When a group of high school and college students were asked what 1 BIG thing they could do to empower other youth and young adults in Detroit, this was the answer!

2. “. . . As children worry about their families’ futures, their futures,
shaped by a lack of resources, support, and opportunity are at risk.
Targeted investment in Detroit kids today is necessary so they can be
productive citizens and active participants in the city’s turnaround.”
State of The Detroit Child, 2010

3. A system fraught in economic and educational inequities is
failing too many Detroit children, teens and young adults;
applying a systemic, strategic, comprehensive approach to
counter this failing system is critical.

4. Detroit has the resources to improve the quality
of life and learning for her, your and my children.

5. Sadly, not enough of the good news about
these resources and the great opportunities
they provide is getting through and to our
children and families.

6. We now need to develop ways to consistently communicate and
connect our children to these existing resources, as we seek ways to
grow more resources for them, and help them become resources to
our city, region, country and world.

7. COMMUNICATION + COLLABORATION = CELEBRATION
Improved communication creates better
informed, inspired and empowered
children, families and communities.

8. COMMUNICATION + COLLABORATION = CELEBRATION
Improved communication fosters stronger
cooperation and collaboration among our
region’s youth-serving individuals and
organizations to strengthen their successes.

9. COMMUNICATION + COLLABORATION = CELEBRATION
Improved communication will ultimately lead us
to more empowered children and families, and
greater celebration in and of a Greater Detroit.

10. The Detroit Youth Resource Alert Project (RAP) is a new, integrated
communications model that shares information via various web and
digital products to ensure the information is received and used.
This flowchart shows how information is disseminated:
Social
Media
Web BlogsEmail Blast
E-
Newsletter
Mobile
App w/
Text
Messaging

11. The RAP model also leverages several synchronized, supporting products and
events to collectively trigger exponential growth that will spur stronger
brand recognition for greater awareness, support, promotion and
participation in, and success of, this overall effort.

12. The objectives of The Detroit Youth Resource Alert Project are to:
• connect youth (and families) to supportive individuals and groups,
and programs, events and opportunities, that can help them grow
into positive, productive adults;
• foster stronger communication and collaboration among our youth-
serving community; and,
• encourage caring Greater Detroiters who support our youth to
actively stay involved by being a volunteer, mentor, teacher, etc.

13. To systemically enrich young Detroiters requires strategically engaging
three distinct groups (youth, youth resources and caring Greater
Detroiters) with segment-specific products and events that activate
concise, distinct calls-to-action.

14. CALLS-TO-ACTION FOR YOUTH:
• We care about you. You are the future of a greater Detroit, and you need to be an
important part of building a better city for yourself, your family and us all.
• Join The Better Detroit Youth Movement (BDYM).
• Connect to one of the more than 300 RAP resources.
• Tell us what you’re doing to build a better Detroit.

15. CALLS-TO-ACTION FOR YOUTH RESOURCES:
• Share what you’re doing for and with young Detroiters: events,
programs, activities and opportunities for youth.
• Share one or more of your youth RAPPING about what you do so
other youth want to do it too.
• Share what you need to build a better Detroit.

16. CALLS-TO-ACTION FOR CARING GREATER DETROITERS:
• Connect your children to these resources.
• Support our youth by supporting our youth resources.
• Attend at least three youth events each year.
• Contribute to a better Detroit for and with our children:
 Do you have a skill you can share with our youth?
Can you volunteer with the BDYM or another youth resource?
Do you have time to mentor a child?
Can you financially support the BDYM or another youth resource?

17. Branded products of The Resource Alert Project include:
• A mobile application (“app”)
• An e-newsletter
• A youth resource directory and guide
• A website and web blogs
• Social media channels
• Video productions
• Live events

18. This youth-led initiative deploys inbound marketing strategies and best
practices in:
• mobile marketing
• Internet marketing / SEO / social media marketing
• email marketing
• database marketing
• community marketing
• live event marketing
• public relations / media relations

19. The overall goal of The Detroit Youth Resource Alert Project
(RAP) is to spark mass engagement and major enrichment of
high-school-aged Detroiters so we grow the brighter futures
they deserve once and for all.
More than 31,300 students attend 103 Detroit high schools.

20. The Detroit Youth Resource Alert Project is powered by the RAP
mobile application (“app”). A demo version is on Google Play
Store*, and an updated version is being developed by Detroit
Institute of Technology high school students. (To be completed
summer, 2016)
*https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rap.projec
tdemo.AOUYIDUPDVJIHJ&hl=en

21. The RAP app will consistently connect Detroit children and families to:
• more than 300 youth resource providers
• a 24-hour teen hotline
• updates on youth programs, events and activities
• information about jobs, internships and scholarships
• mentoring, volunteering and community service opportunities
• access to more than 15,000 colleges, universities, and technical and
vocational schools around the world

22. The RAP app will highlight :15 to :30 second video clips of young men and women discussing how
they benefit from their involvement with featured YSI’s and YSO’s so these resources are more
appealing and relatable to other young Detroiters, to leverage peer-to-peer engagement.
This video includes a segment, “Mentoring in Detroit”, with several youth expressing their
appreciation of a featured RAP YSO: https://vimeo.com/116395042

23. Detroit High School of Fine Arts students are producing a variety of
video projects including RAP public service announcements:
https://youtu.be/epzBXicy4Tg

24. The RAP online directory lists more than 300 Greater Detroit
youth-serving individuals and organizations. Add more YSI’s
and YSO’s to the directory at www.detroitrap.brighthalo.com.
The directory is being converted into a “Detroit Youth
Resource Guide” as a free gift to RAP subscribers.

25. A beta version of the RAP website enlists and segments subscribers so
they can be engaged with concise, precise calls-to-action (as noted in
slides 14 to 16).
Sign up at www.detroityouthresources.org.

26. DETROIT LOVES OUR CHILDREN! is
a bi-monthly e-newsletter that will
be circulated to a database of
more than 11,950 Detroiters
(most of whom work with children
or community).

27. The DETROIT LOVES OUR CHILDREN! e-newsletter features a variety of information
about youth resources, events and opportunities. It will engage all three target
segments (youth, youth resources and caring Greater Detroiters), grow the RAP
subscriber base, and spur greater collaboration among YSI’s and YSO’s for our
children, families and city’s betterment.

28. O
To create broader awareness and interest in, and generate
more subscribers and supporters of the RAP initiative, media
releases will be regularly circulated to a database of most
television, radio and newspaper outlets in the Greater Detroit
market.

29. Social media strategies, SEO / internet marketing
strategies will also be leveraged to improve project
visibility and online outreach.

30. Web blogs (www.betterdetroityouth.org and www.uniteedesign.com)
will promote RAP, and other Detroit youth resources and topics, to
strengthen search engine rankings.

31. Live events include The Better Detroit Youth Movement
annual scholarship fair at The Cobo Centre – now in its
eighth year -- that attract and engage our educational
and youth-serving community, as well as large
populations of greater Detroiters – young and old –
every year.

32. THE MARCH FOR OUR CHILDREN: DETROIT! will be promoted as a powerful,
annual event to engage and enrich Detroit teenagers.
The goals of this march are to show Detroit teens we care about them, and
connect them to resources that can help them survive and thrive despite
their circumstances and environment.

33. Scheduled for August 27, 2016, THE MARCH FOR OUR
CHILDREN: DETROIT! will commence at Hart Plaza, and
conclude at Belle Isle Park where more than 50 youth
resources will be awaiting teens, family members and
other participants.

34. The 1st Annual Detroit Youth Resource Summit is a collaboration-building and networking event
exclusively for our Greater Detroit youth-serving community. Co-hosted with ARISE Detroit!, it will
provide an important forum to discuss, determine and deliver ways we can work together to help
more of our children believe, achieve and succeed. One such topic will be the viability of hosting
student resource fairs at area high schools.
The 1st Annual Detroit Youth Resource Summit will be held Saturday, May 28, 11:AM to 2:PM, at
The Good Samaritan Center (5555 Conner).

35. Detroit Youth Resource Alert Project partners include ARISE Detroit!,
Building Better Men, NuDetroit 2020, The Detroit School of Fine Arts,
Detroit Impact Center, The Wayne County Mental Health Authority,
Detroit Institute of Technology, The Healthy Teens Community Center,
and others.

36. May this youth-led effort continue to evolve as a powerful, vital catalyst
that inspires and brings together those of us who actively care about
our children (teens and young adults) so we can ensure more of them
succeed in school and life.

37. For more information about The Detroit Youth Resource Alert Project,
call 313.342.0697, or email us at info@betterdetroityouth.org.