Event, hosted at Ford Field, brings higher education leaders, employers together to expand postsecondary access for young men statewide

DETROIT – More than 1,000 high school students from across 40 Michigan schools gathered at Ford Field today for the first-ever MI Kickoff, a college and career exploration event designed to help students without a postsecondary plan connect their interests, strengths and ambitions to clear next steps after high school. Hosted by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), with support from the Departments of Education (MDE) and Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) the event builds on ongoing efforts to expand opportunity and increase postsecondary participation among young men statewide.

“Michigan’s future depends on every student having a clear path forward, yet too many young men are navigating this moment without one,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “MI Kickoff is changing that. By bringing students face-to-face with colleges, training programs and employers, we are helping them see what’s possible and giving them a playbook to turn opportunity into action.”

MI Kickoff featured immersive, hands-on experiences in high-demand career fields through 10 student-selected breakout sessions focused on topics such as financial aid, esports, drones, interactive medical equipment, robotics, carpentry, broadcast journalism and culinary, along with an “Opportunity Hub” with representatives from more than 50 community colleges, universities, skills training programs, and businesses. Each student also participated in a FAFSA session that walked them through the process and highlighted available financial aid to support their next steps.

By providing exposure to a full range of career pathways, the event directly responds to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s directive to expand outreach and connect more young men to existing tuition-free post-secondary and career training opportunities, advancing the state’s bipartisan Sixty by 30 goal.

Programs like Michigan Reconnect, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Community College Guarantee and the Michigan Skills Scholarship exist to lower costs for hundreds of thousands of students. Yet, men remain underrepresented in these opportunities, reflecting a broader trend in which women continue to outnumber men at community colleges and universities across Michigan and nationally.

MI Data Center reports that only about 56% of young men enroll in college within one year of graduating high school, compared to 69% of young women. Women also earn nearly 60% of all degrees and certificates awarded in Michigan.

Additionally, according to the Pew Research Center, nationally men account for only 42% of students ages 18-24 at four-year colleges, a decline from 47% in 2011.

During the event, students heard from a panel of speakers who shared their journeys after high school, as well as professionals working in fields where men are traditionally underrepresented.

“I graduated from Crockett Technical School and thought I had everything figured out, but life didn’t go the way I had planned,” said Brandon Keyes, a Detroit native, Michigan Reconnect graduate and current manager of the Equal Opportunity Lab at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. “I had some setbacks and thought I had lost my future. Then I found the Michigan Reconnect program, which provides a tuition-free community college education, and it gave me a second chance at my education and my future. It helped me turn obstacles into opportunity. That is what this is about.”

Robert Pyle, a registered nurse (RN) at Henry Ford St. John Hospital, spoke to students about his career in health care.

“A nursing career gives you the chance to make a real difference in people’s lives every single day, while opening doors to advancement, stability and purpose,” said Pyle. “Young men should consider nursing because our communities need caring, skilled professionals who reflect the people they serve and who are ready to lead in one of the most respected professions in the world.”

In Michigan, according to the 2025 Survey of Michigan Nurses, nursing remains a major workforce need, with 66% of RNs employed full-time and persistent demand across the state.

The need for certified teachers across Michigan may be even greater. It is estimated that men make up only about one in four teachers in the state, underscoring the need to recruit more men into the profession.

“Too often, young men don’t see teaching as a career path because they haven’t been shown the impact they can have in a child’s earliest years,” said Rod Reyes, program coordinator for the early childhood program at Mott Community College. “Our classrooms need more male role models who can inspire, mentor and help students see what is possible. When men choose a career in teaching, they are not just building a profession for themselves — they are helping build the future for an entire generation.”

For many students, the event helped make the path beyond high school feel clearer and more attainable.

“The reasons men are not pursuing post-secondary opportunities are numerous,” said Derrick King, program director for Upward Bound at Muskegon Community College. “Young men across Michigan too often face barriers that can make the path beyond high school feel out of reach — from limited exposure to career pathways and college opportunities, to a lack of mentorship and clear guidance about what comes next. By connecting young men with mentors, educators and real-world career pathways, this event helps them see that their future is not defined by obstacles, but by possibility.”

Events such as MI Kickoff and the recent Moving Males Forward Convening are part of MiLEAP’s broader work to connect more young men to college and career pathways statewide. MiLEAP remains committed to expanding access and helping every student take the next step toward their future.

To learn more, visit Michigan.gov/MiLEAP.