Kyra O’Guinn is a 2022-2023 Fellow. She is an Engagement and Impact Fellow at DTE. Learn more about Kyra below.
Destined to be a Detroiter 
Taking a chance on myself and applying to Challenge Detroit really changed the course of my life. I was fresh out of college with no idea as to what was next for me. I want so many things out of my life career-wise, that it was hard for me to focus on one thing; being so eager to just begin. Challenge Detroit allowed me to just take a moment to pause and grow—in ways that would have taken me a while to do alone. It gave me the opportunity to be in spaces I normally wouldn’t find myself in. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t know how to, and furthermore, didn’t know these things would be interesting to me! I’ve learned an insane amount of information about a city I thought I knew everything about, simply because I was born and raised here. Much to my surprise, Detroit is full of potential and there are many people involved in the ecosystem that want to better this beautiful city.
Since being a part of Challenge Detroit, I have been introduced to the idea of project management, through collaboration with nonprofits, alongside my cohort, and I absolutely love it! Being a Fellow means taking on this new strategy and concept of thinking that truly encourages a different thought process for me—being able to be open to a new task and allowing an overflow of thoughts and ideas, whether they be big or small, and to hit the ground running. The design thinking process that Challenge Detroit utilizes, really has had a huge impact on my new found passion for project management. I’m one of those people who hates to deter from my plan. To that end, once I knew what I wanted to do with my life, I was pretty set on that and there was no changing my mind. I love and have a knack for all things media and I know I want a media related career. As a creative, I thrive in front and behind the scenes, and being in this program has made me realize that intertwining my old passions with emerging ones may just be the thing I need on my journey. Since the start of my fellowship year I have enrolled in a google course for project management, just to get a deeper understanding of the foundations and learn as much as I can!
I appreciate this year with Challenge because just at the middle mark of my time with Challenge Detroit, I have learned a remarkable amount of information about my hometown, things about myself, made amazing connections and created new friendships that I know I will carry with me throughout my life and career.
About Me: Hey everyone! My name is Kyra, I’m 28 years old and I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. I went to Cass Tech for high school and obtained my bachelor’s degree in Communication with a minor in Media Arts from Wayne State University, (Go Warriors!). I am happily married and a mom to not one, but two beautiful girls! Some of my hobbies are skating, crafting and reading. I’m learning that even though I thrive off of being around people, I do love and value alone time and being able to enjoy my own company. I am a part of National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and I also recently just joined a platform called Black Girls in Media, hoping that the like-minded individuals in that space can help me hone in more on my passions, things that interest me, and what my next career steps are.