A group of teens from the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan recently got together to celebrate a year of giving, growing and learning. 

On May 31, members of the group gathered in Ferndale to celebrate what they accomplished in 2025-2026 and talk about what they look forward to next school year by participating in culture-building activities, playing games and enjoying each other’s company.  

The YAC is part of the Community Foundation’s commitment to supporting Youth and Education in our region. Participating in the YAC gives young people hands-on opportunities to learn about philanthropy, volunteerism, community leadership and the critical issues facing southeast Michigan.  

Each year, YAC members evaluate applications and recommend grants of $5,000 to $20,000 to youth-serving nonprofits within the Community Foundation’s seven-county service area. The 2025-2026 YAC cohort recommended a total of $85,000 in grants to six organizations, supporting projects ranging from a youth-led literacy initiative to a peer-to-peer leadership development program.  

“Working with the 2025-2026 YAC cohort has been such a pleasure,” Community Foundation Program Officer Ashley Jackson says. “This group of young people has been excited to learn, share their insights, and connect and grow over this past year in ways I didn’t expect. They all jumped in with an open mind and an attitude to serve not only their own communities, but the region.” 

This story originally appeared in our Fall/Winter 2026 REPORT Newsletter