![\"Taking](\"http:\/\/challengedetroit.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/1.png\")
<\/a>Taking the Leap of Faith at Walled
Lake Outdoor Education Center<\/p><\/div>\n
2. There is strength in diversity.<\/b><\/p>\n
As we learned through individual introductory presentations, each of the 35 Challenge Detroit Fellows are incredibly unique. We differ widely with regards to background, geographic regions, age, experience, interests, and even phobias (one Fellow – we won\u2019t mention any names – disclosed to the group her serious phobia of bananas… who knew!).<\/p>\n
We come from Michigan and Alabama and Oregon and Montreal; we\u2019ve studied public policy and law and environmental science and economics; we\u2019ve worked for government and hedge funds and non-profits and start-ups. What binds us together is a passion for Detroit.<\/b><\/p>\n
This year, we will draw on each others\u2019 strengths, experiences and unique perspectives as we tackle pressing issues and opportunities facing Detroit.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Smiling, happy Fellows<\/p><\/div>\n
3.The city\u2019s neighborhoods are expansive, varied, and brimming with possibilities.<\/b><\/p>\n
For many of us, our geographic experiences in Detroit have been fairly limited. D:hive\u2019s Detroit Experience Factory\u2019s neighborhood tour was thus not only welcome but highly anticipated. As we rode through pockets of the city from Brightmoor to the Livernois Corridor to Southwest, we met activists and organizers who have generated innovative solutions for their respective communities. For example, Brightmoor\u2019s residents decided to combat blight and empty lots by painting murals on abandoned houses and harvesting bountiful community gardens. We were reminded by a Brightmoor community leader of the neighborhood\u2019s values and resilience when she told us,\u201cour issues are our assets.\u201d<\/i><\/b> Seeing the assets and possibilities inspired us to begin reimagining our own neighborhoods in Detroit.<\/p>\n Community garden in Brightmoor<\/p><\/div>\n 4. It starts with listening. \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Throughout our Orientation, we were privileged to listen to a number of esteemed speakers who have lived, worked, played, given and led in Detroit for several decades. We heard insights from community leaders, Deputy Mayor Ike McKinnon, President of the Detroit Regional Chamber Sandy Baruah, and from the Presidents and CEOs of the Detroit Lions, Marketing Associates and Tech Town, among others. We also had the opportunity to participate in a Livernois SOUP – a community micro-funding event where attendees enjoy a delicious meal and support creative projects.<\/p>\n This year, we as Fellows (particularly those of us from outside the \u2018D\u2019) must check our assumptions and preconceived ideas of Detroit at the proverbial door, and focus on listening to the stories, perspectives and needs of those around us<\/b>. We each have loads to learn – about Detroit\u2019s storied past, complex present, and promising future. As Charlie Beckham, Director of Detroit\u2019s Department of Neighborhoods, put it, \u201cbeing a good leader is being part of the people\u201d.<\/i><\/p>\n 5. We can all be design thinkers!<\/b><\/p>\n How often do you use empathy to assess a trash can? Our guess would be not too often.<\/p>\n That was the challenge presented to us by Kacha Azema and Drew Patrick from Skidmore Studios to introduce us to design thinking<\/b>. In the creative space of Repair the World\u2019s workshop, Drew and Kacha guided us through the stages of this user-oriented, authenticity-driven design approach.<\/p>\n Putting our design thinking to the test, we developed new trash cans that addressed some of the most common (and oft overlooked) issues with existing products. And while solving trash cans\u2019 design problems was certainly fun, we were grateful to experience a creative solution first-hand through the Motor City Mapping Project<\/a>. The Project addressed the City\u2019s need for up-to-date blight documentation by developing a user-friendly mobile \u201cBlexting\u201d app (a hybrid of \u201cblight\u201d and \u201ctexting\u201d), through which Detroiters can upload photos and information about the state of the properties in their communities. During Boot Camp, we used the app to \u201cblext\u201d in the Jefferson Mack neighborhood, supporting the efforts of the Detroit Blight Elimination Task Force.<\/p>\n<\/a>