The Future of Detroit Youth

On a warm summer day, Zion Keene, a senior at Henry Ford Academy, arrived at Elizabeth Gordon Sachs Park to start his summer job with The Greening of Detroit. Throughout his six-week summer employment, Zion gained more than just a paycheck. He gained many skills throughout the summer, including resumé preparation and team building, environmental stewardship, conservation, and green job pathways. What many may have considered just another summer job for Zion, it was an opportunity to take his interest in natural resources and the work of The Greening of Detroit further.

After completing his term with Green Corp, he contacted Christina Ridella, the Volunteer and Community Outreach Manager with The Greening of Detroit, to request an internship opportunity. For his senior internship, he wanted to focus on community development and education on environmental issues facing Detroiters. During his internship with The Greening of Detroit, he volunteered at community plantings, engaging residents and volunteers, learned more about the operations of a non-profit, and gained operational experience on forestry equipment.

The training and knowledge provided by The Greening of Detroit gave Zion experiences he would not have received through a traditional high school curriculum or a standard summer job. Zion shared that this experience has fostered his interest in natural resources as a career path; Zion plans to attend college with the aim of becoming an Ecologist. His internship gave him a deeper understanding of environmental challenges and opportunities in an urban environment and helped him solidify his desire to pursue a career in natural resources.

We were very fortunate to have Zion as part of our team and grateful to have had the opportunity to impact him and help foster the next generation of environmental stewards. We cannot wait to see all that he will achieve!