Caroline Reed is a 2022-2023 Fellow. Her host company is the Detroit Regional Chamber where she is the Small Business & Community Engagement Fellow. Learn more about Caroline below.

My Challenge “Scrapbook”

Over time, journaling and scrapbooking has become my favorite ways to give a gift to my future self. I treasure getting to look back at my written thoughts and photos from adventures past. I am new to Detroit, and my first few months here with the fellowship have been a tremendously fun adventure. I have made a little “scrapbook” page to share with you all the highlights of my experience so far centered around Challenge Detroit’s 5 pillars: live, work, play, give, lead. 

Play: I am an avid sports watcher, and I have loved getting to experience the atmosphere of Ford Field, Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, and Keyworth Stadium with friends, family, and Challenge Fellows. I also got to see the limited-time Van Gogh Exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts. It was truly remarkable!

Live: The Challenge Fellows have done a great job of exploring the city together beyond our Challenge Fridays. Celebrating the holidays together was a special treat. Also pictured is a shopping basket full of Detroit essentials that I had never tried before: faygo, vernor’s, bettermade, and bumpy cake. 

Work: At the Detroit Regional Chamber, I get to be hands-on in many different ongoing programs such as Leadership Detroit and the Detroiters Think Big podcast. My favorite Leadership Detroit session this fall was getting to take a tour of WDIV studios and meeting the anchors. 

Give: I spend most of my time at the Chamber working on the NeighborHUB Grant, which is a partnership with General Motors that provides support for small businesses and nonprofits in Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck. I helped facilitate the selection of this year’s 20 projects which totaled over $500k in funding going directly towards Detroit’s Neighborhoods. 

Lead: A yearly highlight at the Chamber is getting to host the Detroit Policy Conference, where I led the VIP breakfast that announced the newest NeighborHUB cohort. Also, this year I got to vote for the first time in person at our state’s midterm elections! As someone who loves public policy, it was a very special moment. 

Moving on my own to a city I had never lived in before was very intimidating, but Challenge Detroit has provided me with community and endless learning opportunities. The first 6 months as a Fellow have flown by, and I can’t wait for more adventures.

About Me: My name is Caroline (she/her) and I am a recent graduate of the University of Michigan where I studied public policy with a focus in state & local poverty and public health policy. I am the Small Business & Community Engagement Fellow at Detroit Regional Chamber where I support the NeighborHUB Grant Program. 

I grew up in a military family and had the pleasure of growing up in Germany, Alabama, New Jersey, Alaska, California, Pennsylvania, and now, Detroit. I love to watch sports and have enjoyed becoming a part-time lions/pistons/redwings/tigers fan over the past 6 months. In my free time I volunteer for an advocacy organization in the city, write, and read.

 Why should someone apply to be a Challenge Detroit Fellow?

Challenge Detroit gives Fellows the opportunity to engage with peers and professionals in fields that are different from their own personal expertise. It is a privilege to learn and grow in a city full of talented, passionate people.