Wayne State University is delighted to host the 2021 Public Management Institute for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. As part of this year’s virtual institute, we have created a number of opportunities for Fellows to share their experiences with our community in Detroit and throughout southeast Michigan. On this blog, we’ll share institute updates and provide opportunities for Fellows to introduce themselves. Fellows in the WSU Institute this year come from 18 different countries across the continent. They bring with them a wide range of expertise and experience. They also come to the program with a wide range of aspirations and goals. For many, this is an opportunity to build concrete skills, but it’s also an opportunity to expand networks and build connections with each other and with global partners.
As much as this program provides an extraordinary experience for Fellows, it also provides important opportunities for the Wayne State community and our community partners to connect and learn from these accomplished young leaders. Detroiters face many of the same challenges that Fellows are grappling with in their own countries, and they come with fresh perspective and expertise that we can all learn from. This kind of exchange also presents an opportunity to build global partnerships and expand our community.
If you’re a Fellow, welcome to the Wayne State community – you’re a Warrior now. We look forward to getting to know you. If you’re working with Fellows as a coach, facilitator, community service partner, professional networking partner, or in any other capacity, thank you for sharing your time with all of us. We hope that you gain as much from this experience as we do. If you’re a community member looking to connect, please contact us here or through our social media channels.