Tour with Jamon Jordan

We toured with Jamon Jordan where I was reminded of the power of time considering what My People were forced to endure. To see the diversity in the picture speaks to how far we’ve come but how far we’ve got to go.// Ossian H. Sweet House

Native Detroiter, Dillon Brown is our 2019-2020 Fellow at Eastside Community Network. Dillon moved to Winter Park, Florida after graduating from Cass Tech high school to attend Full Sail University where he obtained a bachelors in Recording Arts.

Tell us about your host company and your role in the organization.

My host company is Eastside Community Network (ECN) where we develop people, places and plans for sustainable neighborhood growth on Detroit’s Eastside. I currently serve as the Community Planning Coordinator at ECN where I specifically work as a community ambassador within the McDougall-Hunt Neighborhood (MDH). My role has been inclusive of convening resident-driven community meetings, where ECN has partnered with the McDougall-Hunt Neighborhood Association (MHNA) & Bailey Park Project (BPP), to empower the needs of the residents. We have served as support to MHNA & BPP in their process in developing the MHNA Sustainability-Redevelopment Plan that ultimately was based on the feedback from the MDH residents dating back to 2003 all the way until now. My role is to ensure that in the process, the residents’ voice is heard and that their immediate needs are met such as, understanding a water bill, gaining sustainable resources and much more! My role also exceed MDH as I also am active with community engagement within the entire Lower Eastside community, where ECN has implemented the LEAP (Lower Eastside Action Plan) that focuses on building sustainable neighborhoods on the lower eastside of Detroit. This has bridged an additional role with the Census 2020. I serve as the lead coordinator at ECN for establishing education, awareness and opportunity with the Census. 

At Cass Tech

To be able to have a Challenge Project with DPSCD where I was able to go back to my high school and make an impact was an emotional highlight for me.

Tell us about the challenge project you’re currently working on; what are you learning from the experience?

Currently I am working with the Civil Rights & Inclusion Opportunity (CRIO) department on the Engagement team. Our whole purpose is to develop a suitable way to engage residents & partners on who and what CRIO is. I’ve learned a lot as this experience has helped develop my understanding for a greater need within the community that speaks to basically meeting people exactly where they are.

How do you hope to impact the community this year?

This year, I hope to develop as a community leader, where I can use my gifts and creativity to be a voice for the hearts of the people of my City. 

What are you most looking forward to as a Fellow this year?

I am most looking forward to building as many relationships as possible that will ultimately add to the fire. I believe the more hands on deck, the greater the opportunity is to make positive change.

There’s so much beauty in the city that often times get overlooked. I’m looking forward to shining light on the places where there’s more beauty for ashes.

How do you believe your fellowship will shape your career moving forward?

This time is pivotal. Your presence is pivotal. We need to take advantage of both perspectives and just SEE how we can dive in, using our gifts to make the biggest impact possible. Be intentional about your impact. Challenge Detroit allows us to do that.

If someone reading your interview is considering applying to be a Fellow, why would you encourage them to apply?

I believe the fellowship helps me realize skill sets that I can maximize on as much as possible; such as indirect leadership, integrity and LOVE in all circumstances. Due to the exposure, Challenge has sharpened me to continue to be adaptive, humble & steadfast.