Above: Detroit Center's Leeah Allen (center) participates in a role playing practice session with Danielle Basemore-Taylor (LSA) (left) and Casey Stoneback (Information) (right).
With assistance from Detroit Center staff members Feodies Shipp III and Leeah Allen, who volunteered their time to serve as "clients" this past July, five Community Tech Workers hired by the University of Michigan and local nonprofit Jefferson East, Inc. completed their training at the U-M Detroit Center this summer. The Community Tech Workers began providing 1:1 technology training and advice to Detroit small businesses in July. In exchange for providing direct training and advice to Detroit small businesses, tech workers are also gathering information about the type, scope, and sophistication of business owners' technology needs. Data collected will be used to design a longer-term model that could be used to embed community tech workers in neighborhoods throughout the City.
The Community Tech Worker project is led by Prof. Kristin Seefeldt (Ford/SSW), Prof. Tawanna Dillahunt (Information), Prof. Julie Hui (Information), Lutalo Sanifu, Aaron Jackson, and Christie Baer. Businesses can sign up for free 1:1 technology services by completing this survey.
