Meet Jeremiah Steen | Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeremiah Steen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeremiah, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Throughout my career – in the early stages, I served on several youth advisory boards. Through these opportunities I learned the importance of organization critique. Also, I learned how organizations were using young people as performative pieces when fundraising on their behalf. Many organizations would claim that the young people that they worked with were at-risk, vulnerable, in desperate need of service and the program they need funding for would be for youth by youth – youth receiving opportunities to gain leadership skills and develop a in-depth understanding of the industry’s ecosystem that they were in. In reality, the young people were trotted out in front of donors – using deficit framed language, the organization would receive the funding, then send the young people to the backroom to eat pizza – passive consumption instead of active production.

I started the Steen Foundation, because I wanted to ensure that their was adequate funding opportunities that didn’t require organization to create deficit framed language to denigrate their served community- youth. Young people deserve to be in control of there narrative, young people deserve to receive the tools and resources necessary for them to achieve their aspirations and young people deserve a seat at the table. The Steen Foundation was designed to ensure that all young people have representation at every table and in every room where decisions are being made about them.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In 2018, I was selected to be the youngest Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots Fund II Fellow, which provided me the opportunity to work with Jane Goodall and her team for a year. This opportunity taught me the power of philanthropy, storytelling, social investment and service learning. I returned home from this opportunity inspired and ready to make a difference.

Detroit Public Schools Community District cut their budget significantly, which required them to take out art classes, stem programs and musical theater from their schools. So, I used the funding from my fellowship to start The Steen Foundation – the first black youth lead foundation that follows the Critical Youth Theory model-the intentional resistance of a set of ideas that have historically and culturally stopped young people from holding positions of power by inspiring ethical action and true innovation with a lasting impact, across the country. We partnered with multiple grassroots organizations – MOCAD Teen Council, Black to the Land Coalition and Afro-Future Youth to provide programming to decrease this creative deficit happening in our schools.

COVID-19 disrupted our programming, which made it difficult to connect with our young people, so we pivoted our approach. My team noticed that internships and fellowships were being canceled due to budget cuts from the pandemic, which uncovered a larger issue- the underinvestment in tailored career pathways- especially for youth of color in conservation and arts and culture. Now, the Steen Foundation provides internships and fellowships to support young people achieve their aspirations. Also, the Steen Foundation provides organizational critique, focus group support and consultation to for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Also, I leverage my board positions, community connections and skillset to increase youth engagement, resource allocation and career placement for youth in Michigan.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start the day – weather permitting, taking a long walk on the Dequindre Cut and the Riverwalk, then I would grab lunch at Jose’s Tacos in Eastern Market. I would go eat my lunch at Michigan Central. Once, I wrapped up lunch I would visit the museum district and check out the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Historical Society. After, I would go get dinner at Highlands – restaurant on the 71st floor of the GM building. Then, I would go on a MyFlight helicopter tour of the city. Lastly, I would stop at The Greek – great bar in Greektown.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have so many people that have played major roles in my personal and professional development. My grandfather has been a major supporter of work and his sound and ethical guidance has been critical to my success. There are two individuals – mother and grandmother, that have invested their time, talent, treasure and testimony with me on countless occasions. There is no way I could adequately describe their impact during this interview, but I can share the most valuable lessons I learned from them.

My mother is a brilliant servant leader who allows God to guide her steps and ensure that every decision she makes comes from the heart. I watched my mother hurdle barriers, slay dragons and cut down mountains to advocate for young people, homebound seniors and her family – especially her children. The level of time and investment she put into the things she cares about was unfathomably unparalleled. I realized that early on that not many young people had someone in their corner – early on, that was strategically investing in them to ensure they achieved their aspirations. The Steen Foundation invest in the aspiration of young people, which is really my opportunity to give what was given to me. My mother is the sole reason I decided to have the faith to begin my path into philanthropy.

My grandmother is a retired Detroit Public School Community District teacher, with over 3 decades of experience educating the next generation. I learned from her the gift of exploration and the commitment of remains informed. She takes time out her day to tailor news articles, reports and social media post that discuss shifts in the philanthropic ecosystem. This allows me to remain ahead of the curve on trends and develop high level strategy on how youth should be involved. Any topic I bring up with her from politics, arts & culture, conservation, pop culture and my personal problems; she always has a well-informed opinion with countless amounts of data and evidence. Her ability to turn very complex issues into simple language along with her many other attributes have been an invaluable gift.

Also, I would like to shoutout Angelique Powers, Bill Emerson, Amy Nederlander and Jelani Stowers for continuing to pour their time, talent, treasure and testimony in me. I only hope that I can return my the investment you all have made in me ten times over.

Website: https://www.steenfoundation.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremiah.steen/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiah-steen-439321177