Emerging leaders: Help us tell the story of metro Detroit

What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the metro Detroit region? What issues are undercovered—or poorly covered—by the media and deserve more attention? And how can the media better communicate both the complexity of these issues and possible solutions?

These questions are at the heart of a new partnership between Model D, our sister publication Metromode, and Metro Matters, an organization dedicated to recognizing and building on our regional commonalities rather than our divisions.

Our goal: Tackle metro Detroit's most persistent challenges through the power of story.

As humans, we learn best through stories. So what better way to grapple with the complex history, current policy, and ongoing movements around our region than through great storytelling?

To help guide this process, we are looking to convene a group of emerging leaders from various communities and professional backgrounds to form an editorial advisory board.

Every few months, these up-and-comers will come together to discuss what they see in the region: the problems, the promise, and the varied perspectives. These conversations will highlight not only the priority issues for metro Detroit, but also the people and projects working to make a difference.

We’ll turn that input into reporting. But not just any reporting. Metromode writers will embrace "solutions journalism," an approach that emphasizes in-depth investigations into the context surrounding an issue, and, critically, the possible (and often in-progress) solutions that could work for metro Detroit.

We believe metro Detroit has a moment of opportunity. The investment and energy pouring into the core city is creating momentum that can fuel not just improvements, but transformation. To make the most of this opportunity, residents should benefit from the smartest, best possible coverage of the issues that need addressing.

And that's where you come in. To guide our first year-long series, we're looking for emerging leaders to serve on our inaugural regional editorial advisory board. You could be a fit if:
 

• You are passionate about exploring creative, collaborative solutions to metro Detroit’s contemporary challenges.
• You're upwardly mobile. You might not be making all the decisions yet… but you’re on track to make some of them.
• You're a student with a focus on policy, government, urban planning, business, or another relevant subject.
• You can point to something and say "this demonstrates my passion for metro Detroit." It can be a resume, a project, a social media presence—anything, really. We just want to know you share our love for our region.
• You're a skillful listener who likes to hear others' perspectives just as much as you like to share your own.
• You're excited about being part of something new, and helping shape a nascent program into a useful platform for the region.
• You can commit to quarterly meetings on the following dates:
  • June 1, Wednesday
  • August 4, Thursday
  • November 3, Thursday
  • January 18, Wednesday

?When we think of our emerging leaders, we usually think of people between the ages of 18 and 35—but that’s not a hard requirement. If you've recently changed careers or gotten involved in your community, you could be a great fit. We want the editorial board to be diverse in terms of race, gender, geography, and thought, so whatever your background or perspective—we value it and encourage you to apply.

To that end, we've made it easy for you. View and complete the application below, then go directly to social media and share it with everyone you know. If this opportunity isn't for you, consider sending it to your best and brightest employees, students, colleagues, children, grandchildren, etc. With your help, we'll recruit a strong board of connected thinkers who will, in turn, help us cover the most important issues in a way that will help us better understand this place we all call home.

APPLY HERE by May 15, 2016.