For the past four weeks my partner Sarah Somes (a fellow Fellow) and I worked together on our July Impact Project with our non-profit partner COTS. Our previous engagement with COTS during the fellowship Challenge #3, homelessness, really left an impression on me. During out brief project interaction Sarah and I discussed working with COTS to help with their Chill Room, a room for their resident to literally Chill or relax. Sarah and I share a passion for design and vulnerable community members in Detroit. This impact project was a meaningful way to get reengaged with COTS. Thanks to the COTS family and Challenge Detroit Fellowships for allowing this opportunity to explore our passions, interests, and creativity!

COTS: Hope. Help. Housing

                Since 1982, COTS has been committed to serving the most vulnerable members of the Detroit community. With a rich continuum of programs and services that empower people, COTS is proud to report measurable results the agency’s efforts. COTS exist to alleviate homelessness by providing an array of services that enable people to achieve self-sufficiency and obtain quality affordable housing. COTS also exists to advocate for long-term solutions to the problems of homelessness.

How might we improve COTS consumers quality of family life through design work?

In Winter 2015, COTS is officially transition it’s facility programming into a family focused sustainability program. Families will be serviced on a temporary basis in their stellar transitional housing programming. Activities and programming will engage COTS consumers on a path for self-sustainability as well as a focus on the family unit. Three rooms are currently underutilized by COTS consumers which will help with social engagement and interaction among families: The Chill Room, Dining Room, and Outdoor patio. Our impact focus is creating an opportunity to engage the young, active, and creative community surrounding COTS during a two weekend impact project: #thehappinessproject.

Three Room. Two Weekend. One Goal.

                During a two weekend period volunteers will participate in a impact project experience. During the two weekend volunteers will increase the functional use of community spaces in at the Peterboro location, providing design upgrades. Each community space will be family-friendly and will foster individual growth, communication, a sense of family and relaxation. Rooms included in the two weekend renovation project includes the Chill Room (adult-only relaxation area), Dining Room (a setting for family style meal interaction), and an Outdoor Patio space. Each of these community spaces will further enhance and support COTS family focused mission.

July Impact Project Engagement 

Working with Cheryl, Frankie, Aisha and the COTS team is always a pleasure and delight. As partners this organization really goes above and beyond the call of duty that completing work for them does not feel like a task. I enjoy engaging with this network of individuals from the staff to the consumers. I’m really excited to launch this program and plan to stay engaged beyond the end of the Challenge Detroit Fellowship!