Life & Work with Jewel Knolton of Metro Detroit

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jewel Knolton.

Hi Jewel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Architect of Opportunity: Jewel Knolton’s Transformative Journey
In a city reinventing itself, Jewel Knolton stands as a masterful bridge-builder connecting Detroit’s untapped talent to its economic future. But how does one become the architect of opportunity for an entire region? For Knolton, it began with an accounting ledger and a vision that extended far beyond balance sheets.
“My foundation in business from Wayne State gave me the financial lens that would later prove invaluable,” reflects Knolton, whose journey from accounting major to workforce development powerhouse defies conventional career trajectories. “I’m grateful for that starting point—it taught me to see both human potential and fiscal reality clearly.”
What Knolton couldn’t have anticipated was how this foundation would catapult her through a series of roles that would reshape Detroit’s workforce landscape. At Focus: HOPE, she evolved from systems manager to division leader, ultimately directing a team of 55 professionals serving 500 adult learners annually. Under her transformative leadership, the organization launched its first-ever Robotics Training Lab and secured over $10 million in workforce development funding.
“The moment we unveiled that Robotics Lab was electric,” Knolton recalls, her eyes brightening. “Watching people who’d been told they had limited options suddenly see themselves programming industrial robots—that changes not just careers but generational trajectories.”
This ability to see around corners—to anticipate where industry was heading before others—became Knolton’s signature. When national workforce giant Year Up decided to establish a Detroit presence, they turned to Knolton to lead the charge. The results were stunning: 100% program retention and every participant connected to coveted work experiences with corporate titans like Chase and Bank of America.
“Detroit has never lacked talent,” Knolton insists, leaning forward with intensity. “What we’ve lacked are bridges between that talent and opportunity. I’m thankful to be among those building those bridges.”
Now, as Senior Director of Talent Initiatives at the Detroit Regional Workforce Partnership within the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan, Knolton orchestrates collaboration between sectors that rarely found themselves at the same table—higher education, government, business, and philanthropy.
“What makes Jewel extraordinary,” says a colleague who’s worked with her across multiple initiatives, “is that she speaks all these languages fluently—she understands the academic priorities, the business imperatives, the community needs, and the philanthropic goals. She’s like a universal translator in a field where miscommunication is common.”
This talent for synthesis hasn’t gone unnoticed. Michigan Chronicle named her among their 40 under 40 in 2020. The US Chamber of Commerce Foundation selected her for their elite Talent Pipeline Management Academy. The Aspen Institute welcomed her as an Economic Opportunities Fellow.
Yet for all her professional accolades, it’s Knolton’s volunteer work that reveals her deeper motivations. Her board service with the Lynette O. Blocker Foundation, supporting individuals entering skilled trades, and Encourage Me I’m Young (EMIY), focused on mentorship and suicide prevention, speaks to a commitment that extends beyond office hours.
“These aren’t separate missions for me,” she explains. “Workforce development at its best is about human flourishing, about helping people discover and deploy their gifts in ways that benefit themselves and their communities.”
Even as she pursues her PhD at Hampton University, Knolton’s research focuses on equity in career and technical education—a scholarly extension of her practical mission to ensure opportunity flows to all corners of Detroit.
Her leadership philosophy, which she likens to an umbrella “providing comprehensive coverage and protection,” reveals Knolton’s understanding that workforce development isn’t just about skills and jobs—it’s about creating environments where people can thrive despite systemic challenges.
“I’m immensely grateful for this journey,” Knolton acknowledges, “but I’m even more excited about Detroit’s journey forward. When we fully tap the potential that’s always been here—watch out world.”
In a region where workforce conversations often center on what’s missing, Jewel Knolton has built a career focused on what’s possible—and in doing so, has helped rewrite Detroit’s narrative from one of deficit to one of untapped abundance.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
“The road hasn’t always been smooth,” Knolton acknowledges with characteristic candor. “Trying to transform workforce systems means confronting deeply entrenched barriers—institutional resistance, funding uncertainties, and sometimes skepticism that certain communities can truly thrive in emerging industries.”
She recalls a particularly challenging period during her time at Focus: HOPE when program funding was jeopardized during an economic downturn. “We had students mid-training, dreams in progress, and suddenly our funding model was in question. Those were sleepless nights—knowing that real people’s futures hung in the balance of decisions beyond their control.”
The challenge of building Year Up’s Detroit program from scratch during a pandemic presented another steep climb. “We were launching something entirely new in a moment when in-person connection was impossible. The digital divide wasn’t theoretical—it was a daily obstacle for our participants and for us as an organization.”
What’s remarkable about Knolton’s approach to these obstacles is her refusal to lower expectations—either for the systems she’s working to change or for the talent she’s working to elevate.
“There’s this persistent narrative that to serve marginalized communities, you have to water down programs or accept lesser outcomes,” she says, shaking her head firmly. “I’ve found exactly the opposite to be true. When you design excellence and refuse to compromise on quality, people rise to meet you there—especially those who’ve rarely been given the opportunity to excel.”
The institutional struggles have been matched by personal ones—balancing doctoral studies with leadership responsibilities, navigating organizational politics while staying true to mission, and sometimes being the only person of color in decision-making rooms where the futures of predominantly Black and Brown communities were being determined.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My Professional Focus: Where Workforce Development Meets Creative Expression
My work lives at the intersection of workforce transformation and creative expression. As Senior Director of Talent Initiatives at the Detroit Regional Workforce Partnership, I orchestrate industry-specific committees and programming collaborations across higher education, government, civic, and philanthropic sectors. What truly energizes me is developing frameworks that position our region as a national leader in creating innovative connections between education systems and the business community—all with equity and opportunity as guiding principles.
However, what many colleagues discover only after working closely with me is how deeply my creative sensibilities inform my professional approach. My artistic background in visual design, creative writing, and digital storytelling has shaped my unique perspective on workforce challenges.

Jet Media One: The Canvas for My Creative Vision
In 2021, I founded Jet Media One as Principal Consultant, which embodies the perfect marriage between my workforce expertise and creative passions. This venture allows me to tap into my artistic talents while addressing serious workforce challenges. Through this consultancy, I blend analytical problem-solving with creative expression, offering services including:

-Creating visual storytelling campaigns that transform workforce data into compelling narratives
-Developing original photography and visual art that captures the dignity and potential of workforce program participants
-Designing bespoke graphic elements for reports and presentations that make complex information visually intuitive
-Crafting compelling social media campaigns with custom-designed visual assets that reach untapped talent pools

This venture represents my belief that workforce development doesn’t have to be sterile or purely analytical—it can and should be creative, visually striking, and emotionally resonant. Jet Media One allows me to merge my left-brain analytical abilities with my right-brain creative talents, serving clients ranging from community foundations to corporate partners looking to reimagine their approach to talent development.

What Sets My Approach Apart
My professional signature is the seamless integration of analytical rigor with creative expression. While most workforce leaders excel at either data analysis or program design, I bring a third dimension: creative interpretation and communication. I don’t just understand the numbers and design the interventions—I create the visual language and emotional narrative that makes these initiatives resonate with both participants and stakeholders.
My approach has been shaped by my lifelong passion for creative pursuits outside the office. I’ve developed an eye for visual storytelling that informs how I present workforce data.

What truly sets Jet Media One apart is that we don’t see creativity as window dressing for “serious” workforce work—we see it as fundamental to solving workforce challenges in new ways. Our creative design thinking has helped organizations break through long-standing barriers by approaching problems from entirely new angles. This fusion of workforce development expertise with artistic sensibility creates solutions that are not only effective but inspiring.

Proudest Achievements
I’m most proud of creating pathways to economic mobility that engage both the practical and creative potential of individuals:

What brings me the greatest satisfaction is seeing individuals discover that their creative instincts have economic value. Every time a participant realizes they don’t have to choose between meaningful creative expression and financial stability—that the two can be integrated in today’s economy—I see the potential for transformation that extends far beyond a single job placement. This holistic impact on how people see themselves and their possibilities is what continues to drive my work forward.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
The Role of Providence in My Journey
When asked about luck’s role in my life and business, I have to share that I don’t frame my experiences through the lens of luck or chance. Instead, I trust God and see His divine providence guiding my path through both challenges and triumphs.
What some might call “good luck” – like securing key opportunities at organizations like Focus: HOPE, Year Up, and now the Detroit Regional Workforce Partnership – I recognize as divine timing and preparation. Each door that opened wasn’t random fortune but rather purposeful positioning. When I founded Jet Media One in 2021, it wasn’t a lucky break but the culmination of skills, relationships, and insights that God had been cultivating in me for years.

Similarly, what others might view as “bad luck” – the funding challenges, institutional resistance, and structural barriers I’ve encountered – I’ve come to recognize as growth opportunities that strengthened my resolve and refined my approach. These weren’t unfortunate accidents but rather necessary parts of my development journey.
This perspective fundamentally shapes how I approach my work in workforce development and through Jet Media One. I don’t leave outcomes to chance or fortune; I combine diligent preparation with faithful trust. This mindset has proven particularly valuable in Detroit’s workforce landscape, where sustainable success requires more than lucky breaks – it demands perseverance, strategic thinking, and a deep belief that there’s purpose even in the challenges.
The consistent thread through my professional journey hasn’t been luck but rather purpose and divine guidance. From my early foundation in business at Wayne State through my current creative and strategic work, I’ve witnessed too many “coincidences” that aligned at just the right moment to dismiss them as mere happenstance.
This trust in God’s guidance gives me confidence to take calculated risks, whether launching new training programs or pursuing innovative approaches through Jet Media One. It’s not about waiting for luck to strike, but moving forward with faith that my steps are ordered with purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jetmediaone.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jetmediaone/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jewel-knolton-28373b79/