The community placement I am working with is called the Detroit Food Academy. Their mission is to work with children in the Detroit Schools to develop their own business based on sustainable food systems. They combine elements of business, entrepreneurship, and marketing with a curriculum where students actually prepare and sell their food products. Right now, they are wrapping up the regular school year session, where they have an after school program. For the summer, I am going to be helping them create a contact network for past students so that the Academy can keep them updated on upcoming job opportunities, events, scholarships, etc. I’m also helping administer surveys when their summer program starts and using the responses to create a resource guide for the high school students and alumni.
There was also a recent story/video about the Academy on the news! Local Celebs, nbd.
My first week in Detroit has been really fun. It’s nice because in the mornings I have been going for walks/runs/bike rides and just kind of surveying what is around to do for later, like what stores are open and when restaurants close and stuff, just for future reference. It’s nice to actually live in the city, because it feels even more like a home to me now. As a group, we went to the Cass Café, which I haven’t been to in years and it was exciting and nostalgic to go back and see the same gigantic hooks on the door and upstairs bar painting that was there from when I was a kid and went to art openings with my family. However, I’m more excited to find new places in Midtown to explore.
My roommate, McKenzie, also invited me to come to her and Huong/Meredith’s event at Cool Cities Park. The organizations Focus Hope and NSO paired together to have a fun park day with the kids in their neighborhood. It was really fun; we did face painting and games with the kids and got to meet a lot of community leaders on the North end of Detroit. I hope to do a lot more partner events with not only Focus Hope and NSO but more of the organizations that we are working with. In general, it’s nice doing group activities with the other students in the program. I look forward to future gatherings 🙂
Also, one of the awesome founders of the Green Garage (the building I work in) made the new intern cookies and brings in sweets on the days she works. I can get used to it.
Enjoy some other photos
Found a hungry dragon on my way to work
Found this at my softball game! Clark Park cuteness.
And last but not least, at the Cool Cities Park with Spiderman
– Gina
Gina this is amazing! I had so much fun volunteering with you. There’s a community event at my placement July 12th, also doing things with kids. I would love to volunteer with you again! We four make a great team. I totally want to explore and everything. LOVE this city!
Gina, it’s so great to learn about your placement. The project and work environment sound really exciting! It was great volunteering with you at the Meet and Greet. You were a phenomenal face painter! Good for you for taking advantage of everything this beautiful city has to offer. 🙂
P.S. You should come back to the Cool Cities park for a community Detroit: SOUP event this Thursday!