Equipping today’s decisions to build tomorrow’s legacy.
Fourth Quarter Legacy Center equips youth and emerging talent from overlooked communities with real skills in the trades, technology, and media — and the leadership to use them well.
The quarter where it’s decided.
In any game, the fourth quarter is where it’s decided. It’s not about the plays already run — it’s about what you do with the time that’s left. We believe every generation gets a fourth quarter: a stretch of decisions that determines what gets passed down.
The skills we build and the decisions we make today are our organization’s fourth quarter — and the legacy on the line is our fourth generation.
Real skills. Real leadership. Four generations out.
Our Mission
Fourth Quarter Legacy equips youth and emerging talent from overlooked communities — with an intentional focus on young men from middle school through early adulthood — with real skills in the trades, technology, and media, and the leadership to use them well.
We believe the decisions we make and the skills we build today are what carry our fourth generation forward.
Our Vision
A future where the communities that history overlooked are the ones leading the next generation of skilled trades, technology, and storytelling.
Where a young person who walked in curious walks out as a tradesperson, technologist, storyteller, or founder — equipped to lead their family and community for four generations to come.
Communities the pipeline skips.
Michigan’s tech, mobility, and innovation economy is booming — right in our backyard at places like Michigan Central. But the pipeline into that growth still skips over the communities that need it most.
Community Focus
Overlooked communities across Metro Detroit — with deliberate focus on people of color and women seeking real access to skilled trades, tech, and media careers.
Youth Focus
Young men from middle school through early adulthood — a population too often written off, given direct pathways into skills, mentorship, and leadership.
Four pillars, one legacy.
Leadership is the thread connecting every technical skill we teach. We develop the whole person — not just the technical worker.
Leadership & Legacy Development
The FoundationCultivating the decision-makers of tomorrow. Woven into every technical skill we teach is a core focus on leadership, equipping individuals to understand how their character, choices, and leadership today directly impact and guide the generations to come.
- Mentorship and near-peer leadership models
- Decision-making and ownership-mindset curriculum
- A clear path: participant → mentor → founder
- Practice leading real projects, not hypothetical ones
The Power of Storytelling
Media & CreationEmpowering communities to capture, design, and own their narratives as thought leaders. This vertical focuses on the creative and technical art of audio/video media creation, podcasting, short films, and digital design.
- Photo & video capture, editing, and production
- Brand and graphic design fundamentals
- Podcast development — concept through publish
- Short film and story film production
- Portfolio-building for real creative work
Technology & Systems Integration
The Skilled TradeBridging the gap between physical spaces and digital experiences. This vertical provides hands-on workforce development in the installation of video walls, network infrastructure, commercial lighting, and complex AV systems.
- Video wall installation and configuration
- Network installation, wiring, and setup
- Commercial lighting and complex AV systems
- Systems & device programming
- Hands-on pathway toward industry certifications
Programming & Innovation
The Tech Startup EcosystemBuilding the architects of tomorrow’s technology. This vertical leans into software programming, data analytics, IoT device integration, and equipping individuals with the skills to launch, lead, and scale tech startups.
- Software programming fundamentals
- Data analytics and applied problem-solving
- IoT device integration
- Launching, leading, and scaling a tech startup
The Fourth Quarter Pathway
Five stages, one loop — the ones who finish come back to lead the ones who start.
Exposure
Middle school intro to trades, tech, and media.
Skill-Building
Hands-on training across all four pillars.
Proof of Work
Certifications, portfolio, and real projects.
Launch
Career, trade, apprenticeship, or startup.
Return
Alumni come back as mentors — the legacy loop.
Why now.
Fourth Quarter Legacy Center is based at Newlab at Michigan Central in Detroit — a mobility and innovation hub home to more than 100 startups. Our participants aren’t training in a classroom disconnected from the real thing; they’re building skills steps away from the companies actually hiring for them.
Michigan’s mobility and tech sector is scaling fast at Michigan Central — the jobs are being created now.
The talent pipeline into those jobs is not yet reaching the communities most in need of it.
Our community is ready — demand for trade, tech, and media training already exceeds capacity.
Every cohort we build today compounds into the next generation’s starting point.
The Fourth Quarter Impact“Whether our students are mastering a skilled trade, launching a tech startup, or directing a short film, they are doing so as leaders in training. The skills we develop right now are not just for immediate employment — they are the foundation of a legacy.”
Fourth Quarter Legacy Center
Ways to build the fourth quarter with us.
Fund the pipeline, hire from it, teach in it, or join it. Every path below moves the same mission forward.
Funders & Donors
Invest directly in the pipeline — fund a cohort, a pillar, or general operations.
Fund a cohort →Companies & Institutions
Hire our graduates, sponsor equipment or lab space, or send mentors and guest instructors.
Become a partner →Schools & Community Orgs
Refer youth, co-host workshops, and help us reach the families who need this most.
Refer & collaborate →Youth & Families
Ready to build a skill and a future? Tell us about the young person you have in mind.
Join a program →The decisions we make today are the legacy we leave tomorrow.
Let’s build the fourth quarter together. Fund a cohort, sponsor a pillar, open an apprenticeship, mentor a student, or refer a family into the pipeline.