By Tedarius Abrams

Before I was selected for the Chevy DTU (Discover the Unexpected) program I was feeling defeated. I had applied for several positions and was turned down. There were two opportunities I was offered but I was unable to accept them. It seemed like my hard work from the past year was not going to pay off.

I started to question if Media was really my calling. Then, somehow, I received an email saying that I was selected as one of six applicants to be a Chevrolet Discover the Unexpected Fellow. I felt like everything was right with the world and that I should continue on the path I was following. The feeling of reaping the benefits of what you’ve sacrificed so much for is worth all of the things you give up along the way, such as a social life, sleep, and your sanity.

Since starting with the Chevrolet Discover the Unexpected program, I have done many things I had not had the luxury of doing before. Driving the new Chevy Blazer that is part of the intern benefit, I have traveled and seen so much of the country I might never have seen. I have acted in commercials for Chevrolet and eaten crab cakes with celebrities DJ Envy and Fonzworth Bentley. It is just unbelievable how a year of hard work can take you places that you never dreamed of going.

When we arrived in Atlanta I was put on the side of the camera that I am not used to. I have never been an actor or been filmed for that matter, so from the jump it was a whole new experience. Imagine this, interns had stylists, make-up artists, et cetera. It was really superstar treatment.

Since leaving Atlanta my fellow interns and I have driven close to 2,000 miles and have visited many historical places such as the Magnolia House, one of the last few standing locations from Victor Green’s “The Negro Motorist Green Book.” We did some filming there and created a feature story about the “Green Book,” consisting of information about what it contained, people who were experts on it, and people who had experienced it themselves.

In Washington, DC we worked for the Washington Informer covering stories like the premiere of the Bobby DeBarge movie and the premiere of Snowfall season 3, and we continued doing research on “Green Book” locations. We visited the Thurgood Marshall Center trust which is also a “Green Book” location and it also serves as the headquarters for the National Newspaper Publishers Association, the co-sponsor with Chevy, of the internship.

The drive from DC to Chicago was one of the most scenic routes I have ever driven, I had never seen mountains that close up before. Honestly, I did not do much driving in the mountainous areas because I would have been driving too slowly, fearing for my life and that of the other passengers.

From the beginning of the trip to now, at the midway point, my two teammates and I have grown close, we are like a small family. I was sure that we were either going to love or hate each other, but I feel as though we’re closer to love than hate.

Chicago is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen, and it is extremely rich in history. I really feel as though it is a hub for Black excellence and its energy can empower the Black community. If I were to move here, I would thrive as a creative person because there would be a network of people like myself, to assist me. I can’t believe that Chicago was never one of the places on my bucket list to visit.

Though it is early in the Chicago Crusader portion of the internship I can tell that working for the Crusader is going to be very insightful and I feel as though my skills will be a definite asset rather than a challenge for the publication. I can breathe new life into their social media and other platforms through video. I am very excited to see what kind of stories I can contribute that promote the positive energy of the Black community in Chicago and around the nation.

Keeping Busy In The Chi

With my first two years completed at North Carolina A&T I have had on-campus experiences pertaining to writing news, interviewing and developing journalism skills. But I’ve never had the opportunity like the one Chevy Discover The Unexpected has given me this summer, to not only travel the country and develop genuine connections, but to also learn about our Black communities and the triumphs and downfalls that occur within them, that are rarely shared on a broader scale in the mainstream media.

Coast To Coast: L.A. To Chicago

After getting back to Chicago, my team and I prepared to attend ComplexCon, a convention hosted by a leading urban magazine. It is a leading convention in showcasing what’s trending in mainstream culture. It was a nice experience, but I realized that I’m not in touch with popular culture. From the fashion down to the hottest new artist(s), I feel like I’ve been living under a rock for the past few years. And you know what, I don’t care.

I Could Make Chicago a Thing

The Chicago Crusader has shown us a great time, and they have also been challenging me to do things that I am not naturally comfortable with. I’m actually a published journalist now, which is crazy because I am not a great writer, but it is still cool to say that some of my work has been published.

A Message to The Chevy DTU Fellows: Boot Camp Opening Remarks

Introducing Michelle Matthews-Alexander, Multicultural Marketing Manager at General Motors. Michelle has dedicated her career to enhancing major corporations’ relationship with diverse communities. Since joining GM in 2015, Michelle has not only advocated for, but helped spearhead Chevrolet’s Discover the Unexpected Journalism Fellowship program. In partnership with the National Newspaper Publishers Association, she and Chevrolet have invested in the future of Black Journalism while simultaneously supporting students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Now in its fourth year, the 2019 Chevrolet Discover The Unexpected program continues to provide opportunity to young journalists as they work to tell the stories that matter.

Hello Chicago!

With my first two years completed at North Carolina A&T I have had on-campus experiences pertaining to writing news, interviewing and developing journalism skills. But I’ve never had the opportunity like the one Chevy Discover The Unexpected has given me this summer, to not only travel the country and develop genuine connections, but to also learn about our Black communities and the triumphs and downfalls that occur within them, that are rarely shared on a broader scale in the mainstream media.

Hello Chicago!

Since the beginning of the journey I wanted the experience itself to be my “thank you” to the program coordinators. I treat each assignment, opportunity and encounter as a “thank you.” From delving into the depths of “The Green Book” and its comparison to our travel experience, to attending city press briefings I’ve learned that the way that we say “thank you” is through what we produce.

Hello Chicago!

Since starting with the Chevrolet Discover the Unexpected program, I have done many things I had not had the luxury of doing before. Driving the new Chevy Blazer that is part of the intern benefit, I have traveled and seen so much of the country I might never have seen. I have acted in commercials for Chevrolet and eaten crab cakes with celebrities DJ Envy and Fonzworth Bentley. It is just unbelievable how a year of hard work can take you places that you never dreamed of going.

Interns start at the Crusader

Tedarius Abrams, Sharon Joy Washington and Elae Hill are three young future journalists from HBCUs who started their internships with the Chicago Crusader on Monday, July 8. Blessed with a string of perfect summer weather, they have crisscrossed the city over the last three days, taking selfies at the Bean at Millennium Park and the Riverwalk, to marveling at the mansions of Obama, Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan and boxer Muhammad Ali.

Customers pick up final print edition of the Chicago Defender

Wednesday, July 10 marked the final print edition of the historic Chicago Defender. At some Walgreens stores in the city, customers stopped in just to buy the iconic newspaper for one last piece of nostalgia.

Life At The Chicago Crusader

Our first assignment for The Chicago Crusader was to attend the press briefing that Mayor Lori Lightfoot held for news publications in the area. It was inspiring to watch her control the room and exert her power as the first Black female mayor of such a prominent city. She even gave us a shout out!

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