In this week’s Fellow Spotlight, we are checking in with Brandi Keeler. She fills us in on what she enjoys most about living in the city, and her role as a Volunteer Engagement Associate with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

Brandi, as a native Detroiter, what do you enjoy most about living in the City?

The people. I enjoy being able to wake up everyday knowing that I’ll be interacting with individuals who are passionate, friendly, innovative and caring. The people here are my family, my mentors, my heroes and the motivation for everything I do. I can say with surety that some of the best people on the planet live in Detroit. Detroiters are dedicated to positive change in their lives as well as those around them. What could be better than:

• Neighbors that greet you daily
• Friendly business owners that remember your name
• Experienced CEO’s and entrepreneurs that never hesitate to lend their ears, wisdom and resources to help up-and-coming young talent
• Complete strangers that care enough to say hello in passing
• Fellow citizens that are eager to advocate and work for the success of the city

What are some of your favorite things to do in Detroit?

Art & Entertainment

• Visiting my Alma Mater, CCS, and constantly being inspired by the creative talent developing in this city
• Watching my boyfriend perform in cool music venues
• Checking out local artists at some of the awesome art galleries around town

Health

• Biking with Detroit Bike & Brunch every 2^nd and 4^th Sunday. I enjoy having fun while inspiring an entire city to pump the breaks in their cars and push the pedals on their bikes. Detroit Bike & Brunch is the perfect way to live a great healthy life and meet wonderful people.
• Attending panel discussions, lecture, classes and events that help me understand and get involved in the Detroit bike culture.
• Walking or biking our beautiful greenways is one of my favorite things to do. The Riverfront and Dequindre cut are stunning and only a few steps away from my front door!

Eating

• Food is my favorite thing in the world and luckily for me, Detroit has several DELICIOUS options to choose from. My favorite spots are: Seva, Xochimilco, Honest John’s, Cass Café, Go Sy Thai, 1917 American Bistro (brunch), Mercury Bar, Southern Fires, Sweet Potato Sensations

Tell us about your host-company and what you do?

For my fellowship year I’m working at United Way for Southeastern Michigan (UWSEM) as a Volunteer Engagement Associate. This is my first time working at a non-profit and I love every minute of it so far. UWSEM mobilizes the caring power of Southeastern Michigan to improve and impact the lives of individuals and communities in lasting and measurable ways. We do so in three areas: basic needs, educational preparedness and financial stability; by getting folks to donate, volunteer or advocate for positive change. My primary responsibilities include planning, scheduling, executing and leading our ongoing volunteer engagement opportunities as well as assisting with corporate engagement and marketing. I think one of the reasons I enjoy my job so much is because the organizational goals align directly with my personal goals; the biggest one being: To make Detroit one of the best places to live and work in the country.

What makes working for your host-company unique?

I think the most unique thing about my host company is its innovative approach to non-profit work. Our company adopts a lot of alternative practices for creating measurable and lasting results. For example, we utilize design thinking as the main method for creating solutions. We have design thinking workshops to ensure that as an organization we’re using empathy, creating prototypes, and trying new ways to approach challenges. Another really cool thing about UWSEM is that in our workspace no one has a designated desk like one would traditionally see in a work setting. This environment is great for keeping minds active, learning about other areas of work within the organization and the sharing of ideas and stories. Moreover, it really compliments the company’s unique leadership structure, which emphasizes shared leadership, transparency and collaboration over hierarchy and seniority. I think UWSEM’s structure is a great example of the innovative spirit of businesses in this city.

What is an interesting project you are involved with at your host company?

My favorite project so far has been the work I’ve done for our food program, Meet Up and Eat Up. This program was created by UWSEM because we realized that 220,000 children in Southeastern Michigan who rely on free and reduced-price school lunches go hungry when they are out on summer break. During the summer, before I started Challenge Detroit, I volunteered for Meet Up and Eat Up events by canvasing and helping manage the free food block parties. My first 2 months as an employee, UWSEM partnered with fellow Challenge Detroit host company, the Detroit Lions along with some other organizations to create a series of events at Eastern Market geared towards helping Detroit Public School students learn the importance of exercise and healthy eating. As an employee I team led groups of volunteers as we chaperoned kids through Detroit Lions mascot and alumni appearances, healthy Eastern Market shopping trips, free lunch, cooking demonstrations and a human organs display. It was great to be involved with this project as a volunteer and then do so as an employee! Seeing DPS students (aka the future leaders of Detroit) enjoy the city and learn was really motivational.

What do you like about the challenges?

I love that through Challenge Detroit I have a really unique opportunity to give back to the city that raised me. I’m big on reciprocation and our challenges are the perfect platform for combining design thinking, passion, collaboration and empathy in order to provide relevant solutions for non-profits in need of assistance for the good work that they do. The challenges are truly the reason I signed up for this program in the first place! Unlike an opportunity that is short-lived or only skims the surface of things; our challenges are deep, immersive dives into the issues that this city faces.

You are involved with several organizations in Detroit. Tell us more about some of them.

Where to start!? Well I am the Co-Founder and Chief Design Coordinator of a digital justice street team named, Wi-Detroit. Wi-Detroit is a community-conscious group of individuals dedicated to relevant collaboration as a means to eradicating Wi-Fi deserts in our city. We are a street team that connects existing digital justice initiatives and resources to the Detroit neighborhoods that need this justice most. Our passion for digital justice is fueled by an even bigger passion for neighborhood networks and meaningful community empowerment.

In addition to that, I’m the Marketing Director for Detroit Bike & Brunch. Our group, established in 2012, by K’Loni Thorpe, is a catalyst for conversation surrounding the growing bicycle culture in Detroit. DB&B’s mission is to enrich this culture while simultaneously educating others on the benefits of biking for their personal well being as well as the well-being of their community. Bike and brunch let’s riders explore, enjoy and support their city in a fun and healthy way. I love riding and working with the group!

In my free time I also mentor students and model for drawing classes at my alma mater, College for Creative Studies.

Check out Brandi’s personal blog here, and her spotlight video.