02/27/2026
Something special happened at 181 last week.
To celebrate 100 years, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation launched the Youth Choice Awards, 100 grants of $1,926 placed directly into the hands of young people to create change in their own community.
And guess what?? 181 students were selected.
But hereās what made it even more specialā¦
For the first time, Ridgway White personally came out and handed our students a giant check. That moment wasnāt about money. It was about belief. Belief that Flint teens arenāt problems to solve, theyāre leaders to empower.
At 181, we talk about making a 180-degree life change. We talk about identity, purpose, leadership, faith, and ownership.
Last week, our students didnāt just talk about impact. They were trusted to create it.
And to top it off, we also received a speaker from the Mott Foundation to further support whatās happening inside 181.
Thatās favor. Thatās partnership. Thatās momentum.
To the Mott Foundation, thank you for trusting our students.
To our teens, you proved something powerful: When you give young people responsibility, they rise to it.
181 isnāt just a program. Itās a movement.
And weāre just getting started.