Lead with purpose, rise with courage
Young people in underserved communities across the United States possess immense potential. Yet, they face disproportionate barriers, including mental health challenges, limited access to enrichment opportunities, and underrepresentation in leadership programs.
The Becoming Initiative is Milaan Foundation’s hybrid, year-long youth leadership and well-being program designed with and for youth to empower them with the skills, confidence, and support to lead in life, work, and community.
Grounded in a holistic intervention framework that integrates Positive Youth Development (PYD), Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and employability skill-building, the program offers a transformative experience that nurtures agency, purpose, and the capacity to lead meaningful change, while emphasizing sustained personal growth and future readiness.
Program Elements and Timeline
The Becoming Initiative integrates continuous virtual engagement with three dynamic in-person anchor workshops, striking a balance between ongoing skill-building and joyful, immersive experiences. The program makes virtual participation exciting and intrinsically motivating, recognizing that today’s digitally fluent youth thrive in interactive, socially connected environments where recognition and engagement go hand in hand.
A defining feature of the program is the capstone project, where participants take on real-world challenges in their communities, create meaningful solutions, and measure their impact. This immersive experience builds toward a professional portfolio and a celebration that recognizes each young person’s transformation and achievements.
Program Participants
Ways to apply
Ready to join us? Apply now to empower your potential and become a changemaker!
Click HereFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can apply for the program by filling out the application on this link.
The program is $1,500 per participant. Full and partial scholarships are available.
We are targeting participants in the Detroit, Flint, East Lansing, and Grand Rapids areas. We are open to other cities in lower Michigan based on the location of applicants.
Applications will be reviewed, rated, and selected by a review committee based on a rating criterion developed to identify the quality and motivation of applications.
A staff member from Milaan foundation will communicate the selection timeline once you submit an application.
Yes, there are partial and full scholarships available based on need. There is a section on the application asking about scholarship needs.
Great! You can make a donation here.
Virtual sessions will be bi-weekly with additional engagement opportunities through digital badges, games, competitions, and virtual meet-ups.
The capstone project is a project chosen by the participant that addresses a need they see in their community. These projects are personalized based on the interest of the participant. It may be a community service project, community event, advocacy project, entrepreneurship project, and so on! We look at this project to be creative and fully led by the participants. Participants can decide to do their capstone project together.