After reading the letter I wrote to myself in week one, it is clear to see I have learned so much and grown significantly in just a short amount of time. While before I had a general understanding of the way most Detroiters do not benefit from economic development initiatives, I now have a much […]
Reading How to Kill A City was highly informative for me, as it reinforced everything I’ve learned from previous classroom experience and research during my internship about gentrification in Detroit. Given that I work at a site that is an economic development initiative, How to Kill a City directly related to my work. As far
How to Kill a City, In Relation to My Site Read More »
An experience that has stood out to me from this summer that did not occur at my placement has been the various speakers that we have had in our Tuesday DCERP meetings. Beyond the work at our sites, it is difficult to even have other experiences in the DCERP program other than our weekly meetings
Staying Connected to Detroit from Afar Read More »
The first thing that comes to mind when I think about this program and my community placement is shock at how rapidly this internship has flown by. I can’t believe that we are over half-way through the program. It seems like I haven’t been at my placement for very long, but the past six weeks
It’s Week Six Already? Read More »
After reading the Tapestry Report on Black Businesses Ownership in America (linked here) for research on my site assignment, I wanted to learn more about wealth disparity in the city of Detroit. The Tapestry Project is designed to uplift Black entrepreneurs in America, who see their businesses fail at greater rates than White-owned businesses. The
Discussing Detroit’s “Comeback” Read More »
Over the past few weeks I’ve been fortunate to sit in on the weekly staff meetings with the ProsperUS team. I’ve never been around a professional business meeting environment, so it has been interesting to observe how this dynamic occurs—and even more intriguing to watch it play out over zoom. I feel that workplace culture
So far at ProsperUS, most of what I’ve learned has revolved around business practices and how low-income and individuals of color struggle to become entrepreneurs. I learned about the wealth gap, the trust gap, and the credit gap. After learning about these disparities that affect all Black-owned small businesses in America from the AEO Tapestry
Effects of Covid-19, and What I’ve Learned About Detroit Read More »
This summer I have been placed with ProsperUS. This company works toward entrepreneurial development for low-income and minority individuals in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park. There are three main programs under ProsperUS, the entrepreneurial training program or ETP, the technical assistance program, and the micro-lending program. The ETP is a 12-week long course for entrepreneurs
A Day In The Life at ProsperUS – Week 2 Read More »
Dear Future Mackenzie, Happy week one at ProsperUS! So far I’ve settled into the placement by reaching out to all of the members of the team, and it has made virtual onboarding not so bad. There seems to be a nice sense of community at ProsperUS… speaking of community, to me, community describes a close-knit
