SINORMS

The Silas Norman Medical Scholars program addresses the need for more underserved and underrepresented persons in the field of medicine. BUF developed a program to interest youth to enter the field of medical arts.

SINORMS targets several cohort of students in grades 7 and 8 to lay the foundation necessary to attain higher levels of academic excellence in STEM - related classes in high school. The program is delivered in the form of a summer academy and monthly workshops.The program honors Dr. Silas Norman-emeritus, who was a pioneer in the field of Medicine in the Detroit Metro Community.

We assist low income youth and families to break the ongoing cycle of economic poverty by empowering them with financial knowledge. Partnering with local and national financial institutions, the program is delivered in the form of workshops, summits, one-on-one mentoring, camps and classroom settings that train participants on how to effectively use money. Participants learn the mechanics of budgeting, savings and investing. Additionally, they learn how to responsibly use credit cards and practice good spending habits. Adult workshops offer information on home ownership, avoiding foreclosure and address high risk financial behaviors.

In October 2015, in commemoration of BUF’s 45th Anniversary, the BUF 45 Scholars program was launched with the goal of assisting 45 African American males, ages 13-21 in their academic, social and career plans over a 5 year period. The program was based on research reporting college graduation rates for black males at 33%. BUF 45 Scholars have been provided with support services, laptop computers, educational and career-oriented field trips, a tailored business suit, trainings for success, information and referrals, and a scholarship to assist with college expenses. Our data to date shows that over 70% of the Scholars have either graduated or are slated to graduate from college with some pursuing graduate studies..

The Sky Is Not The Limit

The program provides a unique forum for minority youth to explore the array of career opportunities available in the field of aviation/aerospace. Along with aviation partners (Tuskegee Airmen National Museum, Black Pilots of America, the Federal Aviation Administration, Wayne State University and various school districts), the program is delivered in the form of a weeklong S.T.E.M. Summer Academy, weekend seminars, aviation career fairs, hands-on workshops, networking with aviation professionals and sharing of aviation resource information.

Overcoming Child Literacy

Partnering with the Calvary Education Center, this program helps to improve the reading, writing and mathematics skills of children by providing needed educational tools in the form of specific adaptive and assistive technology. The program uses a remedial model based on a universal design approach that targets students in the early years struggling with reading and math. Planned interventions engage the student's analytical, written and verbal communication, creative imagination, and abstract thinking skills, and stimulates the child's self-awareness and self-esteem.

SCRATCH CODING
The Achieve and Accelerate program offers a Scratch Coding Summer Academy that features an excellent opportunity to expose youth to the exciting field of coding and opens doors to the myriad of career fields that use computer technology!

BUF of MI exposes youth to non-traditional careers and entrepreneurial opportunities through partnerships with local businesses. Youth learn and experience various facets of running a business. The program targets youth that are considered “at-risk” and provides them an opportunity to envision a positive future. The Academy assists students in grades 9th-11th by working with community partners to generate business ideas, acquire business skills and behaviors, and build self-confidence.

BUF of Michigan, in partnership with the Ford Motor Company is hosting a one week summer pilot academy that exposes youth to professional and skilled trade careers. Through site visits to local businesses, 40 students from Fisher Magnet Upper School will meet company owners and employees, discuss the myriad of career options, and engage in exciting exercises to familiarize them with various professions. The program will operate out of the Ford Resource and Engagement Center-Eastside site.