“I would encourage anyone who is looking for a diverse, immersive, and supportive opportunity to work in the City of Detroit to join this fellowship. Everyone involved in Challenge Detroit is able to connect and contribute back to one another and to the city that we know and love.” – Jordan Ford
The perseverance of Detroit is symbolic in its structures, stories, and symbols. Much like mine the Spirit of Detroit is unbreakable and unwavering in its persistent pursuit in pushing the city to its potential.
My Detroit
On Friday March 15, 2024 my fellow Fellows and I embarked on a fun-filled and explorative journey around the city of Detroit using only Detroit public transportation systems. This day will forever be one of the most meaningful moments I have had in the program so far.
My name is Jordan Ford, I was raised and have lived in East English Village my whole life. I can say I have been truly immersed in experiencing my city, by way of my very Detroit-rooted family, from a young age. I can recall attending and dancing at the annual African World Festival as a kid, going to the very last “Big Show at the Joe,” enjoying warm honey-roasted almonds on any given Saturday morning at Rocky’s in Eastern Market, and this is just to name a few Detroit related and unique experiences.
Through the fellowship with Challenge Detroit, I have had the opportunity to revisit these fond memories and make new ones as a young adult, that has rekindled my love for my city. On this particular day, I was taken back by riding the People Mover. My mother who used to work at Ernst & Young downtown would utilize this transportation system in her day-to-day and would, on her weekends, bring our whole family to use it while attending events like the tree lighting in the winter or visiting Hart Plaza in the summer. Pushing the turnstile and discussing the former coin payment system with current People Mover representatives connected 6-year-old me to 23-year-old me.
This experience is just one of the few meaningful experiences I have had with this program and am grateful for the opportunity to intentionally reconnect with my city in various ways. Through this experience, I was able to see the heart that goes into each new implementation around the city, and the strive that our people have to fulfill the promises made to our city many years ago.
ABOUT: Hi! My name is Jordan Ford I am a proud native and current resident of Detroit, entrepreneur, and middle child of three with interests and talents in various arts. I am passionate about bettering the state of the world which motivated me to obtain my degree in Political Science from Wayne State University in 2022. I am also a Fall 2020 Tau Chapter initiate and Detroit Alumnae Chapter member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. I believe in being the change that we wish to see in the world and strive to embark on opportunities in which I can do just that which is why I joined and love Challenge Detroit.