Year Two Fellow, Fares Ksebati recently shared with us what he’s been up to since finishing the program, his take on change in the city and his advice  for the Year 3 Fellows. See what Fares had to say, below.

Fares, you have lived in the Metro Detroit region and have most recently attended Wayne State University in Midtown, Detroit. How have you seen the city and the region change? What excites you most about these changes? 

The changes taking place in the city of Detroit are incredible, and I’m fortunate to be part of a modern renaissance that organizations like Challenge Detroit are leading. Working downtown allows me to experience the sights and sounds of numerous projects that are changing the landscape of our city; however, the more interesting stories of Detroit’s resurgence can be seen across the other 100+ square miles outside of midtown and downtown. From seeing co-working spaces pop up across the city, a fashion corridor reborn, a riverfront revived, and many more projects coming to life, I’m very optimistic about the future of the city and region!

During your time with Challenge Detroit, you had the opportunity to partner with 6 non-profit organizations. How have those experiences impacted your passion to give back to the city since the program ended?

All of Challenge Detroit’s non-profit partners do outstanding work in the community and are infectiously passionate about their mission. Being an ambassador for their cause and an agent for change to help their initiative grow is an honor. Since Challenge Detroit came to a close, I’ve become more involved with Detroit Swims, an organization that has taught over 4,000 children in Detroit how to swim and be water safe. As a member of their committee, I have the opportunity to combine my passion for aquatics and non-profit experiences from Challenge Detroit to help the organization grow.

You completed your Challenge Detroit fellowship 6 months ago, what have you been up to since August? How have you continued to live, work, play, give and lead in Detroit? 

I try to be active in the community by attending events and social functions that interest me. Since August, I’ve immersed myself in a diverse set of experiences, including everything from racing autocross on Belle Isle, to launching a company at Startup Weekend. I founded MySwimPro to help swimmers achieve their personal fitness and training goals through custom workouts, training plans, and coaching. I make an effort to keep active in Detroit’s startup community and see a growing enthusiasm for small business growth in Detroit.

How do you stay connected with your class of fellows? 

I’ve been able to #PlayDetroit with my fellow Fellows on a number of occasions, but would certainly like to do more of that. One of the cool benefits of being part of Challenge Detroit’s second year of Fellows is the opportunity to easily connect with both year one alumni Fellows and the current class. This first degree connection to nearly 100 Fellows makes it easy for me to be involved with the happenings of the entire Challenge Detroit network!

What advice do you have for the current class of fellows?

Build your network! You’re in a position to mix and mingle with the city’s movers and shakers in a truly unique way. Unlike most of your coworkers and former classmates, you have direct access to the leaders who are influencing the change of tomorrow. Don’t underestimate the power of an introduction that begins with: ‘Hi, my name is ___, I’m a Challenge Detroit Fellow!’. Also, challenge yourself by attending new events and immersing yourself with all the experiences the city has to offer.