August 2014

Let’s be honest. The past ten weeks were filled with both great experiences and great challenges.  I would like to believe I have risen to those challenges, savored those experiences and, beside that point, I feel that I have grown as a person over the course of this program. I have made many great friends (both at work […]

Dear Gina, It looks like you have stuck to your goals! I am proud that you kept an open mind because that really allowed you to learn a lot about your organization, social situations in Detroit, entrepreneurship, and working behind the scenes of a non-profit. The Food Academy has really welcomed you with open arms

After re-reading the letter I wrote myself during my first week here, I can definitely say I am pleased with how my time in Detroit was spent. I was very adamant not to hold myself back in any way or deny myself any important experiences here. Although a lack of funds prevented me from trying

I look back a lot, especially when changing lanes on my bicycle. In this case, I’m not looking back for safety. I’m looking back to see what the path looks like, after having traveled it. It looks a bit different from this perspective. I’m looking down a long tunnel of trees. There is an arch

Today, I started packing my bags, and today, I printed my final project and wrapped it in a bow.  It’s almost over and I’m almost back in Ann Arbor. Transition periods are always so beautiful to me because of the amount of reflection that happens. So here, I reflect:  I will definitely look at this experience fondly.

Dear Self;  You are through. it’s the second to last day of work and your final report is done, sent off to your supervisor. Your time in the dorms is drawing to a close and you are dreading the tetris game of packing your trunk up. Endings always have to be marked somehow, and in

Over the course of the last ten weeks, I think I struggled a lot more than I initially thought I would. It is very easy to look at Detroit from an outside perspective and think that change can be easy in quick. That if people in Detroit just did this or that then everything would

I have learned so much through the DCBRP– not just about Detroit, but also about myself. I have grown so much in so many ways. This was my first full-time job, I’ve never had to wake up so earlier every day of the week prior to this experience. I was terrified of not being able

In all honesty, I think the seminars were helpful but sometimes I felt like we were being talked to. I understand that it’s supposed to be a learning experience for all of us and way for us interns to touch base, but I feel like it would have been more effective if we were more engaged