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

I live in the Historic West Village neighborhood, which is actually located on the east side of Detroit. The West Village is unique because of its old, well maintained mansions. It’s also just a short walk from Belle Isle, what could be better? I know, my neighborhood is redeveloping a section on Kercheval and introducing several new businesses into the area. Wow!

What have you learned from Challenge Detroit so far?

I have learned that Detroit is a very complicated place! If you’re reading this blog, then you’ve been exposed to the city a little bit and you know that there are some great things going on here. Detroit is a haven for artists, a mecca for entrepreneurs, and a place that natives can be proud of, but that is not to say that it isn’t without its problems. And those problems sometimes seem insurmountable, but the best way to fix them is to engage in your community and, of course, vote!

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

I work at a company called Marketing Associates located right in the center of the city in Campus Martius. I am in the creative department and have had some excellent opportunities to develop my professional skillset. My favorite project that I’ve been working on has been making videos for the Lincoln Motor Company. From Belle Isle to the New York Auto Show, this job has gotten me out of the office and helped me hone my college major, film! So far, MA has been a blast.

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

I hope to continue making videos for Lincoln and for MA. My long term goal is for video to become a more prominent offering at my company for clients. In the city I hope to continue to follow in the footsteps of people who have started the work needed to be done in this city, and help them in those efforts.

What organizations have you enjoyed working with in Detroit and why?

I really enjoyed the Challenge service day with Clark Park. It was great getting into one of the neighborhoods, and I really felt like we were being helpful. The after-party at Nancy Whiskey didn’t hurt either!

To learn more about Michael’s time in Detroit so far, check out his spotlight video!