebrated for graduating from college; 16 volunteers honored for their five or ten-year career mentoring anniversary.
Our 30th Anniversary Awards Celebration was absolutely loaded with good news. Held at Club Venetian in Madison Heights on June 10, more than 200 people gathered to bear witness to the amazing accomplishments our students have achieved and the generous support we receive from our volunteer career mentors and annual ... Read More »
Stephanie Burnley-Hemphill, Co-CEO and General Manager at Devon Group, Joins Our Board of Directors
We are very pleased to announce that Stephanie Burnley-Hemphill, Co-CEO and general manager at Devon Group, has been elected to our Board of Directors. “My heart told me, ‘This is it,’” said Burnley-Hemphill. “I love the fact that Winning Futures helps students throughout their high school and college paths. I ... Read More »
2024 Corks & Forks a Huge Success
When I realized what happened, all I could think of was, “Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat!” Chaired by Michelle Gardner, Vice President of Global Hardware, Systems & Integration at General Motors and supported by Pete Hockey of Ford Motor Company, Marcelo Conti of General Motors, and Scott Thiele of Stellantis, our annual fundraising ... Read More »
A career mentor’s Journey: From being nervous at the first session to beaming with pride at the last session, we will follow a group of volunteers throughout the year starting with this first of four blog series.
Career mentors are the most integral part of our work when connecting with high school and college students in our Workforce Prep and College Success Mentoring program. For new career mentors, the process of getting started can feel like they are embarking on the unknown. Some also feel nervous about ... Read More »
We’re celebrating 30 years of empowering students to succeed and we’re ready for the next 30!
A message from President and CEO, Kristina Marshall, 1994-95 Winning Futures alum: It’s hard to believe, but the 2023-24 school year marks the 30th anniversary of our Workforce Prep program. Here’s a quick look at how we started, where we are today, and the direction we’re headed. Thiry years ago, ... Read More »