The E.Y.E.S. Initiative

The Silas Norman Medical Scholars program addresses the need for more underserved and underrepresented persons in the field of medicine. E.Y.E.S. Incorporated developed a program to interest youth in entering the field of medical arts. SINORMS targets cohorts of students starting at grade 7 and offers continued education and experiential opportunities through college. Students gain high levels of academic excellence in STEM-related areas. The program honors Dr. Silas Norm, Emeritus, who was a pioneer in the field of Medicine in the Detroit Metro Community.

E.Y.E.S. Incorporated, in partnership with Ford Philanthropy, hosts a summer academy that exposes youth to professional and skilled trade careers. The Academy targets cohorts of students in grades 7 to 10, where students can continue to build their skill sets. Through interactive and stimulating activities, students gain knowledge and experience about 'what it means to work' in the automotive industry. The program operates out of the Ford Community Center-East.

In collaboration with Lawrence Technological University, E.Y.E.S. Incorporated offers a camp that will spark your curiosity and excitement about STEM. Youth engage in fun, innovative daily activities across robotics, biology, engineering, health sciences and chemistry. Through interactive challenges, youth gain practical knowledge and are empowered to explore their interests, build skills, and envision their own future in STEM. This is more than a camp-it's an adventure!

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.

Project Aviation provides a unique forum for youth of color to explore and experience the array of careers available in the field of aviation/avionics/aerospace. Along with aviation partners (Tuskegee Airmen National Museum, Federal Aviation Administration, Wayne State University, MIAT, Western Michigan , Black Pilots of America), youth learn the physics of flight, the mechanics of navigation and weather, and the professional skills needed in this field. A major feature of the program is the opportunity for youth to co-pilot a CESNA plane over the skies of Metro Detroit, as well as a chance to build and fly a drone.

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.

The game of Chess has traditionally been associated with being a unique match for intellectuals. Few people of color have been extended opportunities to participate in this complex board game. BUF partners with Detroit Chess Club to offer urban youth an exciting venture where they can cultivate and execute skills in the areas of problem-solving, logical thinking, and patterns of recognition and concentration. Weekly, youth are trained to play local and national chess matches and even to qualify for participation in international competitions. With a competitive mindset, youth become masters of the chessboard and strive to be crowned a winner.

E.Y.E.S. Incorporated Photography Academy titled ‘Picture Me” offers youth an adventure that not only opens a lens to self-expression, positive self-imagery and self-confidence, but the myriad of careers where photographic talents are used. Youth are educated on the parts and proper use of a camera, the science of lighting, angles and landscaping in forming the perfect picture, and the history of famous Black photographers. Students are encouraged to apply the technical knowledge learned to creatively produce a self-portrait in both a group and individual setting. The program serves as a catalyst to spark interest in the wonderful possibilities of photography.

In partnership with Treasure Within, Inc., E.Y.E.S. Incorporated supports the female leadership program that instills confidence, character and career readiness skills. Held monthly, the young girls learn to discover the treasures within themselves to achieve their potential. Young ladies, ages 8-19, develop social, emotional, etiquette, and intellectual tools. Quarterly, BUF schedules Female Zoom Chats with positive community role models.

Pathway to Excellence, a program supported by E.Y.E.S. Incorporated, has been empowering African American high school students in Detroit Public Schools since its inception in 2010. This leadership development initiative is fully sponsored by Sigma Pi Phi (Boule). One of the oldest African American fraternities in the United States. The program utilizes a group mentoring approach to foster personal growth and executive leadership skills.

E.Y.E.S. Incorporated, in partnership with IKEA, sponsors an Institute to expose youth to the field of retail business and entrepreneurship. Youth learn the basic knowledge of marketing and business planning and cultivate their creative skills. The program targets cohorts of middle and high school youth and provides them with an opportunity to envision a positive future. Students participate in a pitch competition that enhances their ability to communicate.