THEVALUABLE 50
Know Your History. Know Your Worth. Choose Your Future.
A 10-week program for 25 Saginaw households. One young person and one parent or guardian, in the same room, learning side by side.
The whole family hears the same message.
The Valuable 50 brings a young person and their parent or guardian into the same room, driving the same point together. Parents get the same lessons on history and self-worth that they may have missed growing up, and they help hold the young person accountable between sessions.
- Parents and guardians learn the same history and self-worth lessons as the young people.
- Parents can get help with employment and training.
- Transportation support is available so families can get to sessions.
- Each participant has a mentor, with check-ins between sessions.
A young person
Building identity, self-worth, and a real plan for the future.
A parent or guardian
Learning alongside them, with support for work and training.
Changing is not weakness. Walking away does not make you a coward. Wanting more does not mean you forgot where you came from. It means you understand what your life is worth.Antonio L. Brooks Sr., Program Lead
Mindset transformation and violence prevention, rooted in culture.
The Valuable 50 helps participants recognize their value, understand the strength and achievement in Black history, respond to conflict with wisdom, and build realistic pathways toward education, employment, entrepreneurship, and community leadership.
It does not define anyone by their hardest experiences or ask them to reject where they come from. It helps them redirect the courage, intelligence, loyalty, resilience, and influence they already have toward choices that protect their freedom, families, and futures.
Our mission: to transform survival-based thinking into purpose-driven living through cultural history, self-worth, emotional awareness, conflict resolution, mentorship, and practical opportunities.
Vision
See a life beyond present circumstances and define a future worth protecting.
Ancestry
Learn Black history, achievement, resistance, culture, and resilience beyond a story that begins with slavery.
Life Skills
Build communication, decision-making, financial, employment, and relationship skills.
Understanding Self
Recognize identity, trauma, triggers, strengths, emotions, and personal worth.
Empowered Choices
Use conflict resolution, walking away, goal-setting, and support to choose a stronger future.
One theme each week.
Every lesson connects to the VALUE framework, moving from who you are, to where you come from, to the future you choose.
Who Am I
Identity beyond reputation, personal values, strengths and gifts.
Our History Is Bigger Than Slavery
African civilizations, Black achievement, local history, resilience and resistance.
How the Street Mindset Develops
Survival mode, trauma, respect and belonging, peer pressure.
Knowing Your Value
Self-worth, clout and approval, personal gifts, protecting the future.
Strength Is Walking Away
Triggers, emotional control, de-escalation, real-life role play.
Grief, Anger and Healing
Loss and betrayal, abandonment, healthy coping, asking for help.
The Possible Future
College and Job Corps, skilled trades, culinary and technology, leadership.
Money, Business and Ownership
Income and wealth, budgeting and credit, legitimate income, entrepreneurship.
Purpose and Personal Responsibility
Dependability, relationships and parenting, repairing harm, personal code.
The New Blueprint
A 90-day action plan, a support network, a commitment presentation, and graduation.
Two hours that feel active, not like another lecture.
Music, visual history, videos, storytelling, debates, and real scenarios from school, online, home, and the community. Guest speakers bring lived experience and credible pathways.
- 20 minutesWelcome, check-in, and circle connection
- 25 minutesHistory, identity, or mindset lesson using visuals and stories
- 20 minutesCredible-messenger story or guest speaker
- 25 minutesSmall-circle discussion with a consistent mentor
- 20 minutesScenario, role play, skill practice, or planning
- 10 minutesWeekly commitment, support request, and check-out
What every graduate leaves with.
Sessions held at Chil_Space in Saginaw.
A full, welcoming space with tables and seating, projectors, speakers and a mic, and room for every circle to talk. Just show up. Everything we need is already there.
Chil_Space
Fashion Square Mall
4829 Fashion Square Mall, Suite D426
Saginaw, MI 48604
Get directions
Save your household's spot.
Space is limited to 25 households. The sign-up form takes a few minutes and asks for:
- Participant name
- Date of birth
- Email and phone
- Address
- Parent or guardian name and contact
- Anything you want us to know