Daily Inspiration: Meet Stephanie Steinberg

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Steinberg. 

Hi Stephanie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Coaching Detroit Forward was established as a 501(c) nonprofit in late 2019 to offer writing and photography camps and after-school programs for Detroit high school students. When the pandemic hit 4 months after launching, we had to switch plans for our free summer journalism and photography camps to be mainly virtual experiences. Thanks to our coaches who restructured their lesson plans for Zoom and created in-person photography walks for 2-3 students at a time, we were able to still launch in 2020. Though we would have rather taught all programs in person, the camps were ultimately a success. The students learned from nearly 20 top photographers and professional journalists in the city and produced a powerful print magazine called Perspectives Magazine featuring their photos and stories. 

This summer, we held our journalism and photography camps in person at The Detroit Writing Room in downtown Detroit. It was an amazing experience teaching the students in person and taking them on photo walks throughout the city. You can check out the photos they captured at https://www.coachingdetroitforward.org/2021-photography-camp and stories they wrote at https://www.coachingdetroitforward.org/2021-journalism-camp-stories. We’re also compiling their stories and photos into the second edition of Perspectives Magazine that will be out by November 2021. 

While every student who participated in our camps will not go on to pursue journalism or photography, they learned valuable writing, reporting, storytelling, and documenting skills that they will be able to use in high school, college, and in their future careers, no matter what field they pursue. Many students also said they developed a greater appreciation for journalism and journalists after participating in the journalism camp. Some had not met a professional journalist before, and they were surprised by how many different opportunities there are within the industry — from reporting to designing and photography. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The pandemic definitely posed a challenge I did not see coming when I launched the nonprofit. However, there were silvering linings. Because the camps were virtual in 2020, we were able to open the journalism camp to all high school students across the country. As a result, Detroit students connected with and befriended students in New York City, Baltimore, Jersey City, Dallas, Boca Raton, and Atlanta as well as students throughout Metro Detroit. While the students had different views outside their bedrooms, where many were Zooming, they all had a shared experience of being a teen during a pandemic and could relate to each other as they worked on stories about their schools, local businesses, Black Lives Matter protests in their communities and more. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I launched The Detroit Writing Room 9 months before the pandemic hit. The business was built around in-person experiences such as one-on-one coaching sessions, book talks, writing workshops, open mic nights, and other creative events. Overnight, I had to figure out how to do all that virtually if I wanted to keep the business going and stay connected to our community. I couldn’t have done it without our team of writing, photography, and design coaches who were eager to keep meeting people on Zoom and help them with books, websites, resumes, and other writing pursuits. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m a big fan of the podcast “How I Built This.” I find it inspiring and encouraging to hear how some of the biggest companies started from the ground up with an idea and passion for that idea. I also read Suneel’s Gupta’s “Backable: The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People Take a Chance on You” — it was The Detroit Writing Room’s Book Club pick for April 2021 — and I’d recommend it to any entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or person with an idea they want to pursue. 

Otherwise, my team of 45+ coaches who are a part of Coaching Detroit Forward, The Detroit Writing Room, and our all-virtual chapter The New York Writing Room constantly keep me inspired and motivated. They come up with creative workshops and events that the community loves, and I always love learning new writing, photography, or design tips from them. There’s nothing better than being surrounded by creative minds who dream big and motivate others to tell their stories — no matter their age. 

Pricing:

• If people want to support the nonprofit Coaching Detroit Forward, they can donate at https://www.coachingdetroitforward.org/donate
• Adults can also sign up for virtual coaching sessions at detroitwritingroom.com/coaches. It’s $75 per session.

Contact Info:

• Email: coachingdetroitforward@gmail.com
• Website: coachingdetroitforward.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingdetroitforward/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachingdetroitforward
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoachingDetroit
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsTZcAW6mU6oQAvF5WTUOQ/featured

Image Credits
Marcel Brown
Dominick Sokotoff