For Us, By Us: Help Detroit Job Corps Students in Crisis

My name is Mariyah Louis, and I am a proud Job Corps alumna. This GoFundMe is for us, by us — created with love and purpose to support our fellow Job Corps family during a critical time of need.

I know firsthand what it feels like to need Job Corps — to depend on it as a second chance, a lifeline, a launchpad. I came, I saw, and I conquered. Job Corps gave me the tools, support, and opportunity to build a better future. It breaks my heart to know that so many others may never get that same chance.

With the nationwide closure of Job Corps campuses, thousands of youth and young adults have been abruptly displaced, left without the housing, structure, and vital support they were counting on. Many of them are now in urgent need of basic necessities as they navigate this sudden and unexpected transition.

That’s why I started this fundraiser — to rally support for those affected and ensure that no one is left behind. Our goal of $12,000 will help provide:

• Toiletries (soap, deodorant, toothpaste, feminine products, etc.)

• Home goods (bedding, towels, laundry supplies, etc.)

• Transportation assistance

• **Other essential needs as identified by participants

These funds will go directly toward assisting those impacted by the closures, helping them maintain dignity and stability while they seek out their next steps. We want to make sure they’re not just surviving — but supported.

If you’ve ever been helped by Job Corps, or if you believe in the power of second chances and community, I ask you to stand with us now.

Every donation, no matter the size, makes a real impact.

And if you’re unable to give right now, please share this campaign with your networks. The more visibility we gain, the more lives we can touch.

From one alum to another, from one human to another — thank you. Your support matters.

Let’s come together and take care of our own.