This has been quite a year! So many memories, so many triumphs, plenty of challenges, but all part of my story, and the broader story of our fair city. For my final blog, I’ll be writing about completing my Impact Project with the Ruth Ellis Center (REC).

Things never quite go the way you want or expect. However, there is usually a reason, a method to the madness, and always a calm after the storm. While I thoroughly enjoyed completing this project, working with and learning more about the Ruth Ellis Center, and wrapping up my fellowship, the last few months have included a few road bumps.

My personal health had been sporadic at best, which lead to either partially or completely unproductive Fridays. However, as with most challenge projects, I was able to make up time here and there on Sundays and other bits of free time during the week. I am still tying up a few pieces of the project, but am excited and proud of the work I have done.

For my Impact Project, I worked with the Ruth Ellis Center, which was incorporated in 1999 to provide temporary and permanent housing and other social support services for Metro-Detroit’s LGBTQ Community. My design question was, “How might we expand the capacity of the Ruth Ellis Center’s Development Team while promoting a Culture of Philanthropy through the creation of a Development Internship?”

My project was split into 3 parts: Preparation, Research, and Final Deliverables.

Preparation involved volunteering at Ruth Ellis’ Drop-In Center, where they offer a meal, clothing, computers, and activities for a few hours on Monday and Wednesday Evenings. I also sat down with Mark, REC’s Development Director, and I’Sha Shultz, REC’s Development Associate. This gave me perspective on what the REC’s needs were, and how I could match those with collegiate internship requirements.

Research involved finding local and non-local college and university level Non-Profit Management Programs, which was harder than I expected. I picked two local options, and two non-local options to base the position. Wayne State University (WSU) and Oakland University (OU) both have Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) Programs, with OU having a unique Bachelor’s of Arts (BA) to MPA program. I also used the nationally acclaimed IUPUI’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and the University of Southern California’s (USC) Online MPA Program. I also refreshed my HR memory through some LinkedIn resources for writing a job description, interview questions, and the internship schedule.

Packaging the Final Deliverables included creating a job description that could also be used as a job posting; interview questions with scoring points; and a full six or nine month internship schedule. While the job description and interview questions are complete, I am still refining the schedule. I am continuing to work with the Ruth Ellis Center through August to complete both electronic and printed copies of these documents.

My three biggest learning outcomes from completing this project were as follows:

1.) I need to better prioritize my health in the future, otherwise I’ll continue to unexpectedly crash and burn after pushing through without giving myself enough rest.

2.) Creating an entire position from start to finish is a long and delicate process. It involves plenty of conversations, research, and changes to create a quality position for a worthy candidate.

3.) I have much more to learn about this community, my community, the LGBTQ community. This is especially true when looking at the intersections of race and class.

I wouldn’t trade this year, these fellows, and the impact we have made together in Detroit the past year. I’ve been a bit burned out for a while, but I am grateful for this opportunity to work with such talented individuals. I am grateful to continue learning and growing in my favorite place with old friends and new friends, utilizing the knowledge and skills gained through this fellowship. While my heart breaks for the challenges our city and her noble citizens face, I am hopeful and optimistic Detroit will continue to rise from the ashes. I’ll leave you with my favorite poet, Edgar Guest, and one of my favorite of his works, See It Through.

See It Through

By: Edgar Alber Guest

When you’re up against a trouble

Meet it squarely, face to face;

Lift your chin and set your shoulders,

Plant your feet and take a brace.

If it’s vain to try to dodge it,

Do the best that you can do;

You may fail, but you may conquer,

See it through!

Black may be the clouds about you,

And your future may seem grim,

But don’t let your nerve desert you;

Keep yourself in fighting trim.

If the worst is bound to happen,

Spite of all that you can do,

Running from it will not save you,

See it through!

Even hope may seem but futile,

When with troubles your beset,

But remember you are facing

Just what other men have met.

You may fail, but fall still fighting;

Don’t give up, whate’er you do;

Eyes front, head high to the finish.

See it through.