​My community engagement journey started in a tiny cubicle on a rainy spring day almost 6 years ago. I was volunteering to help low-income households file their taxes, and sitting next to me was Paula, whom I met just a few minutes ago. As I helped Paula file her taxes, she told me about her dream to send her eldest daughter to college. She told me about not being able to afford rent on top of college tuition without her tax refund. She laid bare her life for me, a stranger, to see and was courageous in a way I still aspire to be.

Now almost 2 months since I first landed in Detroit, I look back to my fateful meeting with Paula, to the moment I first became passionate about working in community, and I see how far I have come. If my time with Paula and volunteering back at home showed me the importance of community engagement, then the DukeEngage Detroit program taught me how to create impact through nonprofit consulting. 

I learned that work in the nonprofit space is never-ending and ever-changing. I came into this program expecting to work on program evaluations for TechTown, and I left having completed a database of contacts, alumni engagement recommendations, a client journey map, and much more. Looking back, this change was to be expected in the nonprofit world since nonprofits must change to address the needs and priorities of their community. From this experience, I learned to have the perseverance to work on many different side tasks without losing focus on my main goals. 

Additionally, I learned that working in community means equal parts working and being in community. Because my project was practically completely virtual, I could easily work from my room. I could finish all my work this way, but then I would lose sight of who my work is for. Going to TechTown’s office, popular cafes, and other workspaces during the weekdays while exploring the city on the weekends helped me stay connected with the community I am serving. Not only did this ensure my final recommendations would remain relevant, but it also helped me truly experience Detroit’s culture and pride as a city.

Lastly, I learned that although my work may not be revolutionary, it is still valuable as a catalyst for future change. Sometimes nonprofit consulting feels pointless because I am telling the experts what they already know, but in reality my recommendations are validation and further evidence for TechTown to move forward with needed changes. TechTown and other nonprofits value DukeEngage students for our outside perspective, whether that be for new ideas or for validating and expanding on existing ones. So I learned to take pride in my work, remembering that change takes time, perseverance, and every valuable contribution from both within and outside.

These are just some of the things I have learned and only a glance at a portion of my overall life in Detroit. I sincerely thank Angeline and the rest of TechTown, my partner Mick, as well as Matt, Katherine, Madeline, and my fellows for making this summer an experience I will never forget!

What are three things that you have learned or taken away from this summer?

What are three things that you have learned or taken away from this summer?

Whether it be my project at TechTown or the countless Detroit Tigers games, my Duke Engage experience has been one that I have vastly enjoyed. Throughout my time in the city this summer I have learned so much about the nonprofit sector, consulting work, and Detroit itself. I have also taken so much out of not only the work I have done specifically for my partner organization, but also the moments I had while exploring Motor City. However, the three things I would like to highlight from my experience this summer are truly how to engage with a new city, how to best serve as an intern, and how nonprofits operate internally. 

1. How to Engage with a New City. The second I landed in Detroit, I immediately wanted to explore the city. I unpacked my things and quickly traveled down Detroit’s famous Woodward Avenue, and saw all that the city had to offer. I made sure to speak with locals any opportunity I got to uncover the best “hidden” attractions of the city, and never was afraid of the uncertain and unknown. This allowed me to find small restaurants and businesses that I never simply could find from a Google search or a scroll on Yelp. I hope to use these lessons anytime I have the opportunity to explore the new of a city, place, or experience.
   
2. How to Best Serve as an Intern. Prior to beginning work at TechTown, the cohort and I received training on how to best serve ad interns this summer. After my work this summer combined with this training I have learned how to best serve as an intern and “play my role” within my team, company, or organization. This is a leeson I must take into future internships and then transition when I enter the working world in the long term.
   
3. How Nonprofits Operate Internally. In a previous blog post I discussed all the new things I uncovered while working in the nonprofit sector this summer. In that post I explained how I learned about how nonprofits operate on the inside and collaborate with other organizations to better their overall mission or goals.

​

Intro
I remembered the day we arrived: struggling to locate everyone, running around the airport with our suitcases, and failing to find our Uber. Nervous and lost – I stared at the road sign of Detroit as we finally drove into the city.
Yet, now biking down Cass Avenue and paddling across different neighborhoods, I see a completely different side of Detroit. In the past two months, I have learned so much about this city and its people.

Detroit: the City
From the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, to Underground Railroad Exhibit, our cohort gained a better understanding of Detroit’s rich cultures and history. Through events such as Soup Pitch and Hatch Day, we witnessed firsthand Detroit’s dedication to supporting every Detroiter’s dream. Volunteering with Brilliant Detroit, we were touched by Detroiter’s drive to give back to their community. Harsh winter and striking crime rate – those past associations I have about Detroit have long been replaced. Now, I see Detroit as a vibrant city with rich cultures and tight-knitted communities.

Detroit’s Entrepreneurship
The word ‘Entrepreneurship’ may first appear as something far from our daily life and something intimidating. Yet, Detroiters see it as an opportunity, and through it, they made their dream come true and better their communities. The process is by no means easy, of course. Throughout the summer, we interviewed a number of entrepreneurs who kindly shared with us their journeys, including all the ups and downs. Many entrepreneurs are immigrants, and they choose to start their own businesses as they faced language barriers, cultural shock, and prejudices during the employment process. Yet, first as the means to support themselves and their families, immigrant businesses have now become one of the important pillars in Detroit. They helped to revitalize the community as they bring in diverse cultures to the neighborhood. When the city they now called home was in difficult times, they went out of their way to uplift the community. Many immigrant entrepreneurs stood out for Detroit during COVID by sending food supplies and delivering their services to those in need. Detroiters have shown that entrepreneurship is not just a way to create economic value but a bridge that brings everyone together.  

Detroit’s Community
I have the honor to work with ProsperUs this summer, particularly with its wonderful team members. Everyone on the team is truly passionate about what they are doing, and they strive to support Detroiters in their professional and personal life. When we have an applicant who failed the application but showed her dedication to realizing her dream, our team member advocates for her in the committee while helping her to better her business plan. When we have entrepreneurs who experienced difficulty making their payments, our loan officers listened to their stories and tailored a step-by-step financial plan for them. ProsperUs team members always try to ensure the graduates know that ProsperUs is here to support them every step in their journey.  ProsperUs is an exemplar of Detroit’s spirit: from the community, for the community.

Ending Notes
I am very grateful for this opportunity to experience life in Detroit and to develop connections with all the amazing Detroiters. I am excited about future visits – next time I won’t be nervous or lost.

The biggest lesson that I have learned during my time in Detroit is that challenge breeds opportunity. Despite the tumultuous journey the city’s economy has embarked upon, Detroiters have harnessed the strength within their communities to bounce back. In particular, Detroit’s entrepreneurial spirit is one of the strongest I have ever witnessed. TechTown is an exemplary example of this phenomenon, as it is an organization that was founded with the purpose of incubating small businesses in their early phases. As demonstrated by a 2019 report from the U.S. SBA, small businesses have been shown to generate close to 45% of all economic activity in our country. Furthermore, in our world that has been majorly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses are an essential component of our economy’s recovery and job growth. It has been extraordinarily inspiring to work for an organization with such a strong mission fueled by the economic development of Detroit. 

Although often regarded as a cliché saying, another lesson I learned this summer was to expect the unexpected. Before arriving in Detroit, the city I had pictured myself flying into was extremely different from the city I currently am writing this blog in. During my time here, I have undoubtedly developed a connection to the city of Detroit—from the numerous times we have taken advantage of the city’s recently added bike lanes on MoGo bikes to countless rides on the QLine, it is evident that Detroit is a practical city with an undeniable charm. Furthermore, the people of Detroit hold an immense amount of pride and love for their city and the changes that it has undergone. From clothing shop workers to restaurant owners, city pride flows through Detroit.  

The third takeaway I have had from this summer happens to be more work-oriented—I learned the importance of creating structure. Before beginning our projects, we were instructed to create a timeline and a plan for our time this summer. These resources that we created have proven themselves to be extremely useful. If I ever felt like I lacked direction in my next steps or was unclear whether I was on track, I was able to refer back to these resources. Thus, when given a large project, I can easily recognize the utility of breaking the project down into smaller pieces and creating deliverables and outcomes for each of those smaller pieces. With this, it is easier to create a structured schedule that will keep you on track. 
​
These three lessons are by no means the only ones that I have learned during my time in Detroit—I have grown as both a learner and a human in so many different ways. I am indebtedly grateful for this experience and thank Duke Engage, Katherine, Matt, and Madeline for such an incredible time in this city. ​

​I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience in Detroit this summer. 

Detroit does not seem like an urban area to me at all, and the city fosters a sense of community. While I interviewed Matthew Piper, who engages himself in building a community in midtown Detroit, he would encourage me to participate in the free yoga course offered at seasons market, and other events, such as the sprinkler party, that takes place near us. I am surprised by Detroiters’ level of community engagement. I lived in New York City for four months prior to DukeEngage, and there was no sense of community.  

While I interviewed Juan Carlos, one of the program graduates of ProsperUs, he spoke about Detroiters moving to cities not too far away from Detroit, and how such a population could possibly be reintegrated as part of the city. I could see the infrastructure built in the city and how the city is nothing like what I read in the news.  Along with our cohort, I have explored the vibrant food scenes in Detroit through our weekly dining experiences. I also really appreciate the enrichment activities to help me better grapple with the idea of entrepreneurship through the soup pitching event and Comerica Hatch Detroit dinner, racial equity through our visit to the underground railroad and Charles H. Wright Museum, arts through our Detroit Institute of Arts visit, etc. 

In terms of work, I thought my internship was fulfilling.  Everyone is friendly, and our manager, Joanna, was flexible with all of our requests. I was sick for a couple days and she had checked in on me and encouraged me to rest as much as I could before I return to work, which is not the case for most of the places that I worked at. The work culture is impeccable, everyone wants to be there: while everyone I talked to at PropserUs has worked a better paying career, they chose to be there. While conversing with some of PropserUs’ program graduates, I also realized the immense privilege that I have and the amount of obstacles that entrepreneurs need to overcome to establish their business in the city. 

Overall, it has been a wonderful experience! I just want to quickly express my gratitude towards Joanna, Katherine, Madeline, and Matt for organizing this program and making it a memorable experience. 

Please speak about another nonprofit in Detroit that is doing amazing work, but may not be as well known. What are they doing in the City, and what does their model look like?

For last week’s Wednesday enrichment activity we went to Brilliant Detroit, a non-profit organization that works to empower Detroit's youth through literacy and libraries. Inspired by their work for the future leaders of tomorrow, I chose to write this blog post on another such organization working with children in Detroit–Detroit Impact. Detroit Impact is a youth center established to work with the youth in Detroit’s community to teach, mentor, guide, motivate, and encourage them through the provision of programs and services designed to obtain their interest. It does this through the four pillars the organization is built on – Leadership, Literacy, Second Chance Initiatives, and Recreation. 

By the same token, it currently has four primary programs:

1. ChangeMakers–Leadership Development: A Detroit Impact initiative utilizing structured activities that support positive adolescent development, leading to positive decision making and critical thinking skills. ChangeMakers builds character, improve reading/comprehension skills, provide opportunities for creative expression, social skills, and personal growth. Activities include but are not limited to prevention Strategies, Daily Journaling and Participant Development Plans.
   
2. STEAM @ “The D”: STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) is designed to enrich and equip students (K-12)  ability to participate in projects that will expose children to the perspective of  alternative energy. Detroit Impact’s Steam initiative goal is to help students gain academic enrichment, teamwork, and cognitive thinking abilities and a fundamental understanding of natural energy as it relates to how renewable energy  can be used as a source of sustainable power.
   
3. Kids Club: Kids Club is an after-school and weekend program for youth, ages 6-12. Meeting every 2nd Saturday of each month, Kids’ Club is designed to offer its members a positive, fun experience in the safe environment of the Detroit Impact Center through Tabletop Board Games, Artistic Enrichment Classes, Field Trips, 1-on-1 & Group Tutoring, etc.
   
4. Money Matters: Finally, Money Matters 4 Youth, is developed to drive financial literacy in the community. Students aged 8-18 who attend are called investors, and receive the opportunity to begin an online stock portfolio, Internship and job assistance and Interviewing skills, Five avenues of income streams each day, Opportunities for scholarships and scholarship information and Business etiquette.
   

This diverse development program works to holistically improve the lives of children in Detroit and I cannot wait to see the work they do in the coming years!

​