Jenna Utter

on tops of train stations

My name is Jenna Lyn Utter and I have made the choice to spend this semester living, working, and playing in Detroit.

I am an Art and Design major with minors in Urban and Community Studies and History.  I especially enjoy three-dimensional media, including fibers and metals.  I am once again finding two-dimensional mediums through photography, especially with the revitalization of some old cameras that belonged to my grandfather.

I am a dreamer and an idealist.  I am a little kooky and I tend to have trouble focusing.

my internship:

I am working with Alternatives for Girls.  AFG is a really wonderful organization in Southwest Detroit that caters specifically to the needs of girls and women in high-risk areas or situations.  I am an intern in the Outreach and Education Services Department.  I am currently involved with the New Choices and Safe Choices programs.

New Choices began in January 2003.  It is a program that assists commercial sex workers with a desire to exit the sex industry.  The women meet four days a week from 11 to 3 to work together and talk about challenges they are facing and what changes they themselves want to make.  I am basically there to run short workshops with topics like financial literacy, self esteem, healthy bodies, communication, and addiction and recovery.  I am also there to help with anything at all they need to make the change they want to happen.

Safe Choices meets people where they are at.  In many cases, people don’t know where to find help when they need it or want it.  Outreach volunteers drive around in the Safe Choices van and approach women on the streets.  They try to tend to whatever needs they might have and help them practice safer behaviors.

If you’d like to get involved with volunteering at AFG, contact me at jutter@umich.edu.  I’ll hook you up.