Detroit Public Schools (DPS) face a number of challenges, including budget cuts, school closures, and the expansion of public charter schools, which, coupled with the district’s multi-million dollar budget deficit, mean that students in the system suffer. Brooke Franklin from the Detroit Regional Chamber (DRC) was hired as Director of K12 Strategic Partnerships for the DRC’s Education Engagement Project. She recognized the opportunity for K12 educators and business leaders to form partnerships that would increase resources for DPS. Brooke spearheaded a DRC advisory council to develop infrastructure that would link district schools with the business community — resulting in Businesses/Organizations Optimizing Learning in Detroit (BOLD). In 2010, DPS incorporated BOLD’s efforts, and in 2011 the DPS Volunteer Business Corps was launched, integrating business expertise and volunteer activism and bringing it to the classroom. This case study tells the story of the Volunteer Business Corps, which creates partnerships that strengthen education in the district by aligning academic skills with workforce needs.