The Idea


Challenge Detroit is a leadership and professional development program that has invited 30 of tomorrow's leaders to live, work, play, and give in and around the greater Detroit area for one year.

Can retaining and attracting 30 of the best and brightest innovative thinkers really make a difference? Detroit is betting on it. Challenge Detroit fellows have the courage, passion, and drive to make a difference. Combine this with a community-wide effort of highly connected, motivated, creative, innovative thinkers, and the formula will be explosive!

  • They'll live in Detroit.

    Fellows will receive incentives to live in selected areas of Detroit.

  • They'll work in Detroit.

    All 30 fellows will work approximately 32 hours per week at their host company for an entire year.

  • They'll play in Detroit.

    To strengthen the bond between the 30 fellows while demonstrating the positive qualities of the region, Challenge Detroit, along with local organizations, will make monthly social and cultural activities happen.

  • They'll give in Detroit.

    The 30 will participate in monthly team challenges designed to positively impact the community while keeping the fellows as well as the followers of Challenge Detroit engaged.

  • They'll lead in Detroit.

    Fellows will participate in a leadership and mentorship program to develop their skills as leaders in the region.

Our Objective

During their year in Detroit, each fellow will gain new insights about the city and the greater Detroit region. We expect, through their experiences with Challenge Detroit, these individuals will be intrigued to stay in Detroit, work in Detroit, even start their own business in Detroit. And by doing so, they will have a positive influence on many other people who are looking for a great city to plant their personal flag.

You can be a part of it! Participate, support, or just follow us as our fellows lend their intellectual capital to philanthropic challenges that contribute to the growth and revitalization of the greater Detroit region.

Accept the challenge to be a part of the REVITALIZATION EFFORTS FOR ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CITIES IN THE WORLD!

an initiative of The Collaborative Group

Examples of Monthly Team Challenges

Close it

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.