{"id":16003,"date":"2016-06-13T08:00:18","date_gmt":"2016-06-13T08:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.challengedetroit.org\/?post_type=blogpost&p=16003"},"modified":"2016-06-13T08:00:18","modified_gmt":"2016-06-13T08:00:18","slug":"fellow-spotlight-paulina-kriska","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.challengedetroit.org\/blog\/fellow-spotlight-paulina-kriska\/","title":{"rendered":"Fellow Spotlight: Paulina Kriska"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tell us about living in Detroit. What neighborhood do you live in and what things make it\u00a0unique and exciting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Paulina1\"I currently live in Lafayette Park with my roommate Mikayla, who is also a Year Four Challenge\u00a0Detroit Fellow. She and I enjoy living in the Pavilion, which is just a short walk to Greektown and\u00a0the rest of downtown Detroit. Mikayla and I oftentimes walk to the YMCA, to the People\u00a0Mover, and local bars and restaurants. Many of the other fellows live in and around Lafayette\u00a0Park, so it has definitely been a treat to be so close with the other fellows. What\u2019s interesting\u00a0about my neighborhood is that my apartment, which was completed in 1959, was the first of\u00a0many residences designed by distinguished architect Mies van der Rohe with his classic use of\u00a0Mid-Century Modern Architecture. And in 2015, Lafayette Park was recognized as a National\u00a0Historic Landmark District. It\u2019s surreal to feel like I live in a place that represents a part of\u00a0Detroit\u2019s beautiful, albeit turbulent, history.<\/p>\n

I think it is important to note, however, that the history of Lafayette Park wasn\u2019t always so\u00a0peachy. Lafayette Park was formerly occupied by the Black Bottom neighborhood, a largely\u00a0African American community. However, due to the Housing Act of 1949, the Black Bottom\u00a0community was uprooted and thousands of its residents were displaced by one of the first\u00a0large-scale clearance urban renewal housing projects. I think the former Black Bottom\u00a0community plays a significant role in the fabric of Detroit\u2019s history, as it represents the\u00a0thousands of individuals that were forced to withstand the often unjust and marginalizing\u00a0effects of former Detroit legislations.<\/p>\n

What have you learned from Challenge Detroit so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Paulina2\"Challenge Detroit has given me the opportunity to practice empathy and the ability to see\u00a0things with a three-dimensional perspective. I think I can attribute stronger relationships, lucid\u00a0conversation, and more robust strategic thinking to Challenge Detroit\u2019s use of design thinking.\u00a0In addition, I think I have also learned a lot more about Detroit, its history, the wonderful\u00a0organizations and businesses that sustain Detroit, and my own beginnings here. It has a been a\u00a0great learning experience and a great year, and I know that I will forever cherish fond memories\u00a0of my year as a Challenge Detroit fellow.<\/p>\n

Tell us about your host company and your role in the organization.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I currently work for Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit in digital marketing. Goodwill\u00a0Industries\u2019 mission is to \u201cput people with employment challenges to work,\u201d and I have seen\u00a0how my company has embodied that mission firsthand. Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit\u00a0has helped thousands of metro Detroiters since its inception in April 1921. We have programs\u00a0and organizations that aid returning citizens, those with developmental disabilities, individuals\u00a0who suffer with mental illness, and veterans. It has been invaluable to experience the gratitude\u00a0of these individuals and their dedication to bettering themselves and their communities.<\/p>\n

In my time here at Goodwill, I have managed search engine optimization, designed\u00a0advertisements and other marketing material for our donated goods stores and programs, and\u00a0maintained our Goodwill Board website. Through this work, I have fortified my knowledge and\u00a0skills in graphic design and digital marketing.<\/p>\n

What kind of impact do you hope to have with your host company and within the city?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Paulina3\"I hope to bring a sense of community, support, creativity, and positivity within my position at\u00a0Goodwill Industries and as a resident of Detroit. In addition, I ultimately want to convey the\u00a0love I have for this city to my friends and family. All too often, I feel like I have to explain my\u00a0reasoning for living in Detroit for a year. I hope that we are able to reach a point in the future\u00a0where outsiders don\u2019t question a move such as mine as they recognize the beauty, the value,\u00a0and the resiliency of Detroit and its residents.<\/p>\n

What is next for your following Challenge Detroit and what do you hope to carry with you\u00a0from your experience this year on your next adventure?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Next fall, I am happy to say that I will be starting school at East Carolina University School of\u00a0Dental Medicine, where I will be completing my DMD degree as a member of the class of 2020.\u00a0I am so incredibly grateful for the experience that Challenge Detroit has given me and the\u00a0tangible skills I have learned and utilized along the way. I am certain that my time as a fellow\u00a0will strengthen my ability to connect with patients, employees, and colleagues in my career as a\u00a0dentist. My experience as a Challenge Detroit fellow will also give me the courage to be a leader\u00a0in my community and to uphold the needs and wants of my neighbors.<\/p>\n

To see even more of Paulina’s experience in Detroit check out her spotlight video!<\/p>\n