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by Miss Ying
Michigan Youth Empowerment Foundation (mYe) is a 501(c3) nonprofit foundation established to develop STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) programs for students K-12 and empower them to thrive in the new technological world. Visit mYe’s website here.

At mYe, we recognize that community service opportunities can enhance academic outcomes, cultivate leadership and help students develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become informed and responsible citizens.

Youth Leadership Committee (YLC) is established within mYe and organized by local 9th-12th grade students who are motivated to help make a difference in the community. The YLC team will identify and develop community service projects and each committee member will take part different roles to reach their shared goals.

Michigan Youth Empowerment Be Entertained at All Times (mYe B.E.A.T.) is a website that arose in light of recent circumstances that resulted in school closings. With so many children and parents home due to the fear of COVID-19, it is even more important to unite in the fight against boredom and academic regression. Therefore, we, as members of mYe YLC have made it our mission to provide an outlet for creative juices, entertainment, and academic achievement, leading to the creation of mYe B.E.A.T.. Our website will be updated weekly so our team can keep you posted on everyday activities that have been specially curated by yours truly to help you BEAT The Boredom!!

Meet the mYe BEAT Team Members:

Team 2024

  • Olivia Xu (Co-President) – Troy High School – 12th
  • Mingming Xu (Co-President) – International  Academy Okma – 12th
  • Ryan Wang (Vice-President) – Troy High School – 12th
  • Brenda Mao (Secretary) – Troy High School – 12th
  • Benjamin Sheng – Troy High School – 12th
  • Daniel Lee – Troy High School – 12th
  • Eric Ni – Northville High School – 12th
  • Sherry Li – Troy High School – 12th
  • Hannah Wang – International Academy Okma – 11th
  • Harrison Wu – Bloomfield Hills High School – 11th
  • Michelle Zhang – Adams High School – 11th
  • Paul Lei – Troy High School – 11th
  • William Dong – Troy High School – 11th
  • Theo Gilbert – Detroit Country Day School – 11th
  • Kyle Wu – International Academy Okmal – 10th

 

Team 2023

  • Andrew Meng, 11th Grade, Troy High School
  • Grace Zhang, 11th Grade, Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School
  • Kevin Yang, 11th Grade, Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School
  • Kevin Cong, 11th Grade, International Academy Central
  • Leyou Jiang, 11th Grade, Troy High School
  • Matthew Zhao, 11th Grade, Troy High School
  • Ryan Cong, 11th Grade, International Academy Central
  • Yule Xie, 11th Grade, International Academy East
  • Benjamin Sheng, 10th Grade, Troy High School
  • Brenda Mao, 10th Grade, Troy High School
  • Daniel (Yungeun) Lee, 10th Grade, Troy High School
  • Eric Ni, 10th Grade, Northville High School
  • Minghan Xu, 10th Grade, International Academy Central
  • Olivia Xu, 10th Grade, Troy High School
  • Sherry (Yuhan) Li, 10th Grade, Troy High School
  • Harrison Wu, 10th Grade, Bloomfield Hills High School
  • Hannah Wang, 10th Grade, International Academy Central
  • Jack Wang, 9th Grade, Troy High School

 

Have a question, a comment? Want to share your idea through our website? Just have something nice to say? We’d love to hear from you! Shoot us a message below and we’ll be sure to get back to you as soon as we can. Thanks!

  • Address:  1100 E. Big Beaver Troy, MI 48083
  • Email:  ylc@myefound.org

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    Joshua Posthuma

    Professional Chess Coach

    Joshua Posthuma is an International Chess Master, 4x Michigan State Chess Champion, and professional chess coach from Farmington Hills, Michigan. He earned the National Master (NM) title in Chicago at age 15, the FIDE Master (FM) title by scoring 9/9 in the 2018 Michigan Invitational at age 18, and the IM title at the 2022 Saint Louis Norm Congress at age 22. Since graduating high school in 2018, Joshua has been a full-time chess coach. In the past few years, he has grown into one of the biggest chess coaches in the state of Michigan. Many of his students have made it into the US Top 50 for their age, with two even reaching NM. His strategic thinking has brought him success both on and off the chess board. When he’s not playing chess, you’ll find him playing other board games, or out on the disc golf course.

    Simone Ispahani

    Founder of Social Brew

    Simone Ispahani became acquainted with the world at an early age having grown up in Colorado, the Netherlands, Australia and Hawaii. Simone eventually made her way to Los Angeles, where she attended Biola University, graduating with a degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice and a minor in Biblical Studies. Being biracial and growing up around a diverse array of cultures, Simone was gifted with a unique understanding of the world and a deep seeded desire to help humanity. In college, she first learned about the issue of human trafficking when an expert speaker on modern day slavery challenged her to join the fight. With a newfound perspective, she started to learn as much as she could about the issue eventually leading her to launch Social Brew in October of 2021. Social Brew is an e-commerce coffee company which donates 50% of profits between two non-profit partners to aid in the fight against human trafficking. Simone’s greatest hope for Social Brew is to cultivate a community that creates a place where trafficking victims are seen, known, loved, and given practical tools that help them take back their lives. In her free time, Simone enjoys sipping coffee at one of her favorite local spots in Santa Monica. She also likes hanging out with her senior dog, Max, painting, baking to feed her sweet tooth, listening to vintage vinyl recordings, and spending time with family and friends.

    SQ Mah

    Google AI Engineer

    SQ studied Electrical Engineering Computer Sciences, and Business Administration at UC Berkeley, and now works as an AI engineer at Google, working on large language models. He has been recognized as Hong Kong’s Young Scientist and Mathematician of the Year, built AI solutions for some of Hong Kong’s largest institutions like the train system, and received second place on the Vesuvius Challenge, an AI competition to read ancient scrolls for which he won $50,000.

    Ahron Wayne

    X-Ray Engineer

    Ahron is a unicycling juggler that happens to do some science and engineering on the side. With a background in biochemistry, biomedical imaging, and 3D printing materials research, Ahron most recently gained infamy for showing the world that one could look inside a pack of Pokemon cards, without opening it, using an x-ray CT scanner purchased on Ebay. You can try to speak to him in Mandarin, but be warned: he learned by watching Peppa Pig (小猪 佩奇).

    Austen Brantley

    Self-Taught Sculptor

    Austen Brantley is a self-taught sculptor from Detroit, Michigan. He discovered his affinity for sculpting during his junior year at Berkley High School. There, Brantley was inspired and encouraged by his ceramics teacher, who saw Austen’s talent for molding beauty from the clay. After only two years, Brantley began receiving local and statewide recognition. Seeking to hone his craft, Austen has proudly worked as a full-time professional artist since 2014. His work has been presented across the country in numerous solo and group exhibitions including two upcoming 2024 shows: Wounds, solo show at M Contemporary, Detroit, MI (August/September); and TBD two-person exhibition at Indy Art Center, Indianapolis, IN (September/December). As Brantley continues to live and work in Detroit, he has dedicated his career to creating a legacy for future generations. An essential step toward this goal has been his public commissions, including his most recent bronze unveiling: a memorial commemorating the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II for the Office of the City of Detroit. At the same time, Austen completed a larger-than-life design for the new Freedom Monument Sculpture Park at the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. He is the recipient of multiple awards, including the prestigious Kresge Arts Fellowship in Detroit last year. Austen aims to provide young people with the opportunity to see themselves reflected in art while also subverting the stereotype of toxic Blackness. A powerful representation of the resilience and strength, each artwork and exhibition hopes to reflect shared experience and challenges his onlookers to seek peace, honor, and excellence.