At Making It Happen Foundation, the mission is bold and clear: to uplift youth and young adults—especially in underserved urban areas—by equipping them with the creative, technical, and professional tools needed to thrive in the digital, media, and entertainment industries. Based in Royal Oak, Michigan, this community-based organization is driven by the belief that every young person deserves a shot at realizing their creative dreams, regardless of background or zip code.
Their signature initiative, HEROES TECH, embodies this mission. Through this program, participants engage in hands-on training in music technology, digital media, and other creative trades, earning certifications and building real-world experience. Making It Happen Foundation ensures that the skill training is tied to actual pathways: co-ops, internships, and college support for participants to declare majors aligned with their training.
Goals With Grit: What They Aim to Achieve
1. Create Sustainable Career Pipelines
Instead of one-off training, Making It Happen Foundation aims to build enduring pipelines—starting with youth exposure and training, through internships and co-ops, and culminating in college admission or employment in creative industries.
2. Foster Access and Equity
The foundation zeroes in on communities where access to creative training is limited. In Detroit and nearby locales, they aim to bridge the gap by delivering high-quality, certification-based training that’s often out of reach in urban settings.
3. Cultivate Creative Leaders
Beyond technical skills, Making It Happen Foundation encourages participants to become leaders and innovators—people who will give back, create new content, and push the boundaries of art, sound, and digital media.
4. Financial Sustainability & Growth
To keep their momentum going, they aim to raise at least $100,000 (and more) through campaigns and partnerships. That investment helps them scale, sustain stipends, equipment, staff, and scholarships.
Impact in Action: Changing Lives Through Creativity
The numbers and stories speak volumes:
- 100% program completion and certification among participants—meaning every student who enters finishes with credentials they can use. Making It Happen Foundation
- Year-round employment opportunities via co-ops and internships, opening doors into real work in media and entertainment. Making It Happen Foundation
- College admission and aligned major declarations—students transition from training into formal education in their creative field. Making It Happen Foundation
- A robust focus on Detroit-area youth, regardless of school enrollment status, ensuring broad access. Making It Happen Foundation
In practice, that means a teen passionate about music production can enter HEROES TECH, learn studio engineering, intern at a recording studio, and then enroll in a college audio engineering program—fully supported along the way.
Beyond individual success stories, Making It Happen Foundation is contributing to a shift in how creative talent is nurtured in urban settings—demonstrating that high-quality creative education doesn’t have to be siloed in elite schools or expensive institutions.
Why This Matters — And How You Can Join In
Creative industries are growing fast, and there’s a rising demand for skilled professionals in audio engineering, music production, digital media, and other trades. Yet many urban communities lack access to training, equipment, and mentorship. Making It Happen Foundation exists precisely to close that gap.
If you believe in unlocking potential through art, technology, and creativity, there are ways to get involved:
- Donate, whether one-time or recurring, to help them reach their $100,000+ goal.
- Partner — organizations, studios, or tech firms can collaborate to provide internships, equipment, or funding.
- Volunteer or mentor, offering guidance, workshops, or professional insight.
- Spread the word — share their story, champion their mission, and help more young creatives discover the opportunity.
Creativity is currency — and Making It Happen Foundation is minting it in communities that deserve access. If we all contribute a little, the collective impact becomes big.
