How fast does a year go by? This month marked the 9^th month of our Challenge Detroit fellowship. If we needed any more proof that this year is almost up, we also hosted the finalist for year three this month. Throughout this year I can honestly say that I lived, worked, played, gave, and led in the city of Detroit.

For this blog I will focus on the work pillar. My office is located in Troy, but as anyone affiliated with Challenge Detroit will tell you, “This is a regional effort!” And the work that I do while at United Shore is not the only contribution that I gave to the region. I have maximized our partnerships with the non-profits that we have had the opportunity to work with in these past 9 months. Whether it was the Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS) implementing our entire social media campaign suggestions, or creating a community outreach initiative for Bleeding Heart Design, the city of Detroit has positively benefited from the work pillar.

I am not one to believe that any relationship is a one way street. Just as I have added value to the city of Detroit, she too has also been a value add to my life. Before Challenge Detroit came around I knew my path that I wanted to take, but I did not know how to get there. It was as if I was standing on top of a mountain and could see my desired destination from a distance, but could not seem to find the entrance that would lead me to that destination. For the past 9 months I’ve been gently placed upon that path, and each step of the way I have met someone willing to assist me with any pitfalls that may come while along this path.

This year has really opened my eyes up to just how much a small group of individuals with one common goal could change the world. At the beginning of this year, I would not have believed that our work within this once great city would have impacted the number of people that it has. And when I look back on the time and efforts that we put into the year, through my lens the person that was impacted the most has been “myself.” I thought that I was going to “Challenge Detroit,” but in the end Detroit was the one laying down the Challenge.