DETROIT – Challenge Detroit will host its fourth-year finalists for interviews with 25 host companies at the Fort Shelby Hotel in Detroit May 7 and 8. The new Fellows will be announced in June and start the program in September.

Finalists will be seeking participation in Challenge Detroit, a program that provides people with the opportunity to get a job at a leading Detroit-area company as well as to share talent with area nonprofits each week to positively impact the city.

“Challenge Detroit has continued to address issues and opportunities facing the city over the past three years, and we’re attracting and retaining top talent to live, work, play, give and lead in Detroit through our program,” said Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director of Challenge Detroit. “Our impact has grown each year, and with so many continuing to stay in Detroit following the program, our Fellows continue to contribute in the city well beyond their time with us – that’s exciting to see. We’re looking forward to welcoming yet another class of exceptional individuals to Challenge Detroit for our fourth year.”

The 2014-2015 Fellows completed challenge projects with various nonprofits, including partnering with the Detroit Collaborative Design Center on a neighborhood activation effort in the Fitzgerald community; Healthy Detroit on health disparities facing the city’s residents; and Vehicles for Change to introduce a career training program to Detroit.

Projects like these have positively impacted the Detroit area for the past three years, providing more than $500,000 in in-kind intellectual services to nonprofit partners.

Finalists this year will be interviewing with host companies including General Motors, Mango Languages, Detroit Future City, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Detroit Lions, and the Coalition on Temporary Shelter, to name a few.

Interviews with company partners will take place on May 7. In the evening, Alexis Wiley from the City of Detroit Mayor’s office will keynote. On May 8, finalists will take a tour of the city with the Detroit Experience Factory and participate in an innovative activity to get an inside idea of how Challenge Detroit fellows collaborate on challenge projects. Throughout the trip, finalists will have the opportunity to interact with the current class of Challenge Detroit Fellows as well as alumni and community members.