MLK High School Detroit business marketing students develop their plan (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

Leading Detroit Law Firm Mentors MLK Business Students

Story and interviews by Karen H. Samuels/Tell Us Detroit

DETROIT (Tell Us Det) - Turning a good idea into a business is not just a pipe dream for 95 students at Martin Luther King High School in Detroit. Instead, they are learning the inner workings of starting a business from mentors who bring a real world perspective to IDEA, the Improving Detroit through Entrepreneurship Advancement program. IDEA is an innovative six-part course designed to instill entrepreneurial thinking and skills in Detroit Public School students.

Every month leading business owners, attorneys and professionals arrive at the MLK classroom of Julia Hunter, Co-op Marketing instructor to interact with students in small and large groups on topics ranging from finance to best practices in employee relations. Students work in teams to conceive and plan their own business ideas. Ms. Hunter explained that IDEA is being conducted exclusively at MLK this year following enthusiasm and overwhelmingly positive reviews of the program.

On a recent visit to MLK, Tell Us Detroit talked with students who have come up with product concepts they hope will win over customers. Imagine, being able to “Build A Cookie”, said Jasmine Robinson, an IDEA participant. “Kids are so excited by anything sweet, so being able to take dough and put anything in it will be fun”. Team, mate Angela Rowe came up with the idea of “Build A Cooke” based on the “Build a Bear” model. One ROTC student scanned the marketplace and decided an African American owned store was needed for kids to purchase athletic shoes.



The mentors start the day early at MLK reviewing home work assignments, engaging student teams and delivering lectures on that day’s topic. We caught up with mentors Jennifer Neumann and Steve Hilfinger from Foley & Lardner who were helping students with their business plans, a key activity for MLK students in the program. Nederhood explained how IDEA culminates at the end of the year with teams of students presenting their business plans. The hard work of students will be rewarded. The top three teams will win scholarships: $5,000 to the winning team, $2,500 for second place and $1,250 for the third place team.

The IDEA program is the brainchild of Foley & Lardner LLP, a Detroit law firm that in 2008 developed the educational program for the DPS students now in its second year. Working with MLK, Foley & Lardner developed curriculum modules, created experiential learning activities and overall, worked to prepare students for every step in the process of becoming entrepreneur. The firm is also responsible for identifying qualified and competent mentors. The goal is to expand the program to six other schools within DPS.

The lessons students learn from their business mentors also extends beyond the classroom. The IDEA program coordinates off-site visits to businesses including Little Caesar’s, NextEnegy and MediaGenesis; they also plan trips to the Wayne State and the University of Michigan – all funded by Foley & Lardner.

Last year Foley attorneys and staff dedicated several hundred hours of time working with students at MLK; they are also seeking corporate partners to participate and donate their time to building the next generation of Detroit entrepreneurs.