For our final challenge as the year two cohort of Challenge Detroit fellows, each fellow created a July impact project of their choice. Each fellow designed, collaborated and executed a project that had some type of impact in the city of Detroit. Some fellows designed and executed entirely new projects that aligned with their interests and skillsets. Others worked with organizations that they collaborated with on previous challenges to either continue the work that the fellows had began, or assist in another way. I chose the latter route. Back in March I worked with Focus: HOPE on the design and marketing of their new co-working space, which we deemed the Business Village at Focus: HOPE. I decided to return to Focus: HOPE to continue assisting with the marketing of the space in addition to assisting Focus HOPE and their neighborhood revitalization on other projects.

First of all, I LOVE Focus: HOPE. Focus: HOPE is an historic civil rights organization with roots in the city since 1968. Founded in the aftermath of the historic race riots of 1967, Focus: HOPE’s mission is to “overcome racism and poverty.” The Hope Village Initiative (HVI) is the community development arm of the organization that targets the 100 blocks surrounding the campus of Focus: HOPE. HVI’s goal is: “By 2031, 100% of those living in the HOPE Village Initiative area will be educationally well-prepared and economically self-sufficient, living in a safe and supportive environment.” The Business Village at Focus: HOPE is an extension of the HVI initiative. In offering an affordable office space for budding entrepreneurs living in the HVI area, Focus: HOPE would become just one step closer in ensuring the self-sufficiency of its target demographic.

For me personally though, the Business Village at Focus: HOPE represents much more; it represents a narrative that is very rarely heard in the revitalization of Detroit. People are quick to report all of the economic development, new startups and budding entrepreneurs in the downtown area, but few hear about the entrepreneurs outside of the downtown/midtown area and the organizations that make them successful. Working with Focus: HOPE opened my eyes to this narrative that is so often ignored. Outside of the Fridays I worked researching new marketing strategies, I spent a great deal of time meeting Focus: HOPE’s extensive network of entrepreneurs, and its large network of partners that provide countless supports to these entrepreneurs. During my time at Focus: HOPE I attended the ProsperUS graduation and quarterly meeting. ProsperUS is an organization that provides entrepreneur development programs in five target neighborhoods; one of which is the neighborhood where the campus of Focus: HOPE is located. I also attended a free Saturday workshop on entrepreneurship with CEED, the Center for Empowerment and Economic Development. Finally, I attended a “check up” ice cream social, where entrepreneurs who had been through any of Focus: HOPE’s entrepreneurial trainings could attend and get assistance on anything they needed as it related to their business.

All of this exposure combined with my continued work on the Business Village made for an excellent end to a wonderful year. I am so excited that as I continue my work here in Detroit, I can continue to connect and collaborate with organizations like Focus: HOPE. Being here has not only solidified my passions, but created new ones. Like I always say, the best is yet to come.