In this week’s Fellow Spotlight, we are checking in with Jason Aroaha. He fills us in on what he enjoys most about Detroit, his host company, Mango Languages, and what he enjoys most about being a Challenge Detroit Fellow.

Tell us about living in Detroit. What neighborhood do you live in and what things make it unique and exciting?

Living in Detroit is like living in any other major urban city in the U.S., except that your surroundings are unapologetically real, from the genuineness of the people you interact with, to the rawness of the city’s overall aesthetic.

I live in the Woodbridge neighborhood. Woodbridge is arguably one of the most residentially active neighborhoods in the city of Detroit, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Place in 1980. What I love about it, is that it’s within walking distance of Downtown, Midtown, New Center and Corktown – all great Detroit area neighborhoods with plenty of attractions. Since the area escaped redevelopment efforts that impacted so many other historic Detroit neighborhoods, its houses still retain a Victorian era appeal, making walks throughout the area full of scenic architectural sights.

Something that drew me to the area immediately upon my first visit was the community’s attention to local and backyard gardening. My house itself has nine raised garden beds in the backyard, with vegetables growing throughout the spring and summer months!

What do you enjoy most about living, working, playing, giving and leading in Detroit?

It really is not far off to say that Detroit attracts a special kind of person. Hearing the stories of newly established Detroiters is just about always an enthralling experience, and living alongside individuals with so many impassioned ideals is what I most enjoy about living in the city. Now more so than ever, working, giving and leading in the city has been turned into an experience that you’ll end up sharing with extraordinary people, who deeply believe in making a positive impact in Detroit.

Not to mention, there are so many ways for people of all levels of experience and any background to give back in Detroit. In a way, giving back is how Detroiters play, though make no mistake about it, we’ve also know how to have a good time! You’ll find an endless number of spots to grab a bite, a drink, or a partner to dance with scattered throughout the most unsuspecting places in the city.

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

I work with the language learning software company Mango Languages. Mango Languages has been ranked as one of the 101 best and brightest places to work for in Detroit – and I’m more than happy to be a part of such a young company with giant, ambitious ideas for the future!

My role at Mango is to manage a brand new department into its inception, helping the company grow into markets it has yet to touch upon, and to gauge the efficacy of that market. As a result, I’m getting tons of exposure to many new ideas, and get to wear several different hats. I work with technology on a daily basis, with platforms such as Google Analytics to better understand customer interactions; Google Adwords, Facebook and Demand-side platforms for marketing and lead generation among others. I’ve also been introduced to many new business development concepts that I’m using on a daily basis, from how to effectively run a start-up to managing a small team.

What have you learned from Challenge Detroit so far?

Challenge Detroit has given me many experiences that I’d otherwise never have been a part of, and I’ve learned something new from each and every project I’ve participated in. Most importantly, I’ve learned that it’s possible to not only do good, but to do a lot of it while still maintaining a full time job. Experiencing Detroit from the lense of its residents is only part of the equation, and Challenge Detroit has showed me that simply reaching out to others, with the same willingness to help better their city and neighborhood, can produce extraordinary results.

Moving forward, I won’t have to think twice about taking initiative to reach out and make a difference.

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

Within my company, big ideas are commonplace. I hope to leave a lasting impression on the way language learning is merging with technology by working with our innovation team to produce the next big thing in foreign language learning!

As for Detroit, it’s all about the small differences you make. Just being in the city brings a much needed change, but taking the extra small step to interact with those around you is what really makes a community grow – whether it’s helping your neighbor tend to their garden, or working on bringing funding to Detroit’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. I hope to leave a big impact on everyone I’ve encountered by always remembering to take an extra step to help whenever possible.

Reflect on your time as a fellow. What are some of your best memories and how do you hope to finish your year? 

Living with another fellow, I think I’ll always remember the bonds I’ve built with my roommates, as well as the other fellows every Challenge Detroit Friday. Some projects have felt insurmountable at points, but we always tackle problems until we find an intuitive way to solve them. I’ll always remember building garden plots for a community center, with nothing but some wood, hammer and nails – and being physically exhausted in the aftermath, but feeling a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

I hope to finish the year with new ideas from the many experiences I’ve been a part of. Finishing the year is just the beginning, having learned so much, I’ll be well equipped to take on entirely new projects with the amazing people I’ve met as a Challenge Detroit fellow!

Also, be sure to check out Jason’s video to learn more about his time in Detroit, so far.