In February I wrote a blog post reflecting on my first months as a fellow, where I said: “it’s astounding how much Detroit has to offer you, and Challenge Detroit will give you the tools you need to experience this city to the fullest”

Sixth months later, as I am officially wrapping up my last week at my host company the MEDC and my time as a Challenge Detroit fellow, this statement could not be more true. In the almost exactly one year I have lived in Detroit, I have met more interesting and motivated people, attended more engaging events, volunteered more hours, and felt more at home than I have anywhere else I have ever lived. Part of this is Detroit itself- a city full of vibrant and welcoming people and lots of opportunities to get involved. For the most part though, it’s been my fellowship with Challenge Detroit and the experience of working with a motivated and engaged cohort of fellows that gave me the tools I needed to make this city my home.

I could spend pages reflecting upon the year I just completed and the role Challenge Detroit has played in that year, but right now I’d prefer to look forward. While I’m sad to lose my Fellow Fridays spent innovating, working, and laughing with my fellow-fellows, I’m excited for what the future holds not just for me, but the entire Year Two cohort. This time last year, we all attended a week long “boot camp” to prepare us for the fellowship ahead. In retrospect though, this entire year has been a “boot camp” for the rest of our personal and professional journeys. I’m confident that the skills we learned and the experiences we shared have more than prepared us for whatever might come next. Whether it’s another year at our (former) host companies, a career change, graduate school, or something else entirely, our Challenge Detroit experience will continue to inform our work and our decisions in the best way possible.

So cheers to my Year Two cohort and our first post-Challenge Detroit year. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish and how we continue to leverage the valuable tools, experience, and network this year has granted us all.