Challenge Detroit welcomes third cohort of 33 new fellows

Challenge Detroit is welcoming its third cohort of fellows this month, which includes a few more fellows than previous classes.

Challenge Detroit fellows, predominately recent college graduates, participate in a year-long program where they are paired with local companies to live, work, and play in Detroit. The fellows are given a living stipend and opportunities to volunteer and sink roots in the Motor City. The hope is that the talented young people turn their fellowships into longterm commitments to the city. This year 33 fellows will take part in program, which is up two from previous years.

"We have seen a lot of interest in companies that want to participate in our program," says Shelley Danner, program director for Challenge Detroit. "They have seen a lot of our participating companies have a lot of success with our fellows."

Among the new companies participating in the Challenge Detroit program are Campus Commandos, Penske, and Clark Hill. Fellows will also join firms that have been participating in the program throughout its first three years, such as DTE Energy, Hello World, and Team Detroit.

Challenge Detroit fellows take part in six community engagement projects over the course of the program.

"We're really focused on connecting our fellows with the community," Danner says.

Source: Shelley Danner, program director for Challenge Detroi
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.