Overall, I have really enjoyed our weekly Tuesday seminars during this program. My favorite presentation by far was the one by Amy Krings. In this presentation she explained her dissertation to us through an extensive PowerPoint presentation. I was especially intrigued by the complexities and controversy of the new bridge to Canada getting built in Delray. I also learned what community benefits agreements are and the impact that they can have on communities. I appreciated this presentation the most because it was so informative and because it made me really think. I had heard about the bridge issue previously, but had not heard such an extensive and thorough report on each side of the issue before.
The Tuesday seminars allow everyone in the program to learn more about social issues that are impacting the city, such as water affordability and the impacts of building the new bridge, from people within the city who are experts on the topics. One of the aspects of living in Detroit that has been difficult for me has been barriers in exploring the city and networking. Since there is no reliable public transportation, I cannot go to events and meet community members easily. For this reason, sometimes I feel like I am missing out on meeting people from the community and learning more about the city. The Detroit seminars help to bridge this gap.
The Thursday seminars sometimes feel a little long, especially because they are so late in the day after a long week of work. However, I have appreciated how much they have allowed me to get to know members of my cohort (especially the students who do not live in University Tower). This past Thursday, I especially enjoyed going to the Emerging Leader event and reception. Again, attending this event allowed me to learn more about the city of Detroit and about the issues and culture surrounding the city, and allowed me to meet other community members who are working to learn more and make an impact.