I know nothing about Detroit except that it is home to the Detroit Tigers. I think that is pretty sad on my part. In fact, I only go to Detroit for Tiger games when I can go for free. It isn’t just me though. Plenty of people don’t know this grand city. It was home to the car manufacture back in its hayday. The motor city was a hustling and busy place. However, over time it has fallen into what I have heard a state of “ruin”. I wish I could put my two cents in, but I must wait till I get there. On a light side of things I am going this weekend for a leader based program. I can’t wait!
Perhaps the social issue I am quite familiar with is poverty. People living off welfare, on the streets, and without the proper necessities to live. It is devastating to know it happens in my own home state. How I learned about this is by the ear. People talk about Detroit as if it is on fire every other week. I don’t think it is that bad I want to be optimistic about this city. I hope to finally realize what people are saying.
The vision of the leadership institute is to “prepare the next generation of individuals who will act responsibly to improve the quality of life”. We find leaders of today. Perhaps a leader could be in Detroit. It’s up to a community of leaders to get to them and help them in their community. I believe that as leaders at CMU we have the responsibility to further our learning of service experience. There are workers right now in Detroit that clean up the community everyday. This experience and what I hope to get out of it is to understand the struggle and the commit people have to help grow a community.
What I think the trip to Detroit will help me grow in is to understand the purpose of the LI. Even though it states, “to prepare Michigan students and citizens for leadership roles in an increasingly complex and challenging society” I need to know where I fit. How will I make that difference?
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