Rounding out my first official week working as an intern with the Osborn Neighborhood Alliance (ONA), I am proud to say that have become more understanding, as well as appreciative of all of the knowledge I have attained through conducting good old fashion research. With my first week behind me, I did not realize how dedicated and passionate one must be to in order to operate a non-profit organization. From scheduling meetings for grant opportunities, to canvassing neighborhoods, and even hosting events and open houses for teenagers apart of the community, ONA is a vital organization in the Osborn neighborhood who is truly dedicated and committed towards revitalization, and uplifting the community.
Working closely with my supervisor Quincy Jones on a new pilot program called the Pre-Job Readiness program, I have been researching organizations within Detroit that provide supportive services to community residents who do not have the proper training, core documents, etc., in order to apply for jobs. By enabling residents to become more knowledgeable of many of the supportive services offered to them, we believe that employment rates will definitely increase. Through researching and analyzing agencies who provide job- readiness services, this program also helps us develop a better understanding of the needs of the community and how to better serve them. Furthermore, the Pre-Job Readiness program recognizes the need to correct and identify issues within the community centered on job opportunities. In addition to increasing awareness of the agencies offering supportive services, we would also like to partner with a few organizations who provide pre-job readiness services, inviting them to be a part of our job fair which takes place towards the end of the summer. At this fair, we would like to have 40-60 people attend to receive the proper documents etc., that they need in order to be successful when applying for a job, and after they have been hired. We believe this fair would be essential in identifying gaps within the community, in addition to cultivating access to more jobs and opportunities.
Although, my first official week in Detroit has been spent working with ONA, my overall perception of Detroit has in fact changed, due to the fact that Detroit is way more than what meets the eye. Prior to the start of this internship, my perception of Detroit consisted of the common discourse around the city, such as similar beliefs on gentrification, blighted neighborhoods, broken school systems etc. However, since I have been here, I have come to understand that there is no one true definition of Detroit state. I believe that if I ask 100 people about their perceptions of Detroit I would get 100 different answers. I find this to be both interesting and alarming for the reason that anything can happen over the next couple of years, and I am excited to see how my current perception of Detroit shifts and hopefully molds into a bright future for the city over these next couple of weeks.
