June 2015

I spend the majority of my time here in midtown, so I really can’t speak too much to the area outside these few blocks. We live here, I work here, and I do a lot of my playing around here (though I’m trying to branch out as time goes on!) One thing I’ve noticed when […]

Although this is my first office job, I am to some extent certain that Focus: HOPE is very unique in its communal spirit. Staff are encouraged to wear pins with the Focus: HOPE emblem and they are very proud to identify with the organization. Also, everyone is required to present themselves very professionally because every

As I’ve written before, although I am from mid-Michigan, I have spent a good chunk of my college career interacting in a variety of ways with this city that I have grown to love. Last summer, I interned in Southwest Detroit. I am a director of the Detroit Partnership on campus, through which I have

Culture. I never really thought about the culture and dynamics of the office I work in until today at the DIA. I saw an event being hosted for the Honigman group (law firm) which was predominantly white men. I then thought about the office I work in and realized how diverse it is in terms

I’m 21 years old. Right in the middle of that “young adult” age group and I think I’m a pretty proficient young adult, too. Amongst my peers, I’m a little older and I have more knowledge and exposure so I never had an incident where I didn’t know how to perform a task, therefore feeling

It’s hard to believe that I have lived in Detroit for a month now. I still kind of feel like the newbie at the office, but the people at DHDC have been extremely welcoming and friendly. When I walk into the office each day, I am greeted with a smile and buenos dias by various

The culture of Nortown is quite different and unique than any other non-profit – and I’m not sure if that is a good thing. The organization was founded in the late 1980s by two women. They have create great projects and have made amazing progress in Northeast Detroit. They stand by their mission to restore

While working at Summer In The City, my eyes have been exposed to a variety of diversity within the organization. I primarily work within the headquarters, and all of the faculty staff is primarily caucasian. However, the people that we serve, which are primarily underrepresented groups and minorities, are mainly of African American and Hispanic

While interning at Focus: HOPE, I have become aware of a few cultural norms throughout the past few weeks. The one norm that has been the most prominent to me is the role of religion within this organization. Focus: HOPE was founded by a priest. Day to day, I notice the aftermath of this when

Speaking of culture (race/ethnicity relations in particular), my orientation with the students at Detroit Food Academy was a tad awkward. I gave a brief description of my personal background and provided pictures of my family, but then came the race discussion. I told the students that I was biracial, but identified as African American and