Our Mission & History
Our mission
We celebrate Detroit area youth ages 12 to 24 and build collective power, agency, leadership, and critical skills alongside them to enact positive change in their lives and communities.Our HISTORY
Born from a powerful desire to help young people through education (HYPE), Teen HYPE emerged as a visionary force for youth development in Detroit. Co-founders Franky Heard Hudson and Ambra Redrick recognized a profound truth: young people’s voices needed to be at the center of their own development, and their inherent strengths could be harnessed as powerful catalysts for growth. Unafraid to tackle difficult teen issues head-on, Hudson and Redrick built a groundbreaking program rooted in six core values: respect, inclusiveness, excellence, safety, diversity, and creativity. With bold determination, they made an unwavering commitment to helping Detroit youth thrive.
Teen HYPE’s impact has grown exponentially since 2004.
We’ve touched the lives of more than 55,000 Detroit-area youth through programs designed to prepare them for life’s challenges and opportunities. Each year, hundreds of students across dozens of schools receive our comprehensive adolescent health education, promoting future-oriented thinking and responsible decision-making while amplifying youth voices.
One of our proudest achievements has been training more than 1,000 teens as Peer Educators. These young leaders take their skills back to their communities, creating a ripple effect of positive change as they mentor and inspire other young people.
Through leadership development, Teen HYPE continues to work toward its vision of a just community where all Detroit-area youth are thriving.