As my year as a Challenge Detroit Fellow comes to a close, I am asked to make this final blog one of reflection, on the last year and on the program. So much has happened and so much has changed in the last year, that its hard to wrap my head around it.
I was accepted […]
According to a recent report released by LOCUS, and covered by the Detroit Free Press, Detroit is currently ranked 22nd for walk-able urban areas. However, it ranks at a promising 8th place for city with future growth of walk-able urban centers. Detroit has the potential to be walkable.
Branded the “Motor City”, the majority of ours […]
A few weeks ago, the Association for Community Design hosted their annual conference in Detroit. The theme to this years conference was eMERGEenc, and my proposal was selected to present during the Community Design Round Up Session on Friday of the Conference. Only being familiar with the organization through social media and their online presence, […]
Attending college just 20 minutes outside the city, in a design program, one would think I would have been integrated into any sort of design culture that exists in Detroit. But, the design community that exists within this city has been on of my best discoveries since graduating a year ago. I’ve found a number […]
During our Challenge Detroit “boot camp” orientation week, we were introduced to not only our challenges with our non-profit partners, but a social media challenge as well. This meant promoting Detroit, and what we were doing in Detroit through social media outlets, like facebook, twitter, and my favorite, instagram. Now, I by no means am […]
This month, I was privileged to participate in the HKS Design Fellowship Midwest VI as one of the eight design fellows. Mark Farlow, a principal at my host company, was invited to be a juror for the event.. The HKS Design Fellowship is a global event, incorporating employees from HKS offices worldwide. However, the Midwest […]
Through working with COTS on our third challenge, a few of the other fellows and I had started frequenting a lovely little grocery store in midtown called the Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe (YOBS). Located right across Woodward from COTS, it was super convenient, and was great for picking up breakfast or lunch on Challenge Fridays. […]
We’ve all heard about Detroit’s blight issues, and seen many of pictures and new reports showing nothing but that. And it is true; neighborhood blight is a big issue in Detroit, and a big concern when it comes to matters of safety and neighborhood growth.
Well Detroit has recently received $52 million dollars of the “Hardest Hit Funds” […]
In wrapping up 2013, I must say that I am more than happy with my decision to move to Detroit. In the six months that I’ve lived in the city, and the 4 months I’ve been a part of the Challenge Detroit fellowship, I’ve been able to experience things and meet people that before now, […]
As the Michigan weather gets colder, and the days get shorter, I usually lose a bit of my spunk and ambition to go do things. When the work day ends, I usually just want to snuggle under the covers in my apartment waste away the rest of my day…..but not this year.
As the holidays approach, […]