Kalasho Education & Youth Services

What Kalasho Education & Youth Services does

Kalasho Education & Youth Services is a Michigan-based nonprofit organization founded in 2001 (with predecessor entity AACCOS dating to 1993) that delivers an integrated portfolio of social services to New American, refugee, and low-income families across 25+ Michigan communities. The organization operates through seven wholly-owned sub-brands/subsidiaries: KEYS Grace Academy (K-8 charter education for immigrant and low-income students), INVEST Centers (high school completion and workforce development, including a new School of Engineering launched with SME Foundation in 2024), MINDgarden (mental health and behavioral health therapy for children and adolescents, with a new physical center broken ground in 2024), KEYS Food Service (nutrition programs serving as food service authority for dozens of Michigan institutions), CODE Next Gen (immigration legal aid and advocacy), MINDmini (a 2026-launched flexible community-space concept for children, partnered with Huntington Bank and piloted at Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility), and the parent Kalasho Empowerment of Young Scholars (KEYS) educational management entity.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; it is explicitly described in the source data as a social services nonprofit without a technology stack. Service delivery relies on human counselors, teachers, and case workers distributed across 27 partner institutions and four county/state government relationships (Wayne, Macomb, Oakland, MDHHS). Per the firmographic data, the organization directly employs 7 people while the network comprises 50+ employees. To date it has served 30,000+ New Americans from 25+ countries, serves 6,000 children daily, and claims to have created 275+ jobs.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded nonprofit operations. Services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries, and revenue (not publicly disclosed) derives from government grants, foundation funding, corporate partnerships, and institutional contracts (notably KEYS Food Service contracts with school districts and the food service authority role). GTM is community-led: program awareness and intake are driven by referrals from schools, county governments, nonprofits, and word-of-mouth in immigrant communities, supported by an Instagram presence (#KalashoEDU) and earned media coverage in Detroit-area outlets. Leadership is family-driven: the Kalasho family founded and remains represented on the board (Nathan Kalasho, Dylan Kalasho), with Executive Director Sumaiya Ahmed Sheikh running day-to-day operations.

Name

Kalasho Education & Youth Services

Legal name

Kalasho Education & Youth Services

Website

https://kalasho.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kalasho Education & Youth Services is a Michigan nonprofit (founded 2001) operating seven sub-brands that deliver education, behavioral health, nutrition, legal aid, and workforce development services to 30,000+ New Americans and underserved youth across 25+ Michigan communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJAIAB

School-Based Mental & Behavioral Health Services

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Student Health, Safety & Wellbeing Services (Counseling, Mental Health, SEL, Safeguarding)

SECONDARYEDAJALAG

Mental Health Counseling & Therapy Services (K–12)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Educational Support Services (Tutoring & Counseling)

SECONDARYEDAJAEAI

Court/Community School Programs (Diversion, Probation-Linked, Community Day Schools)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Alternative & At-Risk K–12 Education (Continuation, Recovery, Juvenile)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Youth education programs
• Immigrant support services
• Workforce development training
• Behavioral health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Warren

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding & Donations: As a nonprofit organization established in 2001, Kalasho Education & Youth Services operates primarily through grant funding, donations, and community partnerships to fund educational programs, workforce development, behavioral health services, and nutrition programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kalasho Education & Youth Services is a non-profit organization operating a network of programs that provide educational services (K-8, high school completion, adult literacy), behavioral health therapy, immigration legal aid and advocacy, workforce development and job training, and nutrition services. Programs are delivered through wholly-owned subsidiaries including MINDgarden (mental healthcare), KEYS Grace Academy (K-8 education), INVEST Centers (high school and workforce), KEYS Food Service (nutrition), CODE Next Gen (legal services), and MINDmini (community spaces) to serve New Americans, youth, and low-income families across Michigan.

Product overview

Kalasho Education & Youth Services is a non-profit organization offering a coordinated portfolio of educational, health, and social service programs for youth and families. The organization operates as a network of distinct programs: MINDgarden provides mental healthcare therapy for children and adolescents; KEYS Grace Academy delivers K-8 education for immigrant and low-income families; INVEST Centers offer high school completion and workforce development; KEYS Food Service provides nutritious meals and nutrition education; Kalasho Empowerment of Young Scholars (KEYS) manages educational initiatives; CODE Next Gen delivers legal services and advocacy; and MINDmini creates flexible community spaces for children. These programs collectively serve New Americans and underserved communities across Michigan, providing integrated support from education and mental health to food security and legal advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MINDgarden: Mental healthcare therapy for children and adolescents through compassionate counseling, innovative place-based therapy, and essential life skills
• KEYS Grace Academy
• INVEST Centers
• KEYS Food Service
• CODE Next Gen
• MINDmini
• Kalasho Empowerment of Young Scholars (KEYS)

Products and services

• MINDgarden Mental Healthcare Mental healthcare therapy for children and adolescents offering compassionate counseling, innovative place-based therapy, and essential life skills to foster growth, resilience, and confidence.
• KEYS Grace Academy K-8 learning and education institution supporting immigrant student services for individuals and low-income families from the Middle East and other regions through parent engagement programs, weekly seminars, and enrichment classes.
• INVEST Centers Traditional high school, high school completion, and workforce development services providing comprehensive support to underserved communities through counseling, tailored resources, and collaborative partnerships to bridge educational gaps.
• KEYS Food Service Food and nutrition service providing vital, nutritious meals to children in need, removing food-related barriers to success through meal planning, nutritional education, and community involvement.
• CODE Next Gen Legal Services Legal services and advocacy program empowering New American families through immigration legal aid (asylum, green cards, citizenship), Know Your Rights workshops, legal clinics, and bilingual advocacy support.
• Kalasho Empowerment of Young Scholars (KEYS) Educational management and youth empowerment initiative unlocking the potential of young scholars through education and empowerment, fostering their development into leaders of tomorrow.
• MINDmini Community Spaces Flexible community-design concept creating one-of-a-kind spaces for children shaped by specific community needs. First project at Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility focuses on youth within the justice system, transforming environments to encourage learning, creativity, reflection, and growth.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ New Americans from 25+ countries served
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SME FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to launch INVEST School of Engineering with SME Prime, expanding technical education offerings
• CODE Legal AidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership with CODE Legal Aid to expand resettlement and legal aid advocacy services for New American families, including collaboration with ACLU to halt Iraqi deportations
• Hazel Park SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Partnership to found INVEST schools serving ethnic and less-privileged groups through educational programs
• Lewis College of BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Early partnership with Lewis College of Business for business education and entrepreneurial skill development
• Detroit PistonsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership for youth basketball camp programs, providing students with jerseys and athletic equipment to promote youth development
• Wayne CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partnership providing services and support for community programs including MINDmini at Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility
• Macomb County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partnership supporting community programs and services across Macomb County
• Oakland CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partnership supporting community programs and services across Oakland County
• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partnership for health access and wellness programs serving Michigan residents
• Starze EquestrianminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner for youth enrichment and equestrian programming
• Gilda's Club DetroitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with cancer support organization for community wellness programs
• Advancing MacombminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity development organization partnership supporting Macomb County initiatives

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves21 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Henry Ford Academy: Michigan charter school network emphasizing STEM, project-based learning, and college/career preparation — comparable to INVEST Centers' high school and workforce development programming, particularly the new INVEST School of Engineering with SME Prime.
• Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan: Major regional nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, mental health counseling, and youth programs across Southeast Michigan — directly overlapping with Kalasho's immigrant services, mental health (MINDgarden), and legal aid (CODE Next Gen) offerings.
• ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services): Largest Arab American community services nonprofit in the U.S., headquartered in Dearborn, MI, providing similar integrated education, health, workforce, and immigration legal services to immigrant communities — directly comparable to Kalasho's target population and one-stop model.
• Star International Academy: Michigan charter school network serving immigrant and refugee students with K-12 education, ESL support, and cultural integration programming — directly comparable to KEYS Grace Academy and INVEST Centers' educational model for newcomer youth.
• International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit: Detroit-based refugee resettlement and immigrant services organization providing case management, ESL, employment, and social services — directly comparable to Kalasho's New American services portfolio and geographic market.
• Chaldean Community Foundation: Michigan-based nonprofit serving the Chaldean/Assyrian community with education, social services, and workforce programs — directly comparable cultural and demographic focus as Kalasho, particularly overlapping with KEYS Grace Academy's Assyrian-Chaldean charter mission.
• Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan: Michigan's largest food bank providing child nutrition programs across schools and community institutions — directly comparable to KEYS Food Service's nutrition and institutional food service delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Lutheran Social Services of Michigan: Large statewide nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, behavioral health, and youth/family services across Michigan — comparable across multiple service lines (mental health, education, social services) though operating at significantly larger scale than Kalasho.

Emerging players

• Nationalities Service Center: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, and social services to immigrants and refugees — directly comparable to CODE Next Gen's immigration legal aid and resettlement work, with a national peer model.

Regional players

• Black Family Development: Detroit-based nonprofit providing youth services, behavioral health, and family support to underserved communities — comparable in target demographic and behavioral health focus (MINDgarden) but serving a different community segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/kalashoedu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kalashoedu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kalasho Education & Youth Services