Our Work In the Community
Throughout the fellowship year, Fellows work together and collaborate with our local nonprofit partners on Challenge Projects—the heart of our program. Every year our partners and project topics change, but one thing is consistent—these projects are designed to help our partners move their work forward in addressing our city’s greatest needs and opportunities, and ultimately contribute to Detroit’s diverse and vibrant communities. Through these human-centered, strategic, intellectually-based, community-focused projects, Fellows learn by doing while also making a positive, tangible contribution.
“I am so impressed by the ingenuity of the Fellows and the quality of work they produced in such a short time period. They really connected with the personality and spirit of the community and the work, and were able to produce creative and effective solutions that we look forward to implementing. Thank you, Challenge Detroit! Your projects will help to greatly advance our economic development plans and strategies.”
– Sherita Smith, Project Partner, Executive Director GRDC
HOW WE APPROACH OUR WORK:
- Before each project, our nonprofit partners undergo a robust needs assessment. Findings are used to design projects that will most effectively leverage Fellows’ talent while achieving optimal impact for a nonprofit.
- As a part of their orientation, Fellows learn about Detroit’s neighborhoods, history and the policies that shaped the City to gain context. Fellows are then trained in the design thinking framework, a human-centered, creative, problem-solving tool where empathy is a key element.
- At the beginning of a project, Fellows participate in empathy based activities to understand the needs of the partner organization, individuals and community they are serving through each project.
- Fellows work on small teams using the design thinking framework and project management skills to execute their work, and are in constant communication with a liaison from the partner nonprofit who provides guidance and feedback.
- At the end of each project, the nonprofit partner is provided with a comprehensive set of ready-to-go deliverables ranging from marketing and fundraising campaigns to organizational strategies and assessments and beyond. The nonprofits then leverage and integrate these deliverables both internally and externally to move their work forward.
OUR NONPROFIT PROJECT PARTNERS
Since 2012, we’ve partnered with over 180 nonprofits on topics ranging from youth development, sustainability, arts & culture, homelessness, food security, mobility, small businesses, community development and more.
Check out our 2024-2025 (Year 13) project partners and topics here, and learn about past projects in the dropdowns below:
- Black Entrepreneurship SupportBlack Leaders Detroit
- Transit and CommunityDetroit People Mover
- Youth DevelopmentCenter for Success
- Community Development & Public SpaceGive Merit
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Summer Impact ProjectsMultiple Project Partners
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Neighborhood EngagementMichigan Community Resources
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Community DevelopmentSinai-Grace Guild
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Civil Rights, Inclusion & OpportunityCity of Detroit Department of Civil Rights Inclusion & Opportunity
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Financial Education for WomenRebel Nell T.E.A.
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Youth LeadershipDetroit Public Schools Community District
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Youth EngagementUrban Neighborhood Initiatives
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Community PartnershipsSlow Roll
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Equitable Entrepreneurship & Small Business GrowthDetroit Economic Growth Corporation
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Community PartnershipsDetroit Homecoming
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Neighborhood EngagementDetroit Land Bank Authority
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Youth EngagementDetroit Historical Society's Detroit67
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Summer Impact Projects20+ Nonprofit Partners
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Art & Community HealthBeaumont Family Medicine & Detroit Central City
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StorytellingBelle Isle Conservancy
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Place-based EntrepreneurshipTechTown Detroit
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Place-based EntrepreneurshipSouthwest Economic Solutions
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SustainabilityEcoWorks
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Youth DevelopmentDowntown Boxing Gym
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Food SecurityForgotten Harvest
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Community DevelopmentMACC Development
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Economic DevelopmentRecoveryPark
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Land UseDetroit Future City
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Land UseBlack Family Development
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Neighborhood EngagementDowntown Detroit Partnership
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Workforce DevelopmentCoalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS)
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Workforce DevelopmentGoodwill Industries of Greater Detroit
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Education EmpowermentDetroit Public Schools
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Neighborhood Small BusinessCity of Detroit Mayor's Office
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Community EngagementRecoveryPark
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Cars & CommunityVehicles for Change
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Education EmpowermentDetroit Food Academy
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Education EmpowermentJunior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan
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Education EmpowermentThe Future Project
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Education EmpowermentDetroit Youth Energy Squad
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Education EmpowermentWCCCD
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Education EmpowermentDetroit Achievement Academy
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Neighborhood ActivationDetroit Collaborative Design Center
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Economic Development8 Mile Boulevard Association
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Community ImpactMatrix Human Services
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Food AccessUnited Way for Southeastern Michigan
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ImmigrationGlobal Detroit
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Enrollment & EducationExcellent Schools Detroit
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Community Storefront ActivationDetroit Collaborative Design Center
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Health & WellbeingBeaumont
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Environment & SustainabilityDetroiters Working for Environmental Justice
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Arts & CultureCulture Source
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Tech EntrepreneurshipTechTown Detroit