The first month of my Challenge Detroit fellowship with DTE Energy has proven to be an adventure in learning on the fly. I admit that at first I was a bit shell-shocked by the cumbersome nature of corporate culture; even still, it’s an eye-opening opportunity to work in a company with a wide-reaching customer base and a vital product. With this power comes a great deal of responsibility to deliver outstanding services and experiences. In my role with Public Affairs, I work on a variety of community-based programs, built around pillars such as volunteerism, neighborhoods, education, and youth employment. I’ve loved the chance to learn from people in all different departments of the company in addition to our community partners. As for our Challenge Fridays, being able to learn from employees in Mayor Duggan’s administration confirmed that this fellowship presents an opportunity to learn from some of the most dynamic leaders Detroit has to offer.

September brought us the perfect blend of late Michigan summer and early Michigan autumn, which would have been especially great had the Tigers and Lions not made September a sports month to forget. The Pistons are actually the team that has brought the most joy to my life recently, with the news that they helped support a renovated library at the Detroit high school where I worked last year (link below).  Lastly, today (October 1) is an especially momentous one for me because I finally move into my Detroit apartment. Having all of my possessions sitting in my car for an extended interim definitely made my first month on the job memorable, and I think it will make me appreciate the new digs that much more.

 

http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/detroit-pistons-and-farm-bureau-insurance-unveil-renovated-library-detroit-collegiate