In this week’s Fellow Spotlight, we are checking in with Ezekial Harris. He fills us in on what he enjoys most about Detroit, his host company United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and what he’s enjoys most about being a Challenge Detroit Fellow.
Living in Detroit has been a great experience because of how much the city has to offer. I live downtown and don’t have any issues finding places to eat or hang out. There is a perception that Detroit doesn’t have anything to offer, but from my experience there isn’t enough time in the day to absorb the diverse culture or people which I think makes this a very special place to be.
What do you enjoy most about living, working, playing, giving and leading in Detroit?
I enjoy being in a environment that lifts up and fosters the entrepreneurial spirit. I’ve never been in such a large city and felt like I still mattered and can make a huge impact. Being a young professional in a place that celebrates risk-taking and innovation on so many different levels makes everyday here an opportunity to learn something new.
My host company is the United Way for Southeastern Michigan located in the heart of the city. I am a Social Impact Designer for United Way, using design thinking and human-centered design to tell stories, create products, and improve experiences in our work.
What have you learned with Challenge Detroit so far?
The biggest thing I’ve learned from the fellowship so far is being flexible and collaborative are crucial to success. We work on so many diverse problems in each challenge that all require different solutions and different ways of working. Our teams also change project to project so working well with others is a must to get objectives done on time. Not to mention it’s more fun working together!
What kind of impact do you hope to have with your host company and within the city?
At United Way I want to use my year to push ideas further and encourage my colleagues to take risks, not just for the sake of innovation but to better serve greater Detroit.