Community Development

What the University of Michigan Center for Innovation Means for Detroit: Education, Jobs, and a Community-Driven Vision for the Future

Detroit is in the middle of a historic transformation—powered increasingly by technology, workforce innovation, and community-driven economic mobility. As industries shift and new tech corridors rise, cities like Detroit are asking a critical question: How do we ensure the future of innovation belongs to everyone who lives here? The upcoming launch of the University of…

From Caregiver to Changemaker: How Purpose and Community Create Lasting Impact

Resilience isn’t just about enduring challenges — it’s about leading with compassion, patience, and faith, even when the path feels uncertain. It’s a quality embodied by every caregiver, whose daily acts of care and commitment reflect the essence of true leadership — helping others grow stronger through empathy, service, and understanding. In this episode…

Owning Your Development by Building Networks, Finding Mentors, and Embracing Servant Leadership

At the heart of every career journey is the question of how we grow—not just in skills, but in purpose, relationships, and impact. That kind of growth takes shape through everyday choices, the mentors who guide us, and the communities that stretch us to become more. Each step forward becomes part of a larger…

How Detroit Homecoming is Turning the City’s Diaspora into Champions of its Comeback (Ep. 2 with Mary Kramer)

Detroit’s resurgence story is impossible to ignore. Following decades of economic decline, the city has seen major revitalization, most recently highlighted when the NFL Draft drew over 700,000 visitors downtown. The stakes are high: Detroit’s growth depends not only on investments from billionaires, but on reconnecting with former residents whose personal and professional contributions…

From Bitter to Better: How Purpose and Second Chances Can Change Entire Communities (Ep. 2)

In the second installment of this powerful two-part series, DisruptED turns from personal origin stories to the enduring lessons that come from surviving life’s hardest seasons. For host Ron J Stefanski and guest John Valverde, President and CEO of YouthBuild Global, the conversation is rooted in lived experience: moments of deep loss, the resilience…

Building a Future-Ready Workforce: Disrupting Outdated Education with Employer-Driven, Community-Powered, Practical Skills Training

Workforce training is undergoing a radical transformation as industries face critical talent shortages and rapid technological change. Building a future-ready workforce requires rethinking traditional higher education models. These models emphasize broad academic development over targeted skill-building and struggle to keep pace with employer demands. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report…

How Calbright College Is Using AI, Micro-Internships, and Flexible Learning to Serve Adult Learners in California

At a time when traditional higher education is being reevaluated for its return on investment, institutions like Calbright College are emerging as transformative forces. With roughly 6.6 million students in California having some college experience but no degree, the pressure is on to create alternative pathways that are flexible, skill-driven, and aligned with workforce…

The New Formula for Workforce and Talent Development: Inclusive Partnerships, Braided Funding, and Career-Aligned Training

Across the country, workforce development systems are under pressure to deliver better outcomes in an economy that demands speed, flexibility, and equity. Traditional pathways, such as community college without clear career prospects, no longer serve enough people well. A report by the Center for Community College Student Engagement found that 42 percent of community…

Spring Forward: Colorado PGA Pros Gear Up for a Season of Learning, Leadership, and Legacy

Golf professionals across Colorado are channeling spring momentum into a transformative season focused on skill development and industry leadership

Growing the Game and Community: The Transformative Power of PGA Jr. League

Youth-focused golf programs are leveling the playing field by making the sport accessible to underserved communities

Detroit’s Workforce Transformation Runs on Innovation, Inclusion, and Opportunity

Grassroots leaders are reimagining how cities build job-ready talent through community-driven partnerships and flexible pathways

DisruptED in the D: A Story of Hope with Portia Roberson (Ep. 1)

A Detroit nonprofit leader shares how workforce development can ensure the city's economic revival reaches those left behind

DisruptED in the D: The Power of Black Leadership with Dwan Dandridge (Ep. 1)

Black-led organizations in Detroit are reshaping the city's future despite facing significant barriers to funding and resources

DisruptED in the D: A Story of Hope with Portia Roberson (Ep. 2)

One Detroit leader is racing to ensure the city's tech boom lifts historically marginalized communities out of poverty

DisruptED in the D: Building an Inclusive Future with Black Leaders Detroit’s CEO Dwan Dandridge (Ep. 2)

One Detroit leader is ensuring Black entrepreneurs share in the city's economic growth through strategic capital deployment

Leading the Change in Corporate Social Responsibility with Kelem Butts: Tackling Health & Educational Challenges in a Disrupted World

Pivoting corporate giving strategies requires leaders who understand both business transformation and community impact

Celebrating National GED Day

Leaders challenge workplace bias against alternative education credentials and unlock workforce potential

From Fields to Data Centers: Applied Digital’s Training Program Transforms Farmers into Data Center Operators

Agricultural workers gain new career paths as companies build AI infrastructure on rural land

Linking Education with Employment: How Aspire Ability is Fighting Underemployment in the Navajo Nation

Targeted educational initiatives are proving essential to reducing underemployment and spurring economic growth in Native American communities

Student Health and Well-being in a DisruptED Classroom

Poverty's hidden toll on early childhood development demands urgent action from schools and communities

Shaping History: Duval’s Bold Approach Amidst Changing Education Standards

The school district is leveraging local history and primary sources to help educators navigate Florida's evolving curriculum requirements