Detroit Youth Explore Waterfront Careers Aboard Racing Yacht
A 70-foot Santa Cruz racing yacht became a floating classroom on the Detroit River this week as local students traded desks for deck work. The initiative, titled Exposure Creates Opportunity, connects city youth with professional pathways ranging from culinary arts and media production to high-performance maritime navigation.
The program, organized by Detroit Charter Company, partnered with the Detroit Community Sailing Center, Detroit Food Academy, Detroit Yacht Club, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit to provide hands-on industry insights. Students from the Sailing Center and Yacht Club practiced crew coordination and helm navigation, while Food Academy participants managed high-end hospitality tasks by assembling artisanal charcuterie boxes. Meanwhile, representatives from the Boys & Girls Clubs documented the entire operation, gaining practical experience in media production and creative storytelling.
"Sometimes all it takes is one new experience to help a young person discover a passion they never knew existed," said Briana Burke, the company's events coordinator. The organizers intend to scale the program by seeking additional corporate sponsors and equipment donors to broaden the range of career-focused experiences available. By moving the classroom to the water, the company aims to dismantle barriers to entry for local youth in sectors like event management and professional maritime operations.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!