SIFE receives grant to renovate Young Detroit Builders computer lab

The grant provides funding to renovate the computer lab of Young Detroit Builders (YDB), a non-profit organization that offers life skills preparations and on-the-job construction training to area unemployed young people.

As part of an ongoing partnership with YDB, SIFE Dearborn joined with University of Windsor SIFE to offer an entrepreneurial course. The course included basic computer skills instructions, which raised the question: How do you teach computer skills to 19 students with only three computers?

The SIFE chapters received 12 computers from Computers for Kids, a Windsor charity that seeks to provide computer access for children and youth.

Now, the two groups are working to redo the computer space.

“Many of the young people who participate in Young Detroit Builders programs are receiving a fresh start, so we wanted to provide a ‘fresh start’ for the computer lab as well,” said Paul Steffey, a SIFE Dearborn member who has organized the program.

UM-Dearborn students have worked with a CAD professional to design the lab and determine what materials they will need. Members of both SIFE chapters plan to participate in the construction of the lab this coming weekend.

“The Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) is proud to partner with SIFE to provide SIFE teams the opportunity to raise the quality of life and standard of living for communities in need through the structural improvement of community, education, municipal, or residential facilities or operations,” said Mike Brown, executive vice president and chief information officer of Lowes.

SIFE members are in the middle of their eight-week entrepreneur class with Young Detroit Builders. The course will cover topics including market research, business planning, business law, social enterprise and pitch development.

At the conclusion of the class, students will present their business plans to a board of SIFE members, university faculty and area business representatives.