• Jan 19, 2024 by CBS News Detroit
    Alyssa Williams shares about how you can integrate wellness into your new year on CBS News Detroit.
  • Jan 17, 2024 by Bridge Detroit
    Morningside Cafe opened in September 2023. Alumni Fellow Jeffrey Lewis shares about how a desire that started in 2016 to make a cup of coffee accessible to residents in the neighborhood he grew up in finally came to fruition.
  • Jan 17, 2024 by Detroit Regional Chamber
    At the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Detroit Policy Conference, the Chamber and General Motors announced the sixth cohort of awardees for the NeighborHUB grant program. 30 nonprofits and small businesses in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park were selected to receive $600,000 in grants and additional consulting and support services—one of which was Sanctuary Farms, co-founded by alumni Fellow Parker Jean.
  • In the heart of Southeast Michigan, Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP), Charnae Sanders stands as a beacon of inspiration. As the Program Manager at Co.act Detroit, she dedicates herself to supporting nonprofits and community organizations in their mission to create lasting positive change. In an exclusive interview, Charnae shares her journey, her passion for storytelling, and the transformative role of the CNP credential in her career.
  • Alumni Fellow Asia Gholston has been named to the "The "Power 50 Under 40" presented by Walmart, organized by The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., is a prestigious recognition that honors the accomplishments of dynamic young Black professionals, innovators, leaders, disruptors, and business visionaries."
  • Sep 18, 2023 by Detroit Regional Chamber
    The Detroit Regional Chamber announced the participants of Leadership Detroit 44, a nine-month transformational leadership program designed to challenge emerging and existing leaders from Southeast Michigan to bring about positive change in their communities.
  • Aug 22, 2023 by Model D
    Located at 19120 Grand River Ave., Grand River WorkPlace is meant to serve as an incubator and meeting space for local businesses, freelancers, and nonprofits.
  • Aug 4, 2023 by Founder's Secrets
    Fares Ksebati is the CEO and co-founder of MySwimPro, the most popular app for swim workouts. The app was launched in 2015 and has been growing non-stop since then. One of the main secrets behind that growth is that MySwimPro has focused on building for new products and platforms.
  • Jun 20, 2023 by Kingscott Associates
    The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Michigan chapter has named Samantha “Sami” Szeszulski as a recipient of its 2023 Young Architect Award. Szeszulski serves the Kingscott team as a Design Architect and Project Manager and as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.
  • May 18, 2023 by Michigan Chronicle
    Beacon Park, in partnership with The Downtown Detroit Partnership, New Detroit, Detroit Parks Coalition and Michigan Disability Rights Coalition will present “Just Place™: Exploring the Intersectionality of Race & Accessibility in Detroit’s Urban Green Spaces.” The main focus will be on race and accessibility in urban green spaces, and also how that intersects with disability.
  • May 18, 2023 by Voyage Michigan
    "[Deleah] is the founder and Executive Director of Identify Your Dream (IDYD) Corporation, which has produced the Annual “Stomp Out Violence March & Rally,” “Conversations with Survivors,” “Sweet Dreams Toy Giveaway,” and IDYD’s Dreamers Mentoring Program. The purpose of IDYD is to prioritize healing and provide grief support for children (4-18) who lost a loved one to violence..."
  • Apr 12, 2023 by Quinn Evans
    Quinn Evans team members Lauren Strauss, Rachel Pisano, and Claire Antrassian are featured in the 2023 Winter Edition of the Challenge Detroit Newsletter spotlighting Women in Architecture. All three are alumnae of the Challenge Detroit fellowship program who completed their Fellowships at Quinn Evans and are currently working in Quinn Evans’ Detroit, Michigan, office.
  • Alumna Tina Saad is the Director of Corporate Experience at United Way for Southeastern Michigan and led the planning and design of the Summit. Current Fellow Kyra O'Guinn shared her story about the impact of United Way's 2-1-1 and early childcare resources.

    Since its inception in 2017, the summit has raised more than $1.2 million to ensure every child has equal access to the support and care needed to help them thrive. The event broke all previous fundraising efforts this year, raising more than $285,000 thanks to the support of donors, partners and sponsors.
  • Mar 20, 2023 by TIME
    Alum Peter Walle is the Development & Communications Manager for the Honnold Foundation and documents the Foundations' work surrounding sustainble energy around the world.
  • Mar 15, 2023 by Kingscott Associates
    Architectural, engineering and design firm Kingscott Associates has added Samantha “Sami” Szeszulski to its executive leadership team. Sami will help drive the planning and design for projects with Detroit Public Schools, Lansing School District and Saline Area Schools.
  • Mar 15, 2023 by Jefferson East Inc.
    In the midst of the pandemic, lifelong friends Kent and Jean joined forces to bring their shared interests of combatting the climate crisis and promoting localized gardening to life. The two united in Detroit’s lower east side to launch Sanctuary Farms in October 2022. Sanctuary Farms aims to create nutritious compost, cultivate organic produce and provide nature escapes for historically disadvantaged communities to foster a thriving community where people are safe, healthy and connected to their local environment.
  • The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program is a program funded by the U.S. Department of State, administered by Howard University, that attracts and prepares outstanding young people for Foreign Service careers in the U.S. Department of State. It welcomes the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the State Department, women, and those with a demonstrated financial need for graduate school. Based on the fundamental principle that diversity is a strength in our diplomatic efforts, the program values varied backgrounds, including ethnic, racial, social, and geographic diversity.
  • Feb 20, 2023 by Detroit Regional Chamber
    The Detroit Regional Chamber announced the Detroit Region’s ninth cohort of the Young American Leaders Program (YALP) at Harvard Business School (HBS). YALP aims to improve U.S. competitiveness and develop leaders who can execute cross-sector collaboration to build workforce skills, improve schools, restore infrastructure, and take other key actions to restore and reimagine communities.
  • Feb 13, 2023 by The Detroit Jewish News
    Andrew Moss is the vice president of operations at Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply Company, a fourth-generation family-owned and operated business headquartered in Detroit. In this role, Andrew is tasked with leading the company’s day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives, ranging from customer service and accounting to inventory management and IT. Since his arrival at Advance, the company has grown from 38 team members to more than 60 (and growing) and is a finalist for DBusiness’ Top Corporate Culture Award.
  • Dec 30, 2022 by MSU IPPSR
    The Michigan Political Leadership Program is intended to develop future political leaders here in Michigan. Over the past 30 years, over half of the program's 700 graduates have gone on to be elected or appointed to positions in government.
  • Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Community Service Commission today announced 46 individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations recipients of the 2022 Governor's Service Awards and applauded their commitment to volunteerism, service or philanthropy.
  • Sep 8, 2022 by SEEN Magazine
    We regularly hear about the negative impacts that plastic has on the environment, but Detroit native Madeline Miller says very few realize just how rapidly fabric waste is growing — let alone the fact that more than 80% of it is landfilled or incinerated. In order to reduce some of this waste in metro Detroit, the 26-year-old environmental scientist founded NexTiles, a recycling company that collects textile waste from local automotive and clothing manufacturers and then converts it into environmentally sound building insulation.
  • Aug 17, 2022 by Detroit Regional Chamber
    The Detroit Regional Chamber is pleased to announce Devon O’Reilly as senior director of Community Engagement and Leadership Development. In this new role, O’Reilly will lead the Chamber’s long-running Leadership Detroit program as well as the community and small business impact NeighborHub program in partnership with General Motors, and continue to cultivate other initiatives to advance the Chamber’s talent and equity agendas. O’Reilly steps into this position after several years of experience managing Chamber programs focused on community, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
  • Jun 16, 2022 by BMe Community
    The BMe Vanguard is an invitation-only award and program that provides inspired black leaders from all walks of life additional Knowledge, Influence and Networks (K.I.N.) to fulfill black aspirations to Live Own Vote and Excel (L.O.V.E.). Vanguard program experiences are designed and facilitated by global authorities in their fields. Graduates of the program are afforded lifelong access to this community that cares, shares, and dares to help black people and all people to Live Own Vote or Excel (L.O.V.E.) in America.
  • The Detroit Equity Action Lab (DEAL) Racial Equity Fellowship, "brings together the people and organizations working in the many dimensions of racial equity—including arts and media, community development, education, environment, food security, health care, and housing—to develop a shared analysis of structural racism and white supremacy and to build a tool kit for creating equitable alternatives." Alumni Fellow Triniti Watson was selected for the 7th cohort. Other alumni have also been Fellows.
  • Mar 23, 2022 by WXYZ Detroit
    Black Girl MATHgic founder, Brittany Rhodes, is the winner of a national grant for Black entrepreneurs. The grant comes from Famous Amos and the National Black Chamber of Commerce.
  • Mar 22, 2022 by Model D
    The Marygrove Conservancy has been working diligently to create and codify programming on the 53-acre campus since 2018, with the support of partners and stakeholders. Fellows from Challenge Detroit have been one of the most recent highly-skilled experts to bring their fresh ideas to the Conservancy to help them evaluate their programming.
  • Mar 9, 2022 by Daily Detroit Podcast
    Executive Director Deirdre Groves and alumna Addison Mauck talk about Challenge Detroit with Daily Detroit podcast host Jer Staes.
  • Mar 9, 2022 by j'adore Detroit
    Born and raised on Detroit’s east side, and with parents deeply embedded in their community, I felt pretty well-connected when I applied for Challenge Detroit in 2016. I was looking for a career boost and the fellowship looked like a great opportunity to strengthen my leadership skills and make a larger impact in the city. I found both of those things as a Challenge Detroit Fellow, but also so much more.
  • Nov 3, 2021 by Pride Source
    Gabriela Santiago-Romero, a first-generation Mexican American from southwest Detroit, became the first Latinx out LGBTQ+ woman elected to the Detroit City Council Tuesday. The win comes after Santiago-Romero spoke to Pride Source about her run. Before the election, Santiago-Romero expressed how she wanted to help progress Detroit as an LGBTQ+ woman in the exclusive interview.
  • Feb 16, 2021 by GRDC Blog
    JeNiece Freeman-Holt comes to GRDC as a Program Specialist with some valuable hands-on experience. As a Challenge Detroit Fellow, JeNiece worked with the marketing team for The Platform. JeNiece’s role at GRDC fits nicely as a next step for her. What’s more, JeNiece’s roots run pretty deep in Grandmont Rosedale. She grew up in Grandmont, and her grandmother and aunt lived just a couple of blocks away.
  • Dec 8, 2020 by Model D Media
    The seeds [Tammy] Black is — often literally — planting in her community are part of her vision to grow pride in the neighborhood and develop more sustainable lifestyles... Her goal is clearly manifested in her plans for the Manistique Community Treehouse Center... So much of Black’s work happens on a micro level, and local volunteers make up the bulk of the labor force for projects. A committee of five "street ambassadors," brought together by a Challenge Detroit initiative, help disseminate information and coordinate block partnerships, as well as attending city council meetings.
  • Sep 22, 2020 by Let's Detroit
    My name is Jackie Garrett, and I’ve been working as the College Access and Success Fellow for Detroit Drives Degrees (D3) since September 2019. I am thrilled to join 2020-2021 Challenge Detroit as a Community Leader Fellow through D3!
  • On July 17th, I walked across the virtual stage during the Challenge Detroit graduation ceremony. The moment was bittersweet. After a year of balancing work at my host company (Strategic Community Partners), Challenge projects, group outings, and networking events - I had finally reached the finish line. I knew that, while intense, my year with Challenge Detroit enabled me to grow as a community-minded leader.
  • Feb 10, 2020 by Aspen Institute
    Cody Grant serves as the Lead Manager of Talent Solutions for Grand Circus and was previously a Challenge Detroit Fellow, supporting non-profits across the Metro Detroit region. He joins the Detroit Workforce Leadership Academy - Class of 2020, a network of leadership and fellowship programs run by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program.
  • Jan 14, 2020 by Bryn Mawr College News
    Since earning her degree in Growth and Structure of Cities with a minor in Environmental Studies, Elena Luedy '19 has returned to her home state of Michigan to work at the Detroit Land Bank Authority as a Challenge Detroit Fellow.
  • Jan 6, 2020 by Michigan Alumnus
    Read about Year Eight Fellows who are alumni of University of Michigan and the impact they are making through Challenge Detroit. Featured Fellows include Lauren Gallagher, Kaitlin Lapka, Andrew Moss, Elizabeth (Lizzie) DePentu, and Jillian Hurst.
  • Kaitlyn Miklovich grew up about 75 miles outside of Detroit in the small town of Clifford, Mich. So when she announced she was going to attend University of Detroit Mercy, it raised some eyebrows. Miklovich wants to be part of [the future of Detroit]. She was recently selected to participate in Challenge Detroit, and will spend a year helping to revitalize the city with her talents.
  • Apr 15, 2019 by Forbes
    Asia Gholston, Integrated Marketing Manager at National Football League [and alumna of the Challenge Detroit fellowship program], has experienced both sides of the sports industry, agency and team, which has provided her a multi-perspective view when implementing projects and campaigns.
  • MACC Development executive director, Ezekiel Harris graduated with a political science degree in three years at University of Michigan. Harris found himself coming to the metropolis south of his hometown, Flint, in 2014 and served as a fellow with Challenge Detroit for nearly two years. "I did a lot of leadership development through different projects where I was able to consult with different nonprofits across the city."
  • Dec 5, 2018 by dbusiness
    Carlsen, who grew up near New York City, came to Detroit from Chicago for personal reasons after starting a banking career in the Windy City. She used a paid fellowship with Challenge Detroit to make the career transition from banking to her current job in community development.
  • Oct 12, 2018 by Model D Media
    Alumni Fellow Kristen Davis writes about the Manistique Community Treehouse Center, a space where those who are considered special needs could learn in a different way — a space where everyone, both with and without disabilities, would be free of judgement to be themselves.
  • Dearborn resident and Challenge Detroit Fellow Tina Saad thinks of the bigger picture on helping different neighborhoods in Detroit.
  • Sep 18, 2018 by Telegraph Herald
    A 2010 Hempstead High School graduate has been invited to participate in an ongoing challenge to revitalize one of the country’s most economically downtrodden communities. Dubuque native Kenzie Kramer has been selected for the Challenge Detroit fellowship, a yearlong commitment to bettering Michigan’s famed Motor City.
  • May 27, 2018 by Detroit News
    It was roughly one year ago when I returned to the city to interview for the Challenge Detroit fellowship. While I am a native of Detroit, it had been 10 years since I had lived full time in Detroit, spending four years in upstate New York for university and an additional six years working in web and digital communications in New York City.
  • Feb 21, 2018 by WXYZ Channel 7 News
    Executive Director Deirdre Groves and Fellow Brandi Davie shared about the Challenge Detroit experience and the current call for applications.
  • Feb 14, 2018 by ProFellow
    My connection to Detroit and my passion for community development inspired me to apply to Challenge Detroit. After graduating from the University of Michigan with my Master of Social Work, I knew I wanted to get back to my hometown and give back in some capacity.
  • Nov 28, 2017 by Forbes
    It’s Giving Tuesday, a day which amplifies the message of supporting local, national, and international organizations doing good (which I believe you should support year round!). Not sure where to start? Here are some areas to explore with what you should consider when making your donation or purchase. Plus some inspiring organizations to start with.
  • Nov 17, 2017 by Crain's Detroit Business
    Business leaders will hear about specific issues impacting the expansion of equitable small business growth and entrepreneurship in Detroit.
  • Nov 6, 2017 by DEGC Newsroom
    The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, a leader in economic development in Detroit, is working with non-profit Challenge Detroit on innovative ways to expand equitable small-business growth and entrepreneurship in the city.
  • Nov 3, 2017 by Michigan Chronicle
    The Torch of Wisdom Foundation (TOWF) will host its 7th Annual “Honoring Local Heroes: Changing Tomorrow Today” awards banquet on Friday, November 3, 2017. The “Black No-Tie Awards” affair will recognize those who have worked to improve communities on the local, state and national level. All finalists will be present during the awards banquet and will learn during the ceremony who has been selected as the 2017 recipients.
  • Jun 27, 2017 by The Detroit News
    As a current Challenge Detroit fellow and designer at the Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC), I’ve spent the last year asking: “What does it mean to work within communities?”
  • Executive Director, Deirdre Groves and Current Fellow, Michael Swafford share information about Challenge Detroit's 2017-2018 Fellowship application.
  • Dec 15, 2016 by Model D
    There are a lot of remarkable things about Ezekiel Harris.
  • Oct 2, 2016 by Detroit Hub
    Not long ago Challenge Detroit was just spark of an idea to get young people to come to Detroit – and stay here.

    The idea turned into reality after a lot of hard work and persistence. It’s now in its fifth year, and every year has attracted 30 of the best and brightest innovative thinkers to live, work, play, give, and lead in metro Detroit for one year.
  • Sep 28, 2016 by Medium
    On Monday, October 3, he’ll build on the spirit of that call by hosting South by South Lawn , a White House festival to celebrate the power of civic participation and to rally entrepreneurs, creators, and organizers around tackling these challenges and shaping our society for the future.
  • Everett McMillen Cislo has taken to ‘reading’ rivers, and the communities along them. Last summer, the Beechwood High School graduate navigated his way along the 2,552 miles of the Mississippi River. This year he launched his boat from the banks of the Ohio River, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Life along the river seems to suit him just fine.
  • Sep 8, 2016 by The Intelligencer
    A Glen Carbon resident and EHS graduate has been selected to participate in Challenge Detroit, a yearlong fellowship. Andrea Stegeman just completed her Master’s Degree in Architecture at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln after earning a Bachelor of Architecture from SIU Carbondale.
  • Aug 23, 2016 by Ashland Daily Press
    Out of hundreds of applicants, Ashland’s Lauren Strauss was selected as one of only 43 individuals from across the country to participate in Challenge Detroit, a yearlong fellowship focused on revitalizing the city of Detroit.
  • Aug 19, 2016 by The Oakland Press
    An Orion Township woman has been selected as one of 43 people across the country to participate in a yearlong fellowship program helping to revitalize Detroit.
  • Aug 15, 2016 by Plymouth Patch
    Claire McCarthy, of Plymouth, has been selected as one of 43 Fellows to participate in Challenge Detroit, a leadership and professional development program focused on attracting and retaining talent in Detroit in an effort to spur revitalization. McCarthy was chosen from hundreds of applicants to collaborate with individuals from all over the country and live, work, play, give and lead in Detroit.
  • May 27, 2016 by The Detroit News
    Year 4 Fellow Clare Lilek reflects on her experiences in Detroit and finding a sense of purpose.
  • Mar 3, 2016 by The Detroit News
    The opportunities for longtime and new Detroiters to make an impact in the city are abundant. But how do you catch the attention of both people who grew up here and understand the issues facing the community, as well as those from other parts of the country who only know Detroit from news headlines?

  • Feb 22, 2016 by WXYZ Channel 7
    Challenge Detroit is a leadership development program aimed at attracting and retaining talent. The program is now accepting applications for its 2016-2017 class of Fellows--with a new twist.
  • Oct 21, 2014 by The Detroit News
    When Marshalle Montgomery got a call in 2012 from the Institute On Higher Awesome Studies, asking her to become a trustee of the Awesome Foundation Detroit, she thought it was a prank.
  • Oct 19, 2014 by Crains Detroit Business
    Detroit's billionaires may capture the headlines, but they are only part of the story of Detroit's future. This is a city of doers making outsized impacts with limited resources. Meet eight small organizations that make the city a better place to live.
  • Oct 17, 2014 by mfrtech
    Current college students and aspiring entrepreneurs are invited to attend this season’s edition of Live.Work.Detroit. on Friday, October 24 at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m.
  • Jul 9, 2014 by Detroit News DVoice
    At Challenge Detroit we’re getting ready to introduce a new group of Fellows who will spend a year living, working, giving, playing and leading in and around the city.

    We’re looking forward to sharing our perspectives on the city as we work to help strengthen the region!
  • Jul 9, 2014 by State Budget Solutions
    Detroit has developed innovative solutions to attract and retain young talent. Challenge Detroit, a leadership development and training program, selects approximately 30 fellows each year to work for local host companies, volunteer in community service projects, and experience the culture of Detroit.
  • Jul 9, 2014 by MLive
    Challenge Detroit, a nonprofit social impact program that attracts and retains talent in the greater Detroit area, announced its 33 Year Three fellows.

    This year's group includes 16 fellows from Michigan and 17 from states including Alabama, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. More than 850 people applied for the positions.
  • It’s the third class of the program’s Fellows project. The addition of this new class of 35 brings the total participants in the program to almost 100. The new fellows are from Michigan and across the U.S.
  • Challenge Detroit is welcoming its third cohort of fellows this month, which includes a few more fellows than previous classes. "We're really focused on connecting our fellows with the community," Danner says.
  • Jun 24, 2014 by Model D
    Challenge Detroit is welcoming its third cohort of fellows this month, which includes a few more fellows than previous classes. Among the new companies participating in the Challenge Detroit program areCampus Commandos, Penske, and Clark Hill. Fellows will also join firms that have been participating in the program throughout its first three years, such as DTE Energy, Hello World, and Team Detroit.
  • Jun 24, 2014 by Technorati
    One of the most innovative social media movements has also been created in Detroit. Challenge Detroit, a nonprofit social impact program that attracts and retains talent in the greater Detroit area, announced its 33 Year Three Fellows. During their year in Detroit, fellows will share their stories through blogging, video, and social media platforms. It has attracted over 100 of the most talented graduates in the country, from 17 states, to Detroit.
  • Jun 17, 2014 by DBusiness
    DETROIT — Challenge Detroit, a nonprofit social impact program that attracts and retains talent in metro Detroit, announced its 33 Year Three Fellows. They come from Michigan and across the country with 16 from the state and 17 from states including Alabama, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The 2014-2015 class will bring the program total to nearly 100 Fellows living, working, playing, giving, and leading in Detroit.
  • May 30, 2014 by Digital Journal
    For the second consecutive year, PM Environmental Inc., signed on to be a host company for Challenge Detroit. The annual leadership program seeks to entice the brightest young minds to live, work, and contribute to the city. In addition to supporting Detroit, the program also provides benefits for the companies that sponsor its participants, or Fellows.
  • A group of five women are putting a Detroit spin on an international recipe for vodka. Keeler, 25, works at the United Way for Southeastern Michigan and is a Challenge Detroit Fellow. She serves as a visual content specialist, and will manage branding and marketing for Our/Detroit.
  • May 15, 2014 by Detroit Free Press
    These programs — the Detroit Revitalization Fellows, Venture for America, Challenge Detroit and others — over the past three years have matched more than 100 young people with companies and nonprofit organizations that put their talents and energy to use.

    “Our greatest goal is to change perceptions,” said Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director of Challenge Detroit. “And that means to tell a more positive and balanced story about what’s happening here in Detroit.”
  • May 12, 2014 by Meeting of the Minds
    Detroit has reached a tipping point and is re-discovering and re-imagining its economic path. City-regions compete with each other on a global scale. In order to compete, cities have the arduous task of developing and articulating their economic advantages and competitiveness. The economic specialization a city pursues impacts the opportunities of residents working and living in those cities. Programs such as Detroit Revitalization Fellows and Challenge Detroit are providing leadership training for residents returning home to Detroit or moving there for the first time.
  • Apr 9, 2014 by The Valley Vanguard
    Marketing senior Amanda Gettgen recently applied to be a fellow for Challenge Detroit.

    The one-year program allows individuals to spend a year in Detroit, working one-on-one with a host company and doing service projects for several non-profit organizations. Gettgen has made it past the first two phases of the Challenge Detroit’s application process.
  • Elizabeth Machesky (WCAS12) of Detroit was selected to participate in Challenge Detroit, a yearlong urban revitalization program focused on attracting and retaining talent in the city. The program allows young leaders to work at top regional companies, while spending one day a week collaborating with area nonprofits to address regional challenges. She is working as a project coordinator with the partnering host company, Hello World (formerly ePrize).
  • Mar 27, 2014 by Metromode
    The March 28 event is being co-hosted by D:hive and MEDC. Participating students will have the opportunity to network with a wide range of Detroit employers including Detroit Medical Center, Playworks, Quicken Loans, American Axle, and Shinola, among others. The event will include keynote speaker Marlowe Stoudamire from the Skillman Foundation, a panel discussion with some of Detroit’s young leaders from Detroit Young Professionals, Challenge Detroit and ChalkFly, networking, and a tour of some of the exciting small businesses, restaurants, museums, and affordable places to live.
  • Mar 2, 2014 by Toledo Free Press
    It's not the kind of "saving the world"" environmentalism I thought I wanted to do, but it's a very practical application of what I studied in school, Balzer said. Balzer is also helping to establish a downtown presence for the metro area-based firm, something the Challenge Detroit program is eager to support. What Anna's doing is what we really hope our fellows can do through the program, Challenge Detroit director Deirdre Greene Groves said. Having companies in the region is awesome, but we're also excited when our fellows can be part of an organization's movement toward the city.
  • Feb 27, 2014 by The Michigan Daily
    Challenge Detroit, a leadership and professional development fellowship that pairs 30 participants from across the country with Detroit-based employers in every industry and sector. Fellows become immersed in Detroit's social scene, volunteer opportunities, and leadership and networking events. Challenge Detroit is accepting applications through March 9, and is an excellent prospect for graduating students looking to jumpstart a career while making a difference in the city.
  • Feb 19, 2014 by MLive
    Challenge Detroit is seeking its third class of fellows to "live, work and play" in Detroit. The program matches 30 fellows with host companies where they'll work four days a week, and with nonprofits where they'll work on community-service projects.
  • Feb 17, 2014 by Detroit Free Press
    Challenge Detroit is accepting applications for its third year. The deadline is March 9 for the 2014-15 cycle, which begins in September. We felt that Challenge Detroit was a great initiative to bring students and aspiring young talent into the city of Detroit to help revitalize the city of Detroit, said Ryan Pasquali, marketing director at Brooks Kushman.
  • Challenge Detroit is launching a nationwide search for people to come to Detroit for a yearlong fellowship as members of its third class. The program places Fellows with companies such as General Motors Co., CBS Detroit Radio, Detroit Lions, United Way of Southeastern Michigan and Crestmark Bank.
  • Feb 5, 2014 by DBusiness
    The incredibly bright, ambitious and innovative thinkers we draw through Challenge Detroit have the potential to transform the city in lasting ways," says Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director. The response has been overwhelming, and we can't wait to meet the city's next set of future leaders.
  • Feb 4, 2014 by Model D
    Challenge Detroit is now taking applications for its third class of fellows, but also has some interesting statistics to show off from its first class. Of the fellows in the first class, 90 percent stayed in the region. A vast majority of them also kept working with their host employer after the fellowship was up. Five of the fellows from the first class have started their own business or are in the process of doing.
  • Jan 29, 2014 by Bridge Magazine
    Bridge Magazine is charting Detroit's path. Their most recent story features alumni Fellow Betsy Berens, and current Fellow Tia Hodge who both echoed that "...any gains in the city must extend into the neighborhoods where the pain is felt most acutely."
  • Jan 8, 2014 by MLive
    Deirdre Greene Groves is receiving a Distinguished Leadership Award from the Michigan Business Professional Association (MBPA) for her work as executive director of Challenge Detroit. I'm thrilled to be recognized by the MBPA, Groves said in a statement. I count many past honorees as inspirations, friends and colleagues, so to share my experience and learn from others is an honor.
  • Dec 23, 2013 by USA Today
    Challenge Detroit has that altruistic vibe of Teach For America and the Peace Corps, and that's probably why it attracted 1,600 applicants in its first two years of operation. They're Ivy League graduates, urban planners, artists and MBAs, and they're coming from around the world. "Great things come out of adversity, and that's what's happening here," Mosher says.
  • Dec 13, 2013 by leGlobaliste
    Efforts such as Challenge Detroit and other initiatives from leading organizations in the greater Detroit area, will guarantee a brighter future for the women in our community, the city of Detroit, and for ourselves. "I recognize the importance of connecting our next generation of female leaders with the leadership and entrepreneurial opportunities found in Detroit" says Executive Director Deirdre Greene Groves.
  • Dec 11, 2013 by Mode Shift
    Since early November, a group of 31 fellows with a program called Challenge Detroit have been partnering with us to address topics like bike safety, bicycle infrastructure and multi-modal transportation.
  • Meiyi Cheng '13 was selected as one of 32 fellows, from a pool of 700 applicants, to participate in Challenge Detroit, an urban revitalization program focused on attracting and retaining talent in Detroit in an effort to spur revitalization. I'm excited to be part of this great city and to work with and learn from many talented and passionate people, said Cheng.
  • Nov 29, 2013 by Awesome Mitten
    Challenge Detroit is a revitalization project, bringing a group of young Fellows from various backgrounds to live, work, play, and give in the Motor City. Now in the middle of its Year 2 Program, Challenge Detroit is playing a part in reversing the loss of young talent that the Motor City has experienced in recent years.
  • Oct 21, 2013 by Next City
    Challenge Detroit, basically a year-long crash course on city planning, is a new urban revitalization program that launched in the Motor City last year. The inaugural class of 30 fellows just wrapped up its first year in September, and the second class is currently digging in. Next City's Bill Bradley interviewed Deirdre Greene Groves, Challenge's executive director, and Jason Zogg, one of the inaugural fellows who now works for DTE Energy. The conversation centered around the city's strengthening core, transportation equity and Zogg's recent experiences with shifting procurement policies.
  • In close collaboration with REVOLVE Detroit, the neighborhood retail initiative of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, and Challenge Detroit, a professional development program where young professionals live, work, play, and give in metro Detroit for one year, Impact Detroit launched the Livernois Community Storefront project this year with a two-day program. It opened on May 31st with a "Light Up Livernois" community event featuring a fashion show of local retailers as well as music and art.
  • Oct 17, 2013 by Michigan Technology News
    DETROIT - On October 23, Challenge Detroit, an urban revitalization program focused on attracting and retaining talent in Detroit, will officially launch its second year with 32 new Challenge Detroit Fellows during a celebration at DTE Energy's headquarters in the heart of the city. "More than 90 percent of Challenge Detroit's inaugural class is staying in Detroit, said Deirdre Greene Groves. We're excited to build upon this foundation with 32 new fellows, who we know will continue to make an impact in the community.
  • Oct 15, 2013 by Utica Observer-Dispatch
    "It's a shift in our thinking." Challenge Detroit started a fellowship program that places workers with a local company for one year. The fellows take part in monthly challenges helping local non-profits. "We're trying to change the narrative of Detroit" said Executive Director Deirdre Groves.
  • Oct 14, 2013 by The Augusta Chronicle
    Challenge Detroit is an initiative aimed at boosting the reputation and vitality of Detroit through "challenges" by young professionals. Beaumont's part is to host a fellow who will live, work, play, give and lead in Detroit for one year.
  • Oct 8, 2013 by The Augusta Chronicle
    Lawyer saw only opportunity when she applied to Challenge Detroit. "Detroit was a great place, is a great place and in the future will be an amazing place to be. More people should just come and visit Detroit and see what it's all about," she said.
  • Oct 3, 2013 by The Gazette
    "I just knew I wanted to start my post-grad life in Detroit," (Fellow Melissa) Campbell said. "The Challenge Detroit Program brought things full circle for me. I was highly intrigued by the opportunity to revitalize a city by living, playing, working and giving back to Detroit."
  • Sep 19, 2013 by The Enterprise-Tocsin
    Indianola resident Miguel Davis has been selected as one of 32 Fellows to participate in Challenge Detroit, an urban revitalization program focused on attracting and retaining talent in the struggling former auto hub.
  • Sep 12, 2013 by The Arab American News
    Saad was one of 700 applicants, who demonstrated interest in the region and applied for Challenge Detroit, because he saw the opportunity to apply his intellectual capital and talent in helping to make a positive impact on the region. "I have always wanted a chance to work in the City, and I'm excited to share my creative ideas to help revitalize Detroit," said Saad.
  • Sep 5, 2013 by Crestmark Bank
    "I heard great feedback about the Challenge Detroit Program from a previous host company, and we were thrilled to be chosen to participate in this initiative in its second year," said President and Chief Operating Officer Mick Goik. "We feel it is important to be active in helping the communities in which we work, and this program provides a new and unique opportunity. We look forward to having Roy as part of the Crestmark family, and seeing the impact of Challenge Detroit."
  • Sep 4, 2013 by Women 2.0
    One of 28 young professionals who took a risk and joined Challenge Detroit in an effort to be a part of the revitalization of one of our country's most influential cities. I've had opportunities to listen to and speak with community leaders, new entrepreneurs and true Detroiters.
  • A new entrepreneurial dynamic is based on new conceptions of reinvestment and redevelopment that include and benefit, rather than exclude and impoverish, Detroit's remaining 700,000 residents. That means networking reinvestment to community-based organizations, building on rather than bypassing the infrastructure that exists in the community, and maximizing the recirculation of capital inside the city.
  • Aug 30, 2013 by PM Environmental
    Challenge Detroit has been recognized as a model for attracting and retaining talent in Michigan. By uniting a
    group of innovative, entrepreneurial thinkers, Challenge Detroit takes a significant step toward energizing our city's creative and professional core.
  • Aug 28, 2013 by New Jersey Local News
    Challenge Detroit is combining forward thinkers, problem solvers, responsible individuals, active learners, and unique personalities and placing them all into one room! I couldn't be more thankful or humbled to have the opportunity to work with creative, diverse, excited, and motivated people, said Rosemary Williamson, year two Challenge Detroit Fellow.
  • One indicator of [Challenge Detroit]'s success is that many of the participating businesses and sponsors are holdovers from the first year, including MGM Grand Detroit.
  • Aug 22, 2013 by Fast CoExist
    "I came here from the East Coast, because as an urban planner, I'm interested in opportunity," Jason Zogg says. "When I saw Detroit, I saw a huge amount of opportunity, almost a blank slate. I felt I could make a difference; that this was the place to be, and this was the time to be here."
  • Aug 7, 2013 by jewishnews.com
    DETROIT, MI - Longtime Detroiters and relative newcomers to the city alike have high hopes for a town that once was a world leader in manufacturing and the automotive industry. They speak almost collectively of a Detroit "renaissance," and of wanting to be part of the city's comeback.
  • Jul 24, 2013 by mLive.com
    DETROIT, MI - Thirty-three young adults found out this month they were selected from 700 applicants to spend the next two years of their life living and working in Detroit.
  • Jul 23, 2013 by Model D Media
    Challenge Detroit's second class of fellows is about to make its introduction to the Motor City at the end of this summer.
  • A cynic might suggest that the summer of '13 hardly seems like an ideal time to start a professional development year in Detroit, but 33 new Challenge Detroit participants were picked because they're confident and resilient.
  • Jul 19, 2013 by Bloomberg Businessweek
    Detroit is on the move! Detroit is attracting hip young people! Detroit is a beacon for venture capital! And oh, by the way, Detroit just became the largest U.S. city ever to file for protection from creditors under federal bankruptcy law.
  • Jul 17, 2013 by CBS Detroit
    DETROIT (WWJ) - The young professionals program Challenge Detroit has selected its second cohort of 33 Fellows. During their year in Detroit, participants will share their stories through regular blogging, video logging and social media updates. Challenge Detroit year two begins Aug. 26
  • Jun 19, 2013 by Deadline Detroit
    The BBC's Matt Danzico visits Challenge Detroit, a professional development program that chose 30 of "tomorrow's leaders" to live, work, play and give in and around Detroit for one year.
  • Jun 18, 2013 by BBC News Magazine
    Challenge Detroit has given incentives to 30 innovative thinkers from around the US - some who are Detroit natives - to live and work in the city. They also work one day a week on community projects.
  • May 31, 2013 by Governing.com
    Meet ten people who will play a critical role in rebuilding the Motor City, a place abandoned by its residents, plagued with high crime, stuck with the nation's highest unemployment rate, and under the state's control.
  • Yes, Detroit, the city that's much-maligned nationally for crime, corruption and the decline of American manufacturing. Problems do exist in Detroit, just like in any large metropolis. But the city has embarked on a solution called Challenge Detroit, a program designed to attract top-level talent to some of America's largest companies.
  • Mar 28, 2013 by The South End Weekly
    The loss of promising talent has made a negative impact on Michigan's economy. Deirdre Greene Groves, founding executive director of The Collaborative Group, took notice of this problem and, with help from her partner Shelly Danner, created a program to retain and attract top talent in the state.
  • Feb 27, 2013 by Uhaul.com
    Challenge Detroit is ready for round two of the year long fellows program 2013-2014! Challenge Detroit in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's LiveWorkDetroit!
  • Feb 26, 2013 by CW Detroit
    This week on Street Beat, Host Rob Stone of WYCD takes an in-depth look at organizations who have plans to revitalize Detroit. Dr. George Swan III of Detroit Future City explains what's ahead for the city.
  • Feb 24, 2013 by Washington Examiner
    DETROIT (AP) - Organizers have announced that the Challenge Detroit urban revitalization competition is back for a second year.
  • Feb 21, 2013 by After 5 Detroit
    Introduced last year, Challenge Detroit has taken the city by storm. It's a national initiative focused on revitalizing Detroit by retaining and attracting top talent that bring their intellectual capital to the city. And they're looking for their next class of 30 leaders from Detroit and across the U.S.
  • Feb 18, 2013 by Crain's Detroit Business
    Challenge Detroit recently received a $230,000 grant from the LiveWorkDetroit initiative of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. that will fund programming and recruitment for the upcoming class.
  • Feb 13, 2013 by Positivedetroit.net
    Challenge Detroit, a national initiative focused on revitalizing Detroit by retaining and attracting top talent to the city, has launched year two of the program and is now accepting applications for its 2013-2014 fellows.
  • Feb 13, 2013 by Quicken Loans
    Challenge Detroit is bringing in bright and promising professionals to Detroit to help push the city in the right direction.
  • Challenge Detroit is again launching its quest to find 30 innovative leaders from across the Detroit region and the US to live, work, play, give and lead in.
  • Jan 4, 2013 by BeLight
    Yes, a growing and sometimes challenging triple love-between two Kalamazoo College graduates and the city of Detroit, between these two and their alma mater, and between these two: Leigh Ann Ulrey '11 and Sam Brennan '11.
  • Jan 4, 2013 by CBS Detroit
    Twenty-nine young people are living in Detroit for a year as part of Challenge Detroit. Twenty-two-year-old Darin Gross says the city needs to fill vacant lots and get more people to move to Detroit.
  • Jan 3, 2013 by uhaul.com
    We have shared a few posts about Challenge Detroit, and have learned about many of the Challenge Detroit projects through our community bloggers. Through these relationships we've learned that we all share a similar vision, to contribute to the Detroit revitalization efforts. Challenge Detroit is about uniting a group of innovative, entrepreneurial thinkers to help with energizing the city of Detroit's creative and professional core.
  • Jan 3, 2013 by The Beaumont Blog
    Ali Beydoun is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan and current Challenge Detroit participant. While at the University of Michigan, Ali earned his Bachelor of Science degree with Distinction in Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science. Ali is from Dearborn.
  • Dec 3, 2012 by CBS Detroit
    Challenge Detroit is a group of 30 of the best and brightest young people working to solve some of the problems facing Detroit. Betsy Berens, 22, is a part of this elite group working to solve problems like how to make fresh food more available to Detroiters and how to retain international students in the city.
  • Nov 30, 2012 by CBS Detroit
    An innovative program has 30 young people working and living in the city of Detroit hoping to make some positive changes. The group Challenge Detroit is working at the International Institute of Detroit, which encourages young people to work on Detroit's problems. This month's challenge focuses on increasing retention and attraction of international talent to Detroit.
  • Nov 27, 2012 by The Utmost Group
    Challenge Detroit, an outgrowth of The Collaborative Group, is a new leadership and professional development program aimed at retaining and attracting professional talent through a yearlong fellowship for 30 young adults in Detroit. By sponsoring 30 Challenge Detroit Fellows to live in the city, work with Detroit area businesses, play around town and give through monthly team challenges with local nonprofits, their goal is to help revitalize one of the most significant cities in the world.
  • Nov 21, 2012 by Fox 2 News
    Detroit is a worldwide symbol for industry's rise and fall. It's known for making cars and too often, for making headlines about terrible blight and crime. If you're an entrepreneur you know Detroit as something else: An opportunity.
  • Nov 12, 2012 by Vickie Thomas
    After nearly six months into the Challenge Detroit initiative, what are participants saying about their efforts to revitalize the city? And what's it been like so far?

    Those are just a couple of the questions posed to Challenge Detroit Fellow Ben Hershey, a native of Columbus, Ohio, by WWJ's City Beat Reporter Vickie Thomas.
  • Nov 12, 2012 by Valerie West
    I'm pleased to announce that Asia G. from Detroit, a Challenge Detroit Fellow, has won our contest with her submission, "2030 Grammys & NFL Super Bowl Fight Over Detroit for the Same Weekend."
  • Nov 6, 2012 by We DTE
    DTE Energy is partnering on a very exciting, year-long initiative called Challenge Detroit focused on energizing the city's core of creative and talented professionals to live in, work in, and generate innovative and impactful solutions to pressing needs of Detroit. The Atlantic magazine recently ran a thought-provoking article "Detroit Issues a Challenge to Save the City" on the program.
  • Oct 26, 2012 by Ryan Kelly
    Challenge Detroit is steaming along in creating Motor City advocates by immersing team members in the city's culture.

    The privately funded program, in which 30 people live and work in Detroit for one year, finished the first of 10 required team "challenges" last month.
  • Oct 23, 2012 by Deirdre Greene Groves
    Challenge Detroit, an urban revitalization project bringing together 30 innovative leaders from the City of Detroit and across the country, to live, work, play and give in the region, has partnered with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and its LiveWorkDetroit! (LWD) initiative. The MEDC recently announced a $230,000 grant to help fund programming initiatives for Challenge Detroit.
  • Oct 23, 2012 by Matt Roush
    Challenge Detroit Partners With United Way For Program's Second Team Challenge
  • Oct 23, 2012 by Asia Gholston
    When one thinks of Detroit I'm pretty sure good eats aren't in your top three things that come to mind. Well I'm here to change that because personally, "good eats" would fall into my number two spot. Now keep in mind I'm not referring to the, "Greater Detroit Area" or the, "Metro Detroit Area" I'm talking DETROIT, MICHIGAN!
  • Oct 23, 2012 by Kathryn Hawkins
    Can 30 creative thinkers make a difference to a city in need? A Detroit economic and entrepreneurial development organization called The Collaborative Group is betting on it.
  • Oct 16, 2012 by Jon Zemke
    Challenge Detroit has received a $230,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp to help the nonprofit to continue to help innovative young people stake a claim in the Motor City. "This will close a huge gap for us this year," says Deirdre Greene Grove, executive director of Challenge Detroit. Challenge Detroit brings in a couple dozen recent college graduates to Detroit each year, giving them jobs and coordinating opportunities for them to live, work and play in the city. The nonprofit pairs the fellows from each class with local employers and provides them with a living stipend.
  • Oct 11, 2012 by Isaac Gilman
    A month has buzzed by and I continue to love every moment. Whether I am hanging out in my 93 year old apartment building in Midtown Detroit, biking around the city to participate in the unlimited weekly events, or working at my very exciting host company, Billhighway, I love it all and could not be happier about my first month with Challenge Detroit.
  • Oct 11, 2012 by Matt Roush
    The mission of the MEDC is to help businesses grow in Michigan through a variety of programs and particularly to help Michigan businesses find the talent they need to prosper here," said Michael A. Finney, MEDC president and CEO. "Challenge Detroit is bringing innovative young talents who we expect to positively impact the greater Detroit region as they work to encourage others to see Michigan as a great place to work and live.
  • Oct 11, 2012 by Deirdre Greene Groves
    Challenge Detroit, a Birmingham nonprofit that recruited 30 leaders from across the country to live and work in Metro Detroit for a year, is receiving a $230,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The two groups announced the partnership Thursday night and are making Challenge Detroit part of the private-public MEDC's offshoot LiveWorkDetroit! initiative, which promotes Detroit as a place for college graduates and young professionals to live and work. "We are pumped," said Deirdre Greene Groves, Challenge Detroit's executive director. "Partnering with the MEDC is an honor."
  • Oct 11, 2012 by Jason Lorimer
    Doyle Mosher, known to most as a luxury home builder is, along with his counterpart Deirdre Green, iterating with a new model to directly recruit and retain most useful human capital. Their venture has just recently brought close to 30 young folks into Detroit to live and work in the city, where they engage with partners on a series of community-focused challenges. Doyle and Deirdre, along with their team, managed to get 30 different employers to provide a good-paying job to a newly arrived fellow and to do so mostly sight unseen. This is an example of the willingness of many institutions to support big-thinking, important endeavors.
  • Sep 14, 2012 by Deirdre Greene Groves
    As Daniel Burnham, architect and urban planner, once said, "Make no little plans," - that's something my co-founder, Doyle Mosher, and I believe. Challenge Detroit is a big idea, but one worth the challenge.
  • Sep 11, 2012 by Asia Gholston
    After months of planning, preparation and prayer, I made it to the most sought-out program to hit the city of Detroit since the Big 3: Challenge Detroit! Challenge Detroit is a community-based initiative to attract tomorrow's leaders to Detroit in hopes of revitalizing the city.
  • Sep 6, 2012 by CBS Detroit
    ePrize, the global leader in digital engagement, today announced that the company is participating in the AIESEC and Challenge Detroit programs as part of efforts to revitalize the city of Detroit and train young leaders. Starting today, ePrize welcomes new trainees including Kirstine Bernes from Denmark and Asia Gholston, a recent Michigan State graduate.
  • Sep 6, 2012 by after5 detroit
    What happens when you bring 30 talented individuals from around the country to live, work, play and volunteer for one year in the city of Detroit? Well, we're about to find out, as this week officially kicks off a new initiative and program called,Challenge Detroit.
  • Sep 5, 2012 by uhaul.com
    As we move into the Detroit community, we have recently learned that we are not alone! There are 30 individuals that have also joined the Detroit community, through the Challenge Detroit project. These 30 participants were carefully selected out of over 900 applications to move to Detroit for one year. The participants are part of a community-wide revitalization effort that will live, work, play and give in the great city of Detroit.
  • Sep 4, 2012 by Rachel Reardon
    While the diverse staff at Mango Languages hails from cities all over the globe, we are proud to call Detroit, Michigan our home and are thrilled to welcome Challenge Detroit participant Jared Berman to our team. Challenge Detroit is an urban revitalization initiative aimed at bringing together 30 innovative leaders from across the country to live, work, play and give in Detroit.
  • Aug 27, 2012 by silobreaker
    DETROIT (WWJ) - Thanks to Challenge Detroit , the city has 30 new residents who live, work, and play in the Motor City. They'll also be giving back, too, through their volunteer work.
  • Jun 8, 2012 by Business Insider
    Some new grads don't have much of a choice. If you want to be a screenwriter, it's got to be L.A. Those with the politics bug head to Washington, and petroleum engineers with instantaneous job offers go wherever the oil is flowing.
  • Jun 7, 2012 by Detroit Make it Here
    Starting from an applicant pool of more than 900, the Challenge Detroit competition has chosen 30 of "tomorrow's leaders" to live and work in the city for a year. "These 30 participants will make a mark on our community and will be great representatives of Detroit," said Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director of Challenge Detroit.
  • Jun 5, 2012 by Model D
    Detroit, meet 30 of the city's newest residents, the first class of Challenge Detroit. The nonprofit has selected the 30 winners of its first class, which will provide young leaders interested in improving Detroit with jobs and a rent stipend to live in the greater downtown area.
  • Starting from an applicant pool of more than 900, the Challenge Detroit competition has chosen 30 of tomorrow's leaders to live and work in the city for a year. These 30 participants will make a mark on our community and will be great representatives of Detroit, said Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director of Challenge Detroit.
  • Starting from an applicant pool of more than 900, the Challenge Detroit competition has chosen 30 of "tomorrow's leaders" to live and work in the city for a year. "These 30 participants will make a mark on our community and will be great representatives of Detroit," said Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director of Challenge Detroit.
  • May 30, 2012 by Open IDEO
    Challenge Detroit is a collaborative effort by companies across Detroit to help attract and retain talent in Michigan. Not only do participants work in corporate settings, they also participate in projects to help revitalize the community.
  • May 28, 2012 by RoadRunner
    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.
  • May 28, 2012 by Thetimesherald.com
    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.
  • May 28, 2012 by The Oakland Press
    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.
  • May 28, 2012 by Ventura County Star
    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.
  • May 28, 2012 by ClickOnDetroit.com
    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.
  • May 28, 2012 by Syracuse.com
    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.
  • May 28, 2012 by Mlive.com
    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.
  • May 28, 2012 by ABC
    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.
  • May 24, 2012 by The Republic
    Thirty people from across the U.S. and Canada have been picked to take part in the inaugural Challenge Detroit program. The urban revitalization project's goal is to help revitalize the Detroit region by attracting and retaining innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.
  • May 24, 2012 by Albion College
    Albion College graduate Caroline Dobbins says her experience with Caster Concepts, her family's business in Albion, gives her an understanding of how a vibrant Detroit will change the state of Michigan. Her vision of a renewed, thriving and exciting Motor City helped her become one of 30 winners in the Challenge Detroit competition.
  • May 24, 2012 by Mlive.com
    Caroline Dobbins, a 2012 Albion College graduate, is one of 30 winners in the Challenge Detroit competition. For one year starting in September, Dobbins, who is from Albion, and the other winners will be employed with partner companies while also working together in team challenges geared toward benefiting Detroit.
  • May 23, 2012 by The Detroit News
    A list of more than 900 applicants has been whittled to 30 winners for the urban revitalization project known as Challenge Detroit, which pays participants to live in the city for a year.
  • May 22, 2012 by CBS Detroit
    Challenge Detroit, an urban revitalization project bringing new talent to Detroit, has selected 30 participants from throughout the United States to participate in its inaugural program. The new, national initiative focuses on revitalizing the Detroit region by retaining and attracting innovative leaders who will bring their intellectual capital and talents to the city.
  • "The Jewish community has a strong history of leadership in Detroit, and it is incumbent upon us as Jewish leaders to retain and recruit the next generation of leaders."
  • May 7, 2012 by Artvoice
    Detroit is leading the rust belt pack in trying innovative concepts to solve their urban economic challenges. One such effort is called Challenge Detroit. Challenge Detroit will invite 30 of tomorrow's leaders to live, work, play, and give in and around the Detroit area for one year.
  • May 4, 2012 by CBS Detroit
    It is often said that Detroiters are even more down on their city than some outsiders. City residents who feel that way can learn from a group of 66 finalists in the Challenge Detroit competition. While some Detroiters are packing up and moving out, these visionaries are fighting for one of 30 spots to live, work and play in Motown for a full year.
  • May 3, 2012 by myFOXDetroit.com
    DETROIT (WJBK) -- "I'm an urban planner and a transportation planner, and I also have been focusing on like electric vehicle infrastructure," said Jason Zogg. Now this 26-year-old from Rhode Island wants to put his skills to work in Detroit. "I see Detroit as kind of a blank slate, a huge opportunity that has a massive amount of potential," he said.
  • "To those who scoff at the idea of a revitalized Detroit, I would remind them of what aviator Amelia Earhart said: 'Never interrupt someone doing something that you said can't be done.'" - Sergio Marchionne, Chairman and CEO of Chrysler. It has been a stellar week as far as I'm concerned. Sergio Marchionne announced that he, along with 70 other Chrysler employees, will move to downtown Detroit. Dan Gilbert pledged his support for United Way publicly. And Challenge Detroit kicked off a new phase with candidate interviews.
  • Apr 22, 2012 by CBS Detroit
    Challenge Detroit said Friday that it had selected 66 finalists in the competition to work, live, play and give for a year in Detroit. The selections were made based on a review from Challenge Detroit judges, the online community vote, and the input of Challenge Detroit's host companies.
  • Apr 22, 2012 by Detroit City and Press
    DETROIT - Challenge Detroit said Friday that it had selected 66 finalists in the competition to work, live, play and give for a year in Detroit. The selections were made based on a review from Challenge Detroit judges, the online community vote, and the input of Challenge Detroit's host companies. More than 17,000 individuals voted for ...
  • Apr 19, 2012 by Hope College
    Hope College senior Aida Alvarado of Holland is one of 60 finalists advancing to the next round of Challenge Detroit, an initiative to help revitalize the city by attracting innovative young professionals to the community.
  • Apr 16, 2012 by Destination 313
    Challenge Detroit is an initiative that is right up our alley. Deirdre is the executive director of this amazing push to recruit 30 of the brightest and best young minds to come Live, Work and Play in Detroit for a year. They will work for Detroit companies (including Quicken Loans) for a year, receive help with housing, and work on group challenges to help solve problems in the community with the other participants in the program.
  • Apr 13, 2012 by Crain's Detroit Business
    Challenge Detroit, a contest that will bring together 30 of "tomorrow's leaders" to live and work in the city for a year, today wraps up a communitywide vote on Facebook to narrow 100 contenders to 60 semifinalists. The Facebook voting page displays videos and written statements. So far, more than 15,000 votes have been cast. Voting ends today.
  • Apr 13, 2012 by Mango Languages Blog
    While the Mango team hails from all over the globe, we are proud to call Detroit, Michigan home. Mango is excited to be involved in Challenge Detroit, an effort aimed at attracting and retaining young, innovative talent in our home town! Out of over 900 applicants, 30 young professionals will be chosen to live, work, socialize and give back in the city of Detroit. We are excited to welcome a lucky candidate to the Mango team in September!
  • Apr 12, 2012 by PLAYGROUND DETROIT
    A new incentive program, Challenge Detroit, is giving 30 participants an amazing opportunity and 'jump start' to living and working in Downtown Detroit. Over 900 applicants from across the country have applied and now the voting public process has begun- the applicants have been narrowed down to the top 100. The chosen 30 ones will receive jobs with different companies that are involved which include: Team Detroit, Compuware, Quicken Loans, Beaumont Health Systems, Urban Science, and DTE Energy, to name a few, in addition to a $500 monthly housing stipend.
  • Apr 11, 2012 by Hope College
    Votes on Facebook through Friday, April 13, will help Hope senior Aida Alvarado of Holland as she competes in Challenge Detroit, an initiative to help revitalize the city by attracting innovative young professionals to the community.
  • Apr 10, 2012 by Model D
    Challenge Detroit has narrowed its applicant list to 100 young people and it wants your help whittling it down from there. The talent attraction program received 900 applicants for its initial year where a few dozen young people will be given living grants, jobs and social opportunities in Detroit in an effort to get more talented leaders to sink roots in the city. The organizers narrowed that initial list to 100 semi-finalist and wants to social media users to help determine which ones make it to the final selection process in May.
  • Apr 10, 2012 by City Year Detroit
    We are happy to inform you all that a handful of our Detroit corps member have been selected and are being considered for an exciting LACY opportunity through an initiative called Challenge Detroit! To seize this opportunity they need your help, here's the skinny:
  • Apr 9, 2012 by CBS Detroit
    DETROIT - The folks behind Challenge Detroit, the online effort to bring 30 talented entrepreneurs to Detroit to live, work, play and give in the city, need your help to pick about 60 finalists.

    Challenge Detroit received more than 900 applications from talented individuals throughout the world, who want to live, work, play and give through Challenge Detroit.
  • Apr 9, 2012 by The CW50
    This week on Street Beat, host Syma Chowdhry continues our two-part look at organizations who are helping rebuild Detroit. First Sandy Baruah, CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, talks about the Chamber's efforts to encourage business growth and its upcoming Detroit Business Conference.

    Then, Deirdre Greene Groves, Executive Director of the Detroit Challenge, and Matt Mosher, Co-Founder and CEO of hiredMYway.com, discuss how the Detroit Challenge will encourage young leaders to live and work in the city.
  • Challenge Detroit has narrowed its applicant list to 100 young people and it wants your help whittling it down from there. The talent attraction program received 900 applicants for its initial year where a few dozen young people will be given living grants, jobs and social opportunities in Detroit in an effort to get more talented leaders to sink roots in the city. The organizers narrowed that initial list to 100 semi-finalist and wants to social media users to help determine which ones make it to the final selection process in May.
  • Mar 29, 2012 by Detroit Make it Here
    Challenge Detroit, a contest that will bring together a group of "tomorrow's leaders" to live and work in the city for a year, is narrowing down more than 900 applicants to 30 winners. Those chosen will be paid a $30,000 salary to work at partnering Detroit-area companies and a $500-a-month stipend to live in Detroit. Forty volunteers are whittling the applicants to 100 contenders, said Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director of Challenge Detroit.
  • Mar 29, 2012 by ePrize
    Challenge Detroit, a contest that will bring together a group of "tomorrow's leaders" to live and work in the city for a year, is narrowing down more than 900 applicants to 30 winners. Those chosen will be paid a $30,000 salary to work at partnering Detroit-area companies and a $500-a-month stipend to live in Detroit. Forty volunteers are whittling the applicants to 100 contenders, said Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director of Challenge Detroit.
  • Mar 29, 2012 by Crain's Detroit Business
    Challenge Detroit, a contest that will bring together a group of "tomorrow's leaders" to live and work in the city for a year, is narrowing down more than 900 applicants to 30 winners.
  • "Every big city has big challenges, and the complex ones can be daunting. Few are brave enough to confront them, and many who do get mired in their complexity. Deirdre Greene Groves has spent the last four years thinking about one: young talent leaving metro Detroit."
  • Mar 20, 2012 by Huffington Post
    The best way to get talented people back in Detroit -- is to challenge them. I recently got to sit down with Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director of The Collaborative Group, to talk about Challenge Detroit; a unique program beautifully thought up to catalyst success for the city. Their mission is simple: to attract and retain talent to Detroit. But how they are doing it is the real story.
  • Mar 15, 2012 by MiTechNews.com
    Challenge Detroit has extended the deadline to apply for its one-year entrepreneur internship until March 25 to give college students on spring break time to apply.

    So far, Challenge Detroit has received 700 applications from Michigan and several other states, as well as some foreign countries, said executive director Deirdre Greene.
  • Mar 14, 2012 by BET.com
    The city of Detroit knows the power of entrepreneurship and now they're calling on leaders of tomorrow to help run the city with original ideas.

    The new private sector initiative Challenge Detroit is hosting a competition to select 30 leaders from across the country to assist in developing and rejuvenating the Motor City.
  • Mar 14, 2012 by CBS Detroit
    More than 500 people have started the application process for Challenge Detroit, a year-long program that will see 30 energetic, innovative thinkers live, work, play and give in Detroit.
  • Mar 12, 2012 by Detroit Make It Here
    About 600 people have submitted applications for Challenge Detroit, a reality-show style contest that will bring 30 young professionals to Detroit to work and live for a year.
  • Your mission, should you choose to accept it? 365 days living, working, playing in and giving to the city of Detroit. Whats to be gained from it? Not just one year of experience for your resume, but the experience of a lifetime
  • Mar 11, 2012 by Crains Detroit Business
    About 600 people have submitted applications for Challenge Detroit, a reality show style contest that will bring 30 young professionals to Detroit to work and live for a year. Winners will be given a $30,000-a-year job and a $500-a-month rental subsidy. All 30 winners will be housed in a yet-to-be-announced Midtown apartment building.
  • Mar 9, 2012 by Channel 7 WXYZ
    It's called the Detroit Challenge and it's an effort to get 30 young leaders to live, work, play and give in Detroit for one year.
  • Mar 8, 2012 by The Examiner
    One of the citys challenges resulting from its high unemployment is the exodus of skilled talent to other urban cities across the country. The city has answered this challenge with the Challenge Detroit project. This project is designed to attract and retain young professional talent in an effort to restore the city to a state of creativity and entrepreneurship. The project requires participants to lend expertise in exchange for a compensation package that includes salary and housing.
  • Mar 7, 2012 by Michigan Future
    More evidence that the business community is way ahead of both the public and policymakers from both parties on the essential role a vibrant city of Detroit must play if the region and state are to be successful economically. The latest terrific private sector initiative is Challenge Detroit from the Collaborative Group.
  • "If you want to do what everyone else is doing, move to New York, move to Chicago," said Mike Kalis with MarketPlaceHomes.com. However, if you really want to make an impact come to Detroit. That's the message spreading across the country, and entrepreneurs like Kalis are searching for people who are up to the challenge."
  • Mar 1, 2012 by Inc. Magazine
    "Can paying recent graduates to work and play in Detroit infuse the city with extra creativity? Challenge Detroit is banking on it. It's hoping to lure 30 graduates with entrepreneurial dreams and a willingness to muck in and get their hands dirty to revitalize troubled Detroit."
  • Feb 28, 2012 by Model D Media
    "Challenge Detroit has secured half of its funding for the next two years thanks to a $500,000 donation from Credit Acceptance Corporation's Chairman and Founder, Donald A. Foss. The nonprofit is also finalizing details with a local partner that should pave the way to launch its talent attraction grant program this summer."
  • Feb 24, 2012 by Economics of Place
    "Deirdre Greene Groves is the Executive Director of an exciting new project called Challenge Detroit. The project, along with her work at the Collaborative Group, is focused on recreating Detroit as an entrepreneurial capital. Check out her thoughts on placemaking and why she believes so passionately in Detroit's future."
  • Feb 23, 2012 by CBS Detroit
    "Challenge Detroit, a national initiative focused on revitalizing Detroit by attracting young entrepreneurs to the city, said Thursday that Credit Acceptance Corp. chairman and founder, Donald A. Foss, has personally pledged $500,000 to the Challenge Detroit effort."
  • Feb 22, 2012 by Spinal Column
    "Although Deirdre Greene Groves grew up in rural Highland Township, she has always had a passion for the history and future of Detroit. Now as the executive director of The Collaborative Group in Birmingham and its Challenge Detroit initiative, Groves has the opportunity to be an integral part of the revitalization efforts of the city she loves."
  • Feb 12, 2012 by Crain's Detroit Business
    "Challenge Detroit, a reality-show style contest that will bring 30 young professionals to live for a year in Detroit, has received a $500,000 sponsorship -- enough to let the program kick off this fall."
  • "The Collaborative Group, a group of Metro Detroiters focused on improving the city of Detroit, plans to give out 30 grants to young, innovative people with entrepreneurial aspirations this summer as part of its Challenge Detroit program."
  • "The Challenge Detroit program for young entrepreneurs is open for business and accepting applications."
  • Feb 3, 2012 by www.kissdetroit.com
    "The Collaborative Group, a Birmingham-based nonprofit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, Monday announced the launch of Challenge Detroit, a national initiative aimed at helping to revitalize the Detroit area by attracting innovative, entrepreneurial thinkers to bring new ideas and contribute their intellectual capital to the community."
  • "Challenge Detroit is accepting applications country-wide to select 30 innovative leaders for its 2012 program."
  • "There are a few ways you could look at Detroit -- you could taint it as an impossible comeback, or you could see the opportunity that lays within the city limits. For Deirdre Greene Groves, she is of the mindset that if you create the opportunity, they will come."
  • "Challenge Detroit will bring approximately 30 of the country's best and brightest young people from every intellectual discipline, whether attorneys or artists, doctors or financiers, engineers or educators, either to the Detroit-area or keep them here. Here's how it works."
  • "Challenge Detroit is looking for 30 innovative leaders from across the United States to live, work and play in Detroit. When the year is over, they hope these men and woman become entrepreneurs and goodwill ambassadors for Southeast Michigan."
  • The financial incentives to come to the Detroit area kept rolling in Wednesday as a Birmingham nonprofit launched a program to pay for 30 of "tomorrow's leaders" to live and work in the Motor City for a year.
  • "34 year old Vincent Thomas is a successful entrepreneur. He's the founder and CEO of Billhighway, a financial technology company in it's 13th year of operation. Vincent started the company in his apartment while he was still attending Eastern Michigan University. He says the company will remain in metro Detroit as long as he's in charge. Vincent also wants to see other young, creative people make their mark in Detroit. That's why Billhighway is part of a new program called Challenge Detroit, which is looking for the best and the brightest."
  • "The Collaborative Group, a Birmingham-based nonprofit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, Monday announced the launch of Challenge Detroit, a national initiative aimed at helping to revitalize the Detroit area by attracting innovative, entrepreneurial thinkers to bring new ideas and contribute their intellectual capital to the community."
  • "An Oakland County native is working to attract and retain young professionals to metro Detroit. "I think this is where my heart really is, and I never really knew it," said Deirdre Greene Groves, the executive director of Birmingham's Collaborative Group."
  • "[The Collaborative Group is] launching an initiative, Challenge Detroit, they hope will lure the nation's and state's most talented young people to either stick around or come here for a year, betting they'll fall in love with the city and find a sense of mission that keeps them around long-term."
  • "Detroit is attracting more young professionals but still has many of the same problems blocking its long-term success" a dysfunctional school system and public safety problems. That was part of the discussion Thursday during a WWJ Unwired Series program at Lawrence Technological University."