In this week’s Fellow Spotlight, we are checking in with Meagen Mazur. She fills us in on what she enjoys most about living in the city, and her host company, Marketing Associates!
Meagen, tell us about your move to Detroit?
I grew up outside of Detroit
in Clinton Township. I became really interested in Detroit during my last internship of my undergraduate career which was with CBS 62/CW 50 Detroit. Through the station’s weekly shows, I was exposed to the hard working and innovative individuals and organizations working to improve Detroit. I knew after graduation I not only wanted to live in an urban city, but I also wanted to live somewhere that I could get involved and make an impact.
In September I moved into my downtown apartment and fell in love with city living. I live on the 22nd floor of my apartment building and have a balcony that overlooks Comerica Park. During baseball season all I have to do is open my window to hear the cheering Tigers fans. I am also happy to be able to walk to work every day. Even during this crazy winter Michigan has had, I enjoy the peacefulness and conveniences of walking over a long, congested commute.
What do you enjoy most about living in Detroit?
There are so many things! 
I love exploring the city. I like finding new restaurants to try around town, catching live shows, checking out cool spaces during Drinks x Design, singing karaoke at Comet Bar, shopping at Eastern Market and of course having fun with my fellow fellows. I also love the energy in Detroit. There are so many amazing things happening in the city right now and it’s fun being in middle of it all. It’s great to see so many organizations doing really innovative things in Detroit, and probably one of my favorite things about Detroit is the support the community gives to any new restaurant or pop-up shop opening in the city. You don’t really have that small community feel in other major cities.
Tell us about your host company, and what you do?
My host company is Marketing Associates. 
It is a technology-driven marketing company located in the Campus Martius circle downtown. It’s a great place to work and I love that they take advantage of all the fun Detroit has to offer by participating in the Live Downtown Games, Connect After 5 Detroit leagues and other events throughout the year. I work in the creative department and manage the company’s social media accounts and work on internal marketing projects.
What is an interesting project you are working on at Marketing Associates?
Most recently I helped 
coordinate a Random Acts of Kindness week for Marketing Associates. For a full week a group of volunteers from MA delivered random acts of kindness to unsuspecting people around Detroit. We gave out free cups of coffee at The Roasting Plant, delivered balloons to patients at DMC Children’s Hospital, surprised local police and fire stations with bagels from the Detroit Institute of Bagels, delivered Just Baked cupcakes to the teachers and staff at Cornerstone Charter Schools, and donated flowers and Valentines to a local senior community. I also helped manage a social media campaign during the week that raised $1,000 for Motor City Blight Busters.
What is your favorite part of the Challenges?
My favorite part of the 
challenges is collaborating with my fellow fellows. Each challenge varies depending on its focus and final deliverables. It amazes me how the unique skill sets and expertise of each fellow mesh for each challenge to create truly unique and beneficial results for the partnered nonprofits. Working with the fellows is also a continuous learning experience because we are able to share our own knowledge as well as learn new skills first hand from other fellows.
Tell us about some of things you are involved with outside of Challenge Detroit?
Outside of Challenge Detroit I am currently rehearsing for a musical with the Grosse Pointe Community Theatre. I will be playing Eponine in the May production of Les Miserables. It’s one of my favorite shows so I am very honored to be a part of such a talented cast. I am also teaching myself how to code and design websites. I recently attended a beginner’s course taught by Sisters Code, a local organization in Detroit working to increase the number of women in technology-related careers.
What are you most looking forward to in Detroit?
Personally, summer in Detroit! 
I tend to hibernate in the winter so I cannot wait for warm weather! I am looking forward to being able to walk around town without a thousand layers of clothes, run on the riverfront, attend music festivals like the Downtown Hoedown and DEMF, relax at the Campus Martius beach, canoe around Belle Isle and continue to explore the neighborhoods outside of Downtown and Midtown. As for Detroit, I’m looking forward to watching the city continue to grow and prosper. There is so much excitement and buzz in the community, and it’s only a matter of time before even more people outside Detroit catch on and want to join the action.
Check out Meagen’s personal blog here, and her spotlight video.