Week 2: Building Community

Hello again! It is the second week of DCERP and I am so excited to share about Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO) and what my DCERP cohort and I have been up to!

NSO delivers holistic care and wrap-around/safety net services to address social determinants impacting health, education, and economic stability. A lot of their programs have to do with homeless recovery services, housing, and health/wellness services. This summer, my research project has to do with helping coordinate and build a community closet in their Bell Building, a permanent supportive housing facility that provides one-bedroom apartments to 155 formerly homeless adults. This project will include coordinating donations and volunteers, planning out the set-up of the space, and opening it up to the NSO community. This closet is a big need for NSO’s clients, as many people now have to sift through bags of clothes and it is difficult to find their correct size, a clothing item that is suitable for the heat this summer, and something that suits them and their style. I’m eager to start cleaning the facility and start work on the project!

NSO is a much more expansive nonprofit than I imagined and every day I learn about a new program they are growing or starting, a new community event that they’re planning, or new successes they are having in reaching different populations in Detroit. A lot of my time here the past 2 weeks is spent in meetings with many department heads here- either in weekly leadership meetings or one-on-one introductory meetings. The majority of people here at NSO that I have gotten to talk with started their career path with a social work degree and have been very open about the changes in their trajectory and have given me a lot of valuable advice.

Many people here are busy planning two events: the Community of Hope weekend and Handlebars for the Homeless. Community of Hope includes a 2-day benefit concert with Maxwell and Tamia as performers and a Day of Hope where unhoused people will have access to many services, food options, and other resources. Handlebars for the Homeless is a 15-mile guided bike tour through the streets of Detroit that raises money for individuals experiencing homelessness. Although these events are not directly related to my research project this summer, I have gotten to sit in on planning meetings for them and help with various tasks in the meantime. I have already learned so much from those I work with; learning about the processes nonprofits must go through to raise money, be accountable for every step of their process, and make sure that these events and programs run smoothly for their clients constantly amazes me.

DCERP itself has been such an incredible program so far. I chat with my roommates Wisdom, Emily, and Marie every evening after work and I’ve enjoyed getting to know them better! Many of my highlights of the program so far have been with members of my cohort- exploring downtown, going on walks, grocery shopping, and playing card games. I’m looking forward to more fun experiences with them, like going to DIA, the Eastern Market a few more times, or going to summer music festivals!

Thanks for reading! 🙂