Jason Wilson, founder and CEO of The Yunion, experienced firsthand the negative influence and persuasive power that the hip-hop music culture can have on youth while he was a member of Detroit-based rap group Kaos & Mystro and a music producer for platinum rap artists.

In 2002, his personal experiences led him to first create The Yunion record label in 2002 with the goal of producing music that countered the potentially harmful influences of hip-hop culture. Mr. Wilson soon realized, however, that even when the music stopped the negative pressures continued for metro Detroit youth.

In 2005, In order to gain access to funding needed to expand The Yunion’s mentoring services beyond the reach of music, Mr. Wilson established The Yunion as a nonprofit.

In 2007 we were awarded our first federal grant for mentoring through the U.S. Department of Education, and today The Yunion has reached over 15,000 Metro Detroit youth via innovative prevention programming, engaging workshops, assemblies, and conferences. We have collaborated with over 3-dozen schools, community organizations, and churches in empowering Detroit youth and families.