“My Challenge Detroit experience connected me to a field of work I never expected... If it wasn’t for Challenge Detroit I don’t think I would've thought my creative skills would be suitable [in community development]. Best decision I made out of college was to apply.”

— JeNiece Freeman-Holt Alumni Fellow

"Challenge Detroit gives you access. The most valuable part of my experience was taking advantage of the facilitated connections to a wide array of people, projects, and events in the city."

— Mikayla Cutlip Alumni Fellow

"I can truly say that Challenge Detroit provided a space for me to learn, grow and present as my true self."

— Dillon Brown Alumni Fellow

“Challenge Detroit allowed me to continue serving the community while growing and learning in a new professional space. I am grateful to Challenge Detroit for connecting me with my host company, where I was able to try out different roles, learn at my own pace and with the support of my team, and pivot my career to something drastically different than what I started out doing.”

— Kristen Chu Alumni Fellow

“Challenge Detroit has provided me with a unique experience as a young professional that will be hard to replicate, and impossible to forget. The lessons I’ve learned from my host company have complemented the perspectives I’ve gained from Fridays at Challenge Detroit. The two combined have served as a robust platform for me to grow professionally in ways that I could not have imagined before the program began.”

— Adit Ahmed Alumni Fellow

The challenge projects are great for exposure to different sectors, people and areas of impact in a quick amount of time. Not all of us have a linear career path - [Challenge Detroit] offers an opportunity to learn about different experiences and connect with different people to help guide our paths.

— Yesenia Castaneda Alumni Fellow

“Through Challenge Detroit, I was able to understand the deep commitment of Detroit's non-profit community to creating a more equitable city. I worked with partners who are committed to supporting Black businesses, changing economic ecosystems in the city, and transforming education for Detroit's children. In one year, I got to develop my own professional skills while seeing the impact of the important work that Detroiters have been doing for years.”

— Albi Taipi Alumni Fellow

“Challenge Detroit pushed me outside of my comfort zone, allowing me to learn new skills and providing me with an opportunity to move into a new and unexpected role at my host company once my fellowship year was over. I'm now a well-rounded marketing professional, with experience on both the creative and client services side of the field! I owe all of that to Challenge Detroit.”

— Athena Mishiyev Alumni Fellow

“The fellowship has opened doors for me that I never knew existed, and put my name in places I never stepped foot in due to the work that we are doing with the community.”

— Khalil Davis Alumni Fellow

“Challenge Detroit has been my most beautiful surprise. As a young person returning to Detroit during such a chaotic time as the Covid-19 pandemic, this fellowship gave me structure, access to the city’s leadership, an opportunity to effect change, and a new family. I will always value this experience.”

— Madeline Miller Alumni Fellow

“Challenge Detroit is really unique compared to other fellowships in that they really help position you and give you a pathway to continue your work after the fellowship. It doesn't feel like a one and done thing. Once you're done with your year, you're still extremely connected with both the fellows that you were with, and also with the companies (and organizations) that are working with Challenge Detroit. It was able to grow my network by like tenfold.”

— Alexandra Borromeo Alumni Fellow