Metro Detroit high school students explore careers in professional sports at Fueling the Future event

(CBS DETROIT) The Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons play their home games at Little Caesars Arena, which on Tuesday hosted the Fueling the Future event, where 50 high school students from Metro Detroit were given an intensive introduction to professional sports careers.

By giving high school kids direct knowledge of the variety of job options available in the sports industry outside of being an athlete, the program empowers them.

“This means the world to us,” Ally Financial’s Senior Director of Corporate Partnership, Natalie Brown, stated. “This falls into our priorities of economic mobility and workforce development, specifically where we are providing opportunities for students to see all the great careers that happen in sports and entertainment.”

According to Brown, she wants to motivate and show the high school students that sports are about more than simply competition; there are rewarding and long-lasting jobs to be had behind the scenes. She went on to say that financial literacy is crucial.

“What we hope to do today is provide them with a financial educational session on money skills like how to think about money differently and how to apply money techniques in day-to-day life,” Brown stated.

The Pistons’ brand and lifestyle manager, Aaron Johnson, stated that he has been in these students’ position and hopes they will leave Tuesday’s event feeling proud and like they belong.

“I want them to know to persevere,” Johnson was saying. “You understand what I mean when I say that someone who looks like them and is similar to them can hold these positions and wear this suit. Continue, and your efforts will be rewarded.

Students learned about financial literacy, marketing, communications, engineering, and continuing education over a full day of interactive workshops presented by prominent professionals and executives.

Jordan Burrows adores the Midwest and is a Hoosier. He seized the chance to work for CBS News Detroit and is thrilled to report all week long and host the weekend mornings.

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