Media

  • Detroit Revitalization: Interview with Challenge Detroit's, Deirdre Green

    We have shared a few posts about Challenge Detroit, and have learned about many of the Challenge Detroit projects through our community bloggers. Through these relationships we've learned that we all share a similar vision, to contribute to the Detroit revitalization efforts. Challenge Detroit is about uniting a group of innovative, entrepreneurial thinkers to help with energizing the city of Detroit's creative and professional core.

    January 3, 2012 by The Beaumont Blog

  • ‘Challenge Detroit’ Attracts Young People To The City

    Challenge Detroit is a group of 30 of the best and brightest young people working to solve some of the problems facing Detroit. Betsy Berens, 22, is a part of this elite group working to solve problems like how to make fresh food more available to Detroiters and how to retain international students in the city.

    December 3, 2012 by CBS Detroit

  • “Challenge Detroit” Works For Positive Change In The City

    An innovative program has 30 young people working and living in the city of Detroit hoping to make some positive changes. The group “Challenge Detroit” is working at the International Institute of Detroit, which encourages young people to work on Detroit’s problems. This month’s challenge focuses on increasing retention and attraction of international talent to Detroit.

    November 30, 2012 by CBS Detroit

  • Meet Deirdre Greene Groves. Executive Director, Challenge Detroit.

    Challenge Detroit, an outgrowth of The Collaborative Group, is a new leadership and professional development program aimed at retaining and attracting professional talent through a yearlong fellowship for 30 young adults in Detroit. By sponsoring 30 Challenge Detroit Fellows to live in the city, work with Detroit area businesses, play around town and give through monthly team challenges with local nonprofits, their goal is to help revitalize “one of the most significant cities in the world”.

    November 27, 2012 by The Utmost Group

  • Redefining Detroit Special 2012

    Detroit is a worldwide symbol for industry's rise and fall. It's known for making cars and too often, for making headlines about terrible blight and crime. If you're an entrepreneur you know Detroit as something else: An opportunity.

    November 21, 2012 by Fox 2 News

  • Challenge Detroit Program: A Conversation With Fellow Ben Hershey

    After nearly six months into the Challenge Detroit initiative, what are participants saying about their efforts to revitalize the city? And what's it been like so far?

    Those are just a couple of the questions posed to Challenge Detroit Fellow Ben Hershey, a native of Columbus, Ohio, by WWJ's City Beat Reporter Vickie Thomas.

    November 12, 2012 by Vickie Thomas

  • DTE Energy is Up for the 'Challenge'

    DTE Energy is partnering on a very exciting, year-long initiative called Challenge Detroit focused on energizing the city's core of creative and talented professionals to live in, work in, and generate innovative and impactful solutions to pressing needs of Detroit. The Atlantic magazine recently ran a thought-provoking article "Detroit Issues a Challenge to Save the City" on the program.

    November 6, 2012 by We DTE

  • Michigan Economic Development Corporation grants $230,000 to Challenge Detroit

    Challenge Detroit, an urban revitalization project bringing together 30 innovative leaders from the City of Detroit and across the country, to live, work, play and give in the region, has partnered with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and its LiveWorkDetroit! (LWD) initiative. The MEDC recently announced a $230,000 grant to help fund programming initiatives for Challenge Detroit.

    October 23, 2012 by Deirdre Greene Groves

  • Challenge Detroit Partners With United Way For Program's Second Team Challenge

    The second team challenge focuses on generating ideas to increase food and job security by strengthening food access and developing opportunities for the structurally unemployed in the greater Detroit community. The Challenge Detroit Fellows will work with UWSEM and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's Community Ventures program to identify projects and partners which could help develop entrepreneurial endeavors and ultimately, employment opportunities surrounding food accessibility.

    October 23, 2012 by Matt Roush

  • MotorCity Eats!

    When one thinks of Detroit I'm pretty sure good eats aren't in your top three things that come to mind. Well I'm here to change that because personally, "good eats" would fall into my number two spot. Now keep in mind I'm not referring to the, "Greater Detroit Area" or the, "Metro Detroit Area" I'm talking DETROIT, MICHIGAN!

    October 23, 2012 by Asia Gholston

  • Challenge Detroit receives $230K grant from MEDC

    Challenge Detroit has received a $230,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp to help the nonprofit to continue to help innovative young people stake a claim in the Motor City. "This will close a huge gap for us this year," says Deirdre Greene Grove, executive director of Challenge Detroit. Challenge Detroit brings in a couple dozen recent college graduates to Detroit each year, giving them jobs and coordinating opportunities for them to live, work and play in the city. The nonprofit pairs the fellows from each class with local employers and provides them with a living stipend.

    October 16, 2012 by Jon Zemke

  • Challenge Detroit Intern Speaks about his Experience at Billhighway and in Detroit

    A month has buzzed by and I continue to love every moment. Whether I am hanging out in my 93 year old apartment building in Midtown Detroit, biking around the city to participate in the unlimited weekly events, or working at my very exciting host company, Billhighway, I love it all and could not be happier about my first month with Challenge Detroit.

    October 11, 2012 by Isaac Gilman

  • MEDC Supports Challenge Detroit Program With $230,000 Grant

    The mission of the MEDC is to help businesses grow in Michigan through a variety of programs and particularly to help Michigan businesses find the talent they need to prosper here," said Michael A. Finney, MEDC president and CEO. "Challenge Detroit is bringing innovative young talents who we expect to positively impact the greater Detroit region as they work to encourage others to see Michigan as a great place to work and live.

    October 11, 2012 by Matt Roush

  • Challenge Detroit nonprofit wins $230K state grant

    Challenge Detroit, a Birmingham nonprofit that recruited 30 leaders from across the country to live and work in Metro Detroit for a year, is receiving a $230,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The two groups announced the partnership Thursday night and are making Challenge Detroit part of the private-public MEDC's offshoot LiveWorkDetroit! initiative, which promotes Detroit as a place for college graduates and young professionals to live and work. "We are pumped," said Deirdre Greene Groves, Challenge Detroit's executive director. "Partnering with the MEDC is an honor."

    October 11, 2012 by Deirdre Greene Groves

  • Expect More Detroit

    Doyle Mosher, known to most as a luxury home builder is, along with his counterpart Deirdre Green, iterating with a new model to directly recruit and retain most useful human capital. Their venture has just recently brought close to 30 young folks into Detroit to live and work in the city, where they engage with partners on a series of community-focused challenges. Doyle and Deirdre, along with their team, managed to get 30 different employers to provide a good-paying job to a newly arrived fellow and to do so mostly sight unseen. This is an example of the willingness of many institutions to support big-thinking, important endeavors.

    October 11, 2012 by Jason Lorimer

  • Moving back to Detroit: Challenge Detroit -Asia Gholston

    After months of planning, preparation and prayer, I made it to the most sought-out program to hit the city of Detroit since the Big 3: Challenge Detroit! Challenge Detroit is a community-based initiative to attract tomorrow's leaders to Detroit in hopes of revitalizing the city.

    September 11, 2012 by Asia Gholston

  • ePrize Teams Up with Challenge Detroit and AIESEC Work Exchanges

    ePrize, the global leader in digital engagement, today announced that the company is participating in the AIESEC and Challenge Detroit programs as part of efforts to revitalize the city of Detroit and train young leaders. Starting today, ePrize welcomes new trainees including Kirstine Bernes from Denmark and Asia Gholston, a recent Michigan State graduate.

    September 06, 2012 by CBS Detroit

  • Challenge Detroit: A Community -Wide Revitalization Effort

    As we move into the Detroit community, we have recently learned that we are not alone! There are 30 individuals that have also joined the Detroit community, through the Challenge Detroit project. These 30 participants were carefully selected out of over 900 applications to move to Detroit for one year. The participants are part of a community-wide revitalization effort that will live, work, play and give in the great city of Detroit.

    September 5, 2012 by uhaul.com

  • MANGO WELCOMES CHALLENGE DETROIT PARTICIPANT, JARED BERMAN

    While the diverse staff at Mango Languages hails from cities all over the globe, we are proud to call Detroit, Michigan our home and are thrilled to welcome Challenge Detroit participant Jared Berman to our team. Challenge Detroit is an urban revitalization initiative aimed at bringing together 30 innovative leaders from across the country to live, work, play and give in Detroit.

    September 4, 2012 by Rachel Reardon

  • Where Should You Move After Graduation?

    Some new grads don't have much of a choice. If you want to be a screenwriter, it's got to be L.A. Those with the politics bug head to Washington, and petroleum engineers with instantaneous job offers go wherever the oil is flowing.

    June 8, 2012 by Business Insider

  • Challenge Detroit picks 30 young leaders for 1st class this summer

    Detroit, meet 30 of the city's newest residents, the first class of Challenge Detroit. The nonprofit has selected the 30 winners of its first class, which will provide young leaders interested in improving Detroit with jobs and a rent stipend to live in the greater downtown area.

    June 5, 2012 by Model D

  • Challenge Detroit

    Challenge Detroit is a collaborative effort by companies across Detroit to help attract and retain talent in Michigan. Not only do participants work in corporate settings, they also participate in projects to help revitalize the community.

    May 30, 2012 by Open IDEO

  • 30 chosen for inaugural program aimed at urban revitalization

    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.

    May 28, 2012 by RoadRunner

  • 30 chosen for inaugural Challenge Detroit program

    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.

    May 28, 2012 by Thetimesherald.com

  • 30 chosen for inaugural Challenge Detroit program

    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.

    May 28, 2012 by The Oakland Press

  • 30 chosen for inaugural Challenge Detroit program

    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.

    May 28, 2012 by Ventura County Star

  • 30 chosen for inaugural Challenge Detroit program

    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.

    May 28, 2012 by ClickOnDetroit.com

  • 30 chosen for inaugural Challenge Detroit program

    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.

    May 28, 2012 by Syracuse.com

  • 30 chosen for inaugural Challenge Detroit program

    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.

    May 28, 2012 by Mlive.com

  • 30 chosen for inaugural Challenge Detroit program

    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.

    May 28, 2012 by ABC

  • Dobbins, '12, Selected for Challenge Detroit Program

    Albion College graduate Caroline Dobbins says her experience with Caster Concepts, her family's business in Albion, gives her an understanding of how a vibrant Detroit will change the state of Michigan. Her vision of a renewed, thriving and exciting Motor City helped her become one of 30 winners in the Challenge Detroit competition.

    May 24, 2012 by Albion College

  • 30 win Detroit jobs for year

    A list of more than 900 applicants has been whittled to 30 winners for the urban revitalization project known as Challenge Detroit, which pays participants to live in the city for a year.

    May 23, 2012 by The Detroit News

  • Challenge Detroit Announces 30 Participants

    Challenge Detroit, an urban revitalization project bringing new talent to Detroit, has selected 30 participants from throughout the United States to participate in its inaugural program. The new, national initiative focuses on revitalizing the Detroit region by retaining and attracting innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.

    May 22, 2012 by CBS Detroit

  • The Morning Grumpy

    Detroit is leading the rust belt pack in trying innovative concepts to solve their urban economic challenges. One such effort is called Challenge Detroit. Challenge Detroit will invite 30 of tomorrow's leaders to live, work, play, and give in and around the Detroit area for one year.

    May 7, 2012 by Artvoice

  • Challenge Detroit Finalists Issue Challenge To Detroiters: Love Your City!

    It is often said that Detroiters are even more down on their city than some outsiders. City residents who feel that way can learn from a group of 66 finalists in the Challenge Detroit competition. While some Detroiters are packing up and moving out, these visionaries are fighting for one of 30 spots to live, work and play in Motown for a full year.

    May 4, 2012 by CBS Detroit

  • 66 finalists for Challenge Detroit spots after 900 applied

    DETROIT (WJBK) -- "I'm an urban planner and a transportation planner, and I also have been focusing on like electric vehicle infrastructure," said Jason Zogg. Now this 26-year-old from Rhode Island wants to put his skills to work in Detroit. "I see Detroit as kind of a blank slate, a huge opportunity that has a massive amount of potential," he said.

    May 3, 2012 by myFOXDetroit.com

  • Challenge Detroit: I am so inspired

    "To those who scoff at the idea of a revitalized Detroit, I would remind them of what aviator Amelia Earhart said: 'Never interrupt someone doing something that you said can't be done.'" - Sergio Marchionne, Chairman and CEO of Chrysler. It has been a stellar week as far as I'm concerned. Sergio Marchionne announced that he, along with 70 other Chrysler employees, will move to downtown Detroit. Dan Gilbert pledged his support for United Way publicly. And Challenge Detroit kicked off a new phase with candidate interviews.

    May 3, 2012 by United Way for Southeastern Michigan

  • Challenge Detroit Selects 66 Finalists

    Challenge Detroit said Friday that it had selected 66 finalists in the competition to work, live, play and give for a year in Detroit. The selections were made based on a review from Challenge Detroit judges, the online community vote, and the input of Challenge Detroit's host companies.

    April 22, 2012 by CBS Detroit

  • Challenge Detroit Selects 66 Finalists

    DETROIT - Challenge Detroit said Friday that it had selected 66 finalists in the competition to work, live, play and give for a year in Detroit. The selections were made based on a review from Challenge Detroit judges, the online community vote, and the input of Challenge Detroit's host companies. More than 17,000 individuals voted for ...

    April 22, 2012 by Detroit City and Press

  • April 13: Bud Denker, Jim Campbell, Brian Barr and Deirdre Greene Groves

    Challenge Detroit is an initiative that is right up our alley. Deirdre is the executive director of this amazing push to recruit 30 of the brightest and best young minds to come Live, Work and Play in Detroit for a year. They will work for Detroit companies (including Quicken Loans) for a year, receive help with housing, and work on group challenges to help solve problems in the community with the other participants in the program.

    April 16, 2012 by Destination 313

  • Challenge Detroit voting for 60 semifinalists ends today

    Challenge Detroit, a contest that will bring together 30 of "tomorrow's leaders" to live and work in the city for a year, today wraps up a communitywide vote on Facebook to narrow 100 contenders to 60 semifinalists. The Facebook voting page displays videos and written statements. So far, more than 15,000 votes have been cast. Voting ends today.

    April 13, 2012 by Crain's Detroit Business

  • Mango to Welcome Challenge Detroit Talent

    While the Mango team hails from all over the globe, we are proud to call Detroit, Michigan home. Mango is excited to be involved in Challenge Detroit, an effort aimed at attracting and retaining young, innovative talent in our home town! Out of over 900 applicants, 30 young professionals will be chosen to live, work, socialize and give back in the city of Detroit. We are excited to welcome a lucky candidate to the Mango team in September!

    April 13, 2012 by Mango Languages Blog

  • Help Gilman '10, Help Detroit

    Since his graduation nearly two years ago, Isaac Gilman '10 has made Detroit his home. Recently, Gilman discovered the newly launched program Challenge Detroit, which encourages young individuals to "live, work, play, and contribute" in the city by offering 30 one-year, salaried positions at companies throughout Detroit.

    April 12, 2012 by Hobart and William Smith Colleges

  • Challenge Detroit Program Encourages Young Professionals to Move Downtown

    A new incentive program, Challenge Detroit, is giving 30 participants an amazing opportunity and 'jump start' to living and working in Downtown Detroit. Over 900 applicants from across the country have applied and now the voting public process has begun- the applicants have been narrowed down to the top 100. The chosen 30 ones will receive jobs with different companies that are involved which include: Team Detroit, Compuware, Quicken Loans, Beaumont Health Systems, Urban Science, and DTE Energy, to name a few, in addition to a $500 monthly housing stipend.

    April 12, 2012 by PLAYGROUND DETROIT

  • Challenge Detroit seeks public voting on top 100 applicant list

    Challenge Detroit has narrowed its applicant list to 100 young people and it wants your help whittling it down from there. The talent attraction program received 900 applicants for its initial year where a few dozen young people will be given living grants, jobs and social opportunities in Detroit in an effort to get more talented leaders to sink roots in the city. The organizers narrowed that initial list to 100 semi-finalist and wants to social media users to help determine which ones make it to the final selection process in May.

    April 10, 2012 by Model D

  • Challenge Detroit Candidates Up For Online Vote

    DETROIT - The folks behind Challenge Detroit, the online effort to bring 30 talented entrepreneurs to Detroit to live, work, play and give in the city, need your help to pick about 60 finalists.

    Challenge Detroit received more than 900 applications from talented individuals throughout the world, who want to live, work, play and give through Challenge Detroit.

    April 9, 2012 by CBS Detroit

  • WATCH NOW - Street Beat: revitalizing Detroit Part 2

    This week on Street Beat, host Syma Chowdhry continues our two-part look at organizations who are helping rebuild Detroit. First Sandy Baruah, CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, talks about the Chamber's efforts to encourage business growth and its upcoming Detroit Business Conference.

    Then, Deirdre Greene Groves, Executive Director of the Detroit Challenge, and Matt Mosher, Co-Founder and CEO of hiredMYway.com, discuss how the Detroit Challenge will encourage young leaders to live and work in the city.

    April 9, 2012 by The CW50

  • Challenge Detroit seeks public voting on top 100 applicants

    Challenge Detroit has narrowed its applicant list to 100 young people and it wants your help whittling it down from there. The talent attraction program received 900 applicants for its initial year where a few dozen young people will be given living grants, jobs and social opportunities in Detroit in an effort to get more talented leaders to sink roots in the city. The organizers narrowed that initial list to 100 semi-finalist and wants to social media users to help determine which ones make it to the final selection process in May.

    April 9, 2012 by Detroit Urban Innovation Exchange

  • Challenge Detroit to pick 30 winners from 900 who want to live, work in city for a year

    Challenge Detroit, a contest that will bring together a group of "tomorrow's leaders" to live and work in the city for a year, is narrowing down more than 900 applicants to 30 winners. Those chosen will be paid a $30,000 salary to work at partnering Detroit-area companies and a $500-a-month stipend to live in Detroit. Forty volunteers are whittling the applicants to 100 contenders, said Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director of Challenge Detroit.

    March 29, 2012 by Detroit Make it Here

  • Challenge Detroit to pick 30 winners from 900 who want to live, work in city for a year

    Challenge Detroit, a contest that will bring together a group of "tomorrow's leaders" to live and work in the city for a year, is narrowing down more than 900 applicants to 30 winners. Those chosen will be paid a $30,000 salary to work at partnering Detroit-area companies and a $500-a-month stipend to live in Detroit. Forty volunteers are whittling the applicants to 100 contenders, said Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director of Challenge Detroit.

    March 29, 2012 by ePrize

  • People : Deirdre Groves

    "Every big city has big challenges, and the complex ones can be daunting. Few are brave enough to confront them, and many who do get mired in their complexity. Deirdre Greene Groves has spent the last four years thinking about one: young talent leaving metro Detroit."

    March 21, 2012 by Detroit Urban Innovation Exchange

  • It's Time to Challenge Detroit

    The best way to get talented people back in Detroit -- is to challenge them. I recently got to sit down with Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director of The Collaborative Group, to talk about Challenge Detroit; a unique program beautifully thought up to catalyst success for the city. Their mission is simple: to attract and retain talent to Detroit. But how they are doing it is the real story.

    March 20, 2012 by Huffington Post

  • Challenge Detroit Extends Deadline To Apply For Entrepreneur Internship

    Challenge Detroit has extended the deadline to apply for its one-year entrepreneur internship until March 25 to give college students on spring break time to apply.

    So far, Challenge Detroit has received 700 applications from Michigan and several other states, as well as some foreign countries, said executive director Deirdre Greene.

    March 15, 2012 by MiTechNews.com

  • Detroit Calls on Young Talent to Rejuvenate City

    The city of Detroit knows the power of entrepreneurship and now they're calling on leaders of tomorrow to help run the city with original ideas.

    The new private sector initiative Challenge Detroit is hosting a competition to select 30 leaders from across the country to assist in developing and rejuvenating the Motor City.

    March 14, 2012 by BET.com

  • RUMBLINGS: 600 seek the challenge of Detroit contest

    About 600 people have submitted applications for Challenge Detroit, a reality show style contest that will bring 30 young professionals to Detroit to work and live for a year. Winners will be given a $30,000-a-year job and a $500-a-month rental subsidy. All 30 winners will be housed in a yet-to-be-announced Midtown apartment building.

    March 11, 2012 by Crains Detroit Business

  • Detroit, Growth through small business opportunities

    One of the citys challenges resulting from its high unemployment is the exodus of skilled talent to other urban cities across the country. The city has answered this challenge with the Challenge Detroit project. This project is designed to attract and retain young professional talent in an effort to restore the city to a state of creativity and entrepreneurship. The project requires participants to lend expertise in exchange for a compensation package that includes salary and housing.

    March 8, 2012 by The Examiner

  • Attracting talent: Challenge Detroit

    More evidence that the business community is way ahead of both the public and policymakers from both parties on the essential role a vibrant city of Detroit must play if the region and state are to be successful economically. The latest terrific private sector initiative is Challenge Detroit from the Collaborative Group.

    March 7, 2012 by Michigan Future

  • New "Challenge" for Detroit

    "Can paying recent graduates to work and play in Detroit infuse the city with extra creativity? Challenge Detroit is banking on it. It's hoping to lure 30 graduates with entrepreneurial dreams and a willingness to muck in and get their hands dirty to revitalize troubled Detroit."

    March 1, 2012 by Inc. Magazine

  • Challenge Detroit scores $500,000 in seed funding

    "Challenge Detroit has secured half of its funding for the next two years thanks to a $500,000 donation from Credit Acceptance Corporation's Chairman and Founder, Donald A. Foss. The nonprofit is also finalizing details with a local partner that should pave the way to launch its talent attraction grant program this summer."

    February 28, 2012 by Model D Media

  • Greene Groves spearheads Challenge Detroit initiative

    "Although Deirdre Greene Groves grew up in rural Highland Township, she has always had a passion for the history and future of Detroit. Now as the executive director of The Collaborative Group in Birmingham and its Challenge Detroit initiative, Groves has the opportunity to be an integral part of the revitalization efforts of the city she loves."

    February 22, 2012 by Spinal Column

  • Have You Accepted The Challenge Detroit? 30 Jobs For 30 Grads!

    "The Collaborative Group, a Birmingham-based nonprofit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, Monday announced the launch of Challenge Detroit, a national initiative aimed at helping to revitalize the Detroit area by attracting innovative, entrepreneurial thinkers to bring new ideas and contribute their intellectual capital to the community."

    February 3, 2012 by www.kissdetroit.com

  • People: Deirdre Greene Groves

    "There are a few ways you could look at Detroit -- you could taint it as an impossible comeback, or you could see the opportunity that lays within the city limits. For Deirdre Greene Groves, she is of the mindset that if you create the opportunity, they will come."

    January 29, 2012 by After 5 Detroit – DaStanza Murphy

  • Challenge Detroit

    "34 year old Vincent Thomas is a successful entrepreneur. He's the founder and CEO of Billhighway, a financial technology company in it's 13th year of operation. Vincent started the company in his apartment while he was still attending Eastern Michigan University. He says the company will remain in metro Detroit as long as he's in charge. Vincent also wants to see other young, creative people make their mark in Detroit. That's why Billhighway is part of a new program called Challenge Detroit, which is looking for the best and the brightest."

    January 25, 2012 by Detroit 2020 - Channel 7 WXYZ

  • Project sells youth on a city in need

    "[The Collaborative Group is] launching an initiative, Challenge Detroit, they hope will lure the nation's and state's most talented young people to either stick around or come here for a year, betting they'll fall in love with the city and find a sense of mission that keeps them around long-term."

    November 3, 2011 by Nolan Finley, The Detroit News

  • LTU-WWJ Panel Tackles Rebuilding Detroit

    "Detroit is attracting more young professionals but still has many of the same problems blocking its long-term success — a dysfunctional school system and public safety problems. That was part of the discussion Thursday during a WWJ Unwired Series program at Lawrence Technological University."

    October 27, 2011 by Matt Roush, CBS Detroit News
an initiative of The Collaborative Group

Examples of Monthly Team Challenges

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Education - Teams may work with the Detroit Public Schools to develop after school programs aimed at engaging students in extra-curricular activities, including sports and clubs.

Healthcare - Teams may work with area hospitals to develop initiatives aimed at preventing illnesses and promoting healthy lifestyles, i.e. programs that encourage exercise, combat obesity, reduce drinking, or encourage smoking cessation.

Urban planning and transportation - Participants may work with M-1 RAIL to address how the RAIL will link with other planned and existing transportation systems and how to reach out to the community.

Technology - Working with organizations such as Tech Town, teams may develop proposals focusing on ways to attract and retain technology start-ups to Detroit.

Business - Teams may work with Bizdom U to develop business plans for new, Detroit-based companies.

Sustainability - Working with an organization such as Greening of Detroit, teams may put together a vision for a greener Detroit, outlining how the city can become more sustainable by incorporating public green spaces over the next 10 years.

Community enterprise - Teams may work with an organization such as United Way of Southeast Michigan to provide housing, career building, and financial literacy programs to community members.

Arts and culture - Teams may work with the Cultural Alliance of Southeast Michigan on projects that increase awareness of the city's arts communities. 

Media - Teams may work with the Detroit Regional News Hub to implement the strategic communications plan to highlight the positive aspects of the Detroit area.

Innovation and entrepreneurship - Teams may work with business-related organizations such as Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM).  The BLM's Detroit 2021 vision will outline goals and objectives for the Detroit business community over the next 10 years, and put steps in place for the city to achieve those goals.