Youth leader and HFC student is an aspiring entrepreneur

HFC student Tyrone Bean credits his success to his involvement in the non-profit organizations Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (GDYT) and Developing K.I.D.S.

Bean, a lifelong Detroiter and 2016 alumnus of the Henry Ford Academy in Dearborn, first became involved with both organizations at Don Bosco Hall in the St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center in Detroit. It was there he started playing basketball at age 6.

Since age 14, he has worked with GDYT and under the supervision of Developing K.I.D.S. in his summer job placement. As a youth services coordinator, Bean now teaches others, particularly young kids, much of what he learned during those years.

“I took advantage of the experiences and the opportunities I made for myself going through these programs,” said Bean.

Grow Detroit's Young Talent

GDYT’s citywide summer jobs program trains and employs young adults between the ages of 14 and 24.

This year, the program will seek once again to provide 8,000 youth with employment opportunities in partnership with Metro Detroit area employers, local businesses, municipal departments, non-profit organizations, and the philanthropic community. Examples of jobs include community cleanups, event planning, accounting, retail, the junior police, or fire cadets. In 2018, more than 8,000 local youths received employment through the GDYT.

Bean was the youth presenter at the GDYT 2019 Kick-Off at DTE Energy headquarters in Detroit Jan. 31. HFC President Russell Kavalhuna and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan were also in attendance at this event.

“I was excited and nervous at the same time. I was excited for the opportunity, but nervous because I get nervous doing public speaking,” he said. “Mayor Duggan said I had the best speech of the program. I appreciated hearing that from him!”

Launching his own clothing line

Bean’s involvement with GDYT and Developing K.I.D.S. goes hand-in-hand with studying business at HFC.

“I liked the programs at HFC. I was interested in the business courses there. They’re accessible for me and affordable,” he said. “I also appreciate the people at the Welcome Center. Everyone there is helpful, and it allows me to plan my schedule around my commitments to Developing K.I.D.S.”

Bean plans to graduate from HFC in late 2020, earning his associate degree in business administration. He plans to transfer to either the Ann Arbor or Dearborn campus of the University of Michigan. His goal is to start his own line of luxury clothes.

“I want to provide luxury clothing without the high price,” he said.

Developing K.I.D.S. also introduced Bean to a financial advisor. He’s learned how to invest his money wisely. He bought his own computer in 2015. He taught himself the basics of PhotoShop and how to edit videos. This is how he pays his way through HFC.

“I’ve been making revenue from that computer ever since,” he said. “Developing K.I.D.S. has given me plenty of opportunities. I wouldn’t have made it this far without the experience it gave me.”