Recruitment for the 2015-2016 Challenge Detroit cohort is in full swing. Each applicant I speak with holds a different purpose for coming to Detroit, and listening to their collective passions has reminded me why I love this city. The talent that each fellow brings to Detroit is excitingly diverse, but my advice for each applicant is always the same.

Listen
Everyone in this country has something to say about Detroit. The rhetoric you have internalized may be positive, negative, or that rare mix. I don’t care. Toss it. Embrace this opportunity to learn about one of the most complex American cities from the inside. This is not the time to collect answers. This is the time to collect stories. Stories that en masse paint a picture of everything this city has overcome. If you make listening a priority, I can guarantee that this city will surprise you in more ways than one.

Explore
After taking time to ensure that you are living and learning in the best neighborhood for you, spend as much time as you can exploring beyond that comfort zone. Your fellowship year is the time to be daring. With approximately 34 peers that share a love for this city, you will never be lacking in support.

Proclaim
No matter what you experience here, share it! Let your peers know what this city means to you and what it could mean to them if they gave it a chance. It took decades of decay to create the Detroit that news anchors love and it will probably take decades more for their archaic critiques to take into consideration the complexity of the Detroiters’ struggle. So we need to be the ones starting conversations that matter. But most importantly be honest in your proclamations. We need to push forward a balanced picture of the challenges and opportunities that exist here. This is the only way to ensure that those with the right heart find their way here.