Dear Maddy,
You are living somewhere that’s not Ann Arbor and working at a real 9-5 job for the first time, so that alone should make this summer exciting. Detroit offers so many opportunities to learn, as well as have fun and eat good food, that I can’t wait to take advantage of. One of the main things I hope to gain is more real world perspective since I’ve lived in Ann Arbor my entire life. I know that in order to grow as a person and be successful in the field of public health I need to be have experiences outside of “the 6 miles surrounded by reality” that I grew up in. I also hope to gain an understanding of what it takes to truly work with a community which is something that doesn’t always happen.
I’m excited to work with Fresh Corner Café and so far it seems like I’m going to learn a ton about community organizing, how businesses run in general, and how to work at an adult job. One thing that I hope that I’ll be able to contribute is my enthusiasm since food justice is something I’m very passionate about. I also hope that I’ll be able to actually apply some of the things I’ve learned in courses that seemed kind of abstract in the classroom. I also hope that the research report we put together will actually help the organization with future projects and decisions. Fresh Corner seems like it’s really taking a good approach to fighting food access inequity and I’m excited to be a part of it.
Besides work related things, I hope to learn more about the city and its history. Growing up, I spent time in Detroit with my mom’s family and they always had good things to say about the city. Because of this I think I have a more positive view than most non-residents, but I’m also not really sure what to think. I know that it’s a city that has so much vibrancy and life despite the fact that it has a lot of inequity and poverty. I also know that there is a lot of new development, but much of it falls into the category of gentrification, so I guess my overall perception is complicated. By learning about the history and more about the communities that make up the city I hope to gain a better understanding and appreciation of it.
I’m looking forward to exploring different areas of the city and hopefully going to many cultural and community events especially since I’m excited to be living with such a fun group of people from so many different backgrounds. I hope I come out of the program with new friendships and lots of memories.
Maddy
Hi, Maddy!
It’s truly exciting to see the innovative ideas Fresh Corner Cafe has established in order to make healthy foods more accessible to residents in Detroit. I’m glad your placement aligns with your long-term goals in Public Health. Being from Detroit, I can also personally say that this city is full of vibrancy and life. Despite the many setbacks many face day to day in this city, it has driven many like myself to reach for higher heights and to not forget where I came from. I’m glad you’re willing and open to learning more about Detroit during our next 9 weeks here!