The initiative is made possible through a grant from the Toyota Way Forward Fund and will help empower high school students through health education and career readiness.
Eastern Michigan University has received a $1,016,850 grant from the Toyota Way Forward Fund which will allow the university to launch its new initiative, Way Forward@EMU. Way Forward@EMU will give high school students from Ypsilanti, Wayne/Westland, and Romulus the opportunity to participate in career readiness and health education as a means of preparing them to work in healthcare in the future.
According to an article on Eastern Michigan University’s website, Sondrea Singleton, who serves as the director of Way Forward@EMU, was quoted as saying of the initiative, “Way Forward@EMU represents a bold step in developing the next generation of healthcare leaders by putting tools, training, and mentorship directly into the hands of young people. When we equip youth to educate their peers and communities, we’re not just raising awareness—we’re creating lasting change.”
The program will provide high schoolers with a six-to-eight week paid learning experience during which they gain knowledge about traumatic brain injuries, nutrition, mental health, and general wellness. In addition to the $100 stipend students will earn by participating, they will also receive a credential via the university’s Office of Professional Programs and Training that will certify them as a community health educator. The university’s goal for the program is to have at least 75 students participate and become certified community health educators by December 2025.
The other goals the program has laid out include offering structured mentoring programs that will help the participating students prepare for college, provide experiential opportunities with at least ten partner organizations, and reach at least 800 individuals via its traumatic brain injury education.
Michael Speigl, the dealer principal at Toyota of Ann Arbor, said, “EMU’s forward-thinking approach to pediatric health education aligns seamlessly with Toyota’s mission to drive impactful change.”
To formally launch the Way Forward@EMU program, there will be a celebration on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at the EMU Student Center.
For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the school’s website.