Tell us about where you live and what things make it unique?

I am living in Fabulous Ferndale: a small, eclectic municipality just north of Detroit. I love the diverse and welcoming population here, and their interest and love for the community. The pedestrian-friendly downtown area is lined with small and unique restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and other businesses. This neighborhood has all of the amenities of a big-city, with a homey, small-town feel. And it is just a few minutes’ drive from Detroit!

What have you learned from Challenge Detroit so far?

Challenge Detroit has led me to many corners of Detroit that I had never explored before. I really appreciate the holistic approach the program offers the fellows with their “Live, Work, Play, Give, Lead” model. In the past month, I volunteered at the Redford Theatre, enjoyed a photography exhibit in Southwest Detroit in a renovated funeral home, and learned about Forgotten Harvest through collaboration on a project, all due to Challenge Detroit. I am learning that even play and volunteering can lead to personal growth!

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

My Challenge Detroit host company is Level One Bank: an entrepreneurial bank that was founded in 2007. I am fortunate to work for an organization with which I share many beliefs and core values as an entrepreneurial-minded individual. In my role as Community Initiatives Associate at Level One bank, I have the privilege of contributing to the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) initiatives through monitoring, reporting and evaluation, program development, and community outreach. The role aligns perfectly with both my personal passions for community development and my Challenge Detroit fellowship role as a public servant and incremental impact-maker in the Metro-Detroit area.

What kind of impact do you hope to have with your host company and within the city?

Being placed with a host company outside of the city, I have the opportunity to be an ambassador to Detroit for my coworkers. I hope to shed some light on activities and events in the city that they may not have heard of otherwise. Within the city, I hope to integrate into many threads of the community and to develop the voice of an advocate and friend in the ever-growing ecosystem.

What challenge project are you currently working on and why is the topic relevant to Detroit?

We are currently working on a challenge with Forgotten Harvest: A Southeast Michigan non-profit dedicated to eliminating food insecurity by “rescuing” perishable food items that would otherwise be wasted and redistributing them to those in need. This work is pertinent in Detroit where an estimated 394,590 individuals or 22% of the population are food insecure (FeedingAmerica.org). During the current fiscal year, Forgotten Harvest has been able to rescue 42 million pounds of food. Our aim as Challenge Detroit fellows on this project is to assist the non-profit with innovative solutions to challenges they face as they expand and identify additional needs within the food insecure population.

What are you most looking forward to as a Fellow in 2017?

During my two years in West Africa as a Community Economic Development volunteer with the Peace Corps, I learned that time and energy invested in the community is reciprocated in knowledge, relationships, and fulfillment. I know that at the end of my fellowship with Challenge Detroit, I will be bursting with new understanding, compassion, and gratitude. I am most looking forward to that feeling.

To learn more about Erin’s time in Detroit so far check out her spotlight video below.