2024 DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT

october 3RD-5TH 2024

The 2024 Detroit Digital Empowerment Summit, hosted by Black Tech Saturdays during National Digital Inclusion Week, was a transformative three-day event focused on fostering economic mobility through mass tech adoption. The summit offered attendees a unique opportunity to experience, engage with, and be inspired by the latest advancements in technology and innovation. The vision was to ensure that every individual could see, touch, and feel the impact of technology—empowering them to elevate themselves and their communities.

SUMMIT GOALS

EmpowermenT

Equip community members with the knowledge and tools to leverage technology for personal and professional growth.

Innovation Engagement

Allow participants to interact directly with cutting-edge technologies, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their potential.

Economic Mobility

Demonstrate how digital tools and innovation can drive economic advancement and create new opportunities.

Take a look back at the energy, community, and innovation that powered the summit.

YOUTH TECH FEST

Youth STEM Fest

The summit kicked off with the Michigan Science Center Youth STEM Fest, where young minds from across Detroit dove into hands-on STEM activities. The day was all about sparking curiosity and planting the seeds of innovation in our future leaders.

Exploration Stations
Offered interactive opportunities for youth to engage with tech vendors, founders, and programming, creating a hands-on and fun learning experience.

Michigan Science Center
Provided families with the opportunity to visit the Michigan Science Center and enjoy its exhibits. Guests also received a special preview of a newly installed dinosaur exhibit set to open in October 2024.

Giveaways
Raffles, door prizes, vendor giveaways, and device distributions took place throughout the event.

Youth Pitch Competition
Featured a peer-led pitch competition showcasing the STEAM education and innovation of Detroit K–12 students.

Youth Demonstration/Showcase
Highlighted interactive opportunities for Detroit K–12 students to display and demonstrate their creative STEAM innovations and projects.

workshops, awards + more

Day Two of the summit focused on in-depth learning through a series of workshops, panel discussions, and teach-ins led by industry experts, equipping attendees with practical tools for success in a tech-driven economy. That evening, Professor John Powell of the Berkeley Center for Othering and Belonging delivered a powerful keynote on inclusion, belonging, and equity in tech.

The final day continued with additional workshops and a "Ballot and Brunch" session that encouraged reflection and communal dialogue. The summit concluded with an evening of celebration, featuring a surprise keynote, live musical entertainment, and an awards ceremony honoring grant recipients and community changemakers who are shaping Detroit’s tech and entrepreneurial landscape.