OUR
DNA
Programs are what we do.
Relationships are
how we do it.
Streets 517 was built around a simple conviction: meaningful impact in the lives of young people requires proximity, consistency, and trust.
Our programs have grown. Our partnerships have expanded. But the way we approach the work has remained remarkably simple.
Get close. Show up consistently. Build relationships that last.
THE FUTURE OF
LANSING RUNS THROUGH IT'S YOUTH
#1
homegrown team
We believe the people closest to the community are essential to serving it well.
Streets was born in Lansing, and we intentionally build a team that reflects the community we serve. Many of our staff are Lansing School District alumni who know these schools, neighborhoods, and experiences firsthand.
We're not outsiders coming in to fix a community.
We're investing in our own.
#2
FIXTURE IN SCHOOLS
Presence comes before influence.
We don't just show up when it's time to run a program. Our team becomes part of the everyday rhythm of the schools we serve—hallways, cafeterias, classrooms, after-school spaces, and everywhere in between.
That consistency creates familiarity. Familiarity creates trust. And trust creates the opportunity for relationships that matter.
Students shouldn't have to wonder if we'll be back.
#3
PROVEN TRACK RECORD
Relationships matter. Results do too.
Years of school partnerships, student relationships, measurable outcomes, and shared data have allowed Streets to demonstrate that this approach works.
We listen. We measure. We learn. We adapt. And we hold ourselves accountable to more than good intentions.
Behind every number is a young person—and we believe both the story and the data matter.
WHY "STREETS"?
It’s our streets that make up a city.
Streets create the boundaries of neighborhoods and school districts. They're how we tell people where we live, where we're from, and how to find us.
Streets take us places. They provide a way in, a way through, and sometimes a way out.
For us, the name has always been about place, proximity, and direction.
This is our city. These are our streets. These are our young people.
