Neutral Zone, DTE Energy Foundation Expand 'Youth Driven Spaces' Program In Detroit

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 24, 2016

The announcement was made during Neutral Zone's annual fall event on Oct. 18, which honored Lizann Anderson and her husband, Gerry Anderson, chairman and CEO of DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE), for their commitment to philanthropy and Lizann's long-time support of the organization.

"The DTE Energy Foundation is proud to support Neutral Zone and its mission to ensure that even more youth have the opportunity to grow and develop in a positive way," said Faye Nelson, vice president, DTE Energy, and board chair and president, DTE Energy Foundation. "This investment will not only open new pathways of opportunity for our youth - it will foster the talents and passion of young people in our communities so that they can help cities such as Detroit reach their potential as thriving places to live, work and play."

Neutral Zone's Youth Driven Spaces (YDS) program provides training for agencies and the youth that they serve so that teens can have an active role in projects and programs. This allows the youth to develop skills such as leadership, problem-solving, communication, collaboration and critical reflection —in a safe and nurturing setting.

The DTE Energy Foundation's support will implement Neutral Zone's YDS approach in nine Detroit-area nonprofit organizations, including Alternative for Girls, Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance, Detroit Food Academy, Detroit Leadership Academy, InsideOut, Starfish Family Services, Youth Development Commission and Urban Neighborhood Initiatives. The remaining support will be for the Ypsilanti Library.  

"We have been working with Detroit-area agencies for several years and the need continues to grow," said John Weiss, Neutral Zone's director of strategic initiatives and the lead on the YDS program. "The DTE Energy Foundation's generous contribution makes it possible to work with those nonprofits that have reached out to us for assistance. The expanded project allows us to make a greater contribution to the positive changes happening in Detroit."

The DTE Energy Foundation funds will be used to expand the scope of work that the Neutral Zone has been doing in Southeast Michigan since 2010. This support will build on work begun this summer with other area organizations, including Boys Hope Girls Hope, Developing K.I.D.S., Eastside Community Network, Wellspring, Girls Group (Ann Arbor), and My Brother's Keeper (Washtenaw County).