“Challenge Detroit is an amazing opportunity to get to know Detroit in a way you never have before, even if you’re a Detroit native. You get the opportunity to make so many new connections with community leaders. You learn the design thinking process, which works and it’s a wonderful skill you will be able to use in any of your future endeavors. You make friends that last a lifetime. It truly is a way to live, work, play, lead, and give in Detroit.” – Jessenia Cranfill
Heartbeat of Detroit
Looking comprehensively at my Challenge Detroit experience, there’s one day that I will never forget – Orientation Day 2 when we toured Detroit on a bus with Jeanette Pierce from City Institute. It wasn’t a typical field trip; it was a way to see how so many people have passion, service, and community leadership, all working together to embrace and uplift Detroit.
We ventured through the city, encountering many community leaders, each filled with genuine inspiration and a solid commitment to their city and neighborhoods. People like Billy at Oakland Avenue Urban Farm, Michelle with Bags to Butterflies, Art and Adrian at Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, Joe at East Warren Development, Jeff at Morningside Cafe, Jay and Sarah Williams at Next Chapter Books, Chris at the Cadieux Stage, Willow and David at Spotlight Cafe, Sonia at the Linwood Fresh Market, all of the young entrepreneurs at Culture Detroit, and so many more.
Challenge Detroit gave us the chance to converse with these amazing change-makers and to experience their talents, shops, and communities. Meeting these leaders felt like stumbling upon hidden treasures. The fire they had for serving and lifting Detroit lit something inside me. Suddenly, being part of a community leadership team, and making a positive dent in the city, seemed more doable and real, after meeting so many wonderful people who already have.
The people are the key to understanding the heartbeat of this city. I’m itching to see what’s next in my Challenge Detroit adventure – the characters I’ll cross paths with, the lessons that’ll hit me, and the mark I’m aiming to leave.
My best friend, Kari, and I celebrating Christmas 2023 together with our two cats, Scooter and Lucky.
ABOUT: I’m Jessenia Cranfill, my host company is City Year Detroit, and a fun fact about me is I’m learning Italian on Duolingo. Although I moved around a lot growing up, I consider Mt. Morris, MI, a small city north of Flint, my hometown because that was the school district I graduated from. After receiving my diploma, I headed to Oakland University, where I gained my Bachelor of Social Work. Outside of work, my week usually consists of going to church, lifting weights and running, watching Gilmore Girls, and spending time with my friends.