Hello World! Some of you may be asking yourself, who is this girl? On the other hand you may also be thinking about that level of Candy Crush that you have been dying to defeat or maybe even about that slice of pizza that you have been craving all day. Trust me I am thinking those same things. All of those things cross my mind on a daily basis. Who is this girl? DARN YOU LEVEL 23! ….PIZZA SOUNDS SO GOOD.  Although I cannot help you with those last two items on the list, I can try to give you the best idea of who I am and why I am writing this blog that you have happened to stumble upon.

My name is Laurie Asava. I am a not famous, a genius or an author of any kind. I do not make the world’s best peanut-butter cookies, or have the ability to run really fast. I do have perfect vision, a lack of fashion sense, and blue eyes. I have lived in Michigan, Chicago and Greece. I am a lover of all candy, explorer of lighthouses, collector of postcards, and a brand new Michigan State University graduate.

Why does any of that matter? It doesn’t I guess, but what does matter is that I am currently a Challenge Detroit Fellow for General Motors. Challenge Detroit is a non-profit focused on bringing young, creative talent into the city of Detroit to Live, Work, Play, Give and Lead. Now here come those questions again… WHY ARE YOU LIVING IN DETROIT? Are you crazy? Isn’t Detroit in ruins? The answers are simple. I live here because this city is probably one of the best cities on the planet. No I am not crazy and no the city is not in ruins, it is actually quite the opposite. This city is more alive than the rest of the world thinks, which makes it one of the best kept secrets. I chose to live in this city, because I want to be surrounded by good people, wonderful energy, and creative thoughts that will challenge me. So for the next year I have decided to join the front lines. I was sick of always hearing about Detroit and its problems, I wanted to live it, help it, and give Detroit the love that it needs.

Blogging, or writing in general has never been a forte of mine. I have so many things that I want to talk about that normally my writing turns into a big blob of ideas, ramblings, lists… (Somewhat of what I am doing right now).  However that’s the thing about Detroit, it’s the place where ideas, ramblings, lists get turned into something much more amazing than a piece of paper could show.  With that, over the next year this blog will be my virtual Detroit, the place that will capture my love, passion, ideas, and thoughts. Now go eat that pizza and beat that level of Candy Crush, I believe in you.