A heart for Detroit.

As a child, Chelsea Quintal didn’t know much about Detroit aside from its sports teams. When she finally had the opportunity to get to know the city and its history, she fell in love and has never looked back. 

From packaging food at Gleaners to preparing tax returns for low-income individuals at Focus Hope and from helping at soup kitchens to teaching children at Malcolm X Academy, she has dedicated countless hours to volunteering.

“It has been eye opening and inspiring, as I’ve been fortunate enough to learn some of the hardships and successes,” she said.

And, she is quick to diffuse any negative comments made about the city. 

“I feel like the more I become involved and talk about the positive things happening, the more I begin to shift their attitudes,” she said. “It is inspirational to know that I’m not only impacting the city directly, but also indirectly helping my friends and family see Detroit in a different light.”

But, Chelsea wanted to understand Detroit’s social and economic issues further. 

She was selected to represent UM-Dearborn in the University Partners Student Leadership Program where she enjoys talking with community panelists about the city’s latest developments and challenges.

Chelsea is looking forward to seeing Detroit’s comeback. More importantly, she’s excited to be a part of it.