Tell us about living in Detroit. What neighborhood do you live in and what things make it unique and exciting?

Spotlight picture 1I’ve always proudly been an East Sider. I don’t really have a name for my neighborhood; I say 7mile and just east of I-75. Something I love about where I live is that I have at least 10 relatives living within 5 minutes from me, which is refreshing after having been many miles away from my loved ones during my college years. The shopping center on 8 mile is also pretty exciting, especially because Planet Fitness recently opened. I’m trying to become a healthier person myself and I also just love seeing so many people utilizing and enjoying this addition to our neighborhood. As expected, there are a bunch of churches in my neighborhood, but I particularly love seeing the activity at the congregation at the end of my street. They are often giving food to members of the community and the people are always smiling and laughing. I’m glad that the weather is warming up because a lot of kids frequently play outside and visit the nearby park. It’s so exciting and heartwarming to see people enjoying life although there isn’t as much investment happening in the neighborhood. #Lemonade

What have you learned from Challenge Detroit so far?

I have learned that the importance of empathy can never be stressed enough. We have been learning about different industries and organizations and how they all fit together in this city. But regardless of the project we are working on or the partner we are serving, it is so important that we center our ideas and the work we produce around the human beings who will be impacted by every strategy, decision or process that our partners might implement as a result of the recommendations we make at the end of a Challenge Project. We all know that there are a host of issues in this city that will take time and a lot of resources to address, but it is important not to shy away from tough conversations and the realities of our neighborhoods throughout each project no matter how minor our work might be in the grand scheme of things.

Tell us about your host company and your role in the organization.

My host company, SME, is an engineering firm that has played a role in the building and maintenance of some of the most infamous structures in Southeastern Michigan. I’ve enjoyed learning about infrastructure because it was not a subject that I spent much time with before coming to this organization. At SME, some of my role as a Marketing Assistant includes creating video tutorials for internal and external purposes, editing marketing materials, assisting with social media efforts and the planning of monthly seminars for all of our 11 regional offices to increase the collaboration within our organization.

What kind of impact do you hope to have with your host company and within the city?

Spotlight picture 2Within my host company, I recently had a goal setting meeting with my Group Leader where we agreed that I could and should spend time working on the level of Community Engagement our firm has within the 11 cities where we have an office. In the city at large, I really hope to find a way to impact the lives of Black women. Currently, I am a Next Generation committee member with the AA490 Challenge where we are tasked with raising funds to test the remaining 1,341 untested rape kits in the city of Detroit. While this has garnered the support of many people in the region, the backlog issue in Detroit mostly affects Black women victims and the efforts to address the backlog are being led by incredible Black women. I hope that even once the campaign ends at the end of the year, I can continue to find more ways to support survivors of sexual assault and be involved in addressing many other issues affecting Black women. Please click here to learn more about the AA490 campaign or to donate to this cause.

What are you looking forward to as you work through the second half of your year as a fellow?

Spotlight picture 3I’m looking forward to growing my relationships within the cohort because the fellows really are amazing people with great ideas and good hearts. Being a native Detroiter, I came home to many friends and family but I have definitely been blessed by my newest, close friendships that have formed as a result of the fellowship program. I’m also really looking forward to our final Personal Impact Projects. Although I have yet to solidify the details of my personal project, I hope to use this opportunity to really explore a topic that is meaningful to me and relevant to my desire to serve the most vulnerable folks in our city.

 

 

To learn even more about Taylor’s experience in Detroit as a Fellow check out her spotlight video.