Transformation - YOU, Inc. which is a membership driven organization, values working collaboratively to transcend systemic barriers by involving our members, and other outside partners who are made up of small business owners and professional/ working women who are affiliated with both nonprofit and for profit businesses that have “like” interest in most of the activities and community events that the organization promotes. This helps increase access to resources and develop organizational growth.

​Racial Equity and Social Justice - YOU, Inc. values advancing racial equity and social justice. Our organization has a diversity of members and partners who bring a culturally aware perspective on problem solving, needs and priorities in disadvantaged communities to emerge through our willingness to incorporate individuals from different ethnic, social and racial groups to affiliate with our organization’s mission. We have worked with and partnered with Whites, Nigerians, Latinos and Pakistanians who bring both cultural information and solutions for solving social and economic problems in disadvantaged communities. For example, we allowed an opportunity for a Pakistanian student and a Latino student to participate in being spokesmen for our summer youth entrepreneur training program called, “STEP UP”. We also partnered with Nigerian owners for Farmers Insurance to teach Financial Literacy in one of our empowerment workshops.

Commitment - YOU, Inc. values the relationship-driven capacity building that is collaborative. We make it our goal to have access to a variety of funding platforms and make connections to those who are the decision makers. We understand that we need effective, customized technical support that will assist in meeting the specific needs of our organization to achieve our mission. These partnerships help us become key drivers of change in our community. For example, for the last two years both Zeal Credit and Comerica commited to be instructors for our youth summer program.

Collaboration - YOU, Inc. values investment in organizational development and professional growth. We achieve individual visions for community change through our collaboration with other organizations who are part of a broader network and helping them to address systemic barriers and inequities which could otherwise limit successes. For example, having a relationship with Foresters Financial, a non profit financial institution whose mission is to provide resources to help organizational goals come to fruition and partner with other organizations that promote growth and development, and provide resources to improve the plight in our disadvantaged communities. Another example, YOU, Inc. collaborated with Foresters and KaBoom to build two playgrounds in the inner city Detroit area. We also collaborated with the Bacon Memorial library, and the Southgate Veterans Memorial library who allowed us to host an event for our summer youth program for both 2018 and 2019. We were going to have a fundraiser at the Skillman library but due to the Pandemic, we had to postpone the event until further notice.