Black Tech Saturdays

I’ll be partnering with JOURNi again this April for another Adult Tech Workshop and this this time featuring Lovable. Ever wanted to build a full-stack web application or potentially launch your own SaaS product but don’t have a developer background? No worries, I got you! With Lovable, you can build full-stack applications through AI powered prompting, no coding required. But to truly unlock its power, you need precise AI prompting skills which is exactly what I’ll be demonstrating in this show-and-tell workshop. In this Show & Tell workshop, I’ll you'll watch me: - Build a full-stack web app step by step using AI prompts - Designing a clean and attractive user interface - Handling errors & troubleshooting seamlessly as they may arise - Setting up user authentication & database storage seamlessly with Supabase - And much more! Plus, we’ll have an open technology playground & tech workshops for kids if you happen to have kids. If you’re curious about building web applications without trying to understand complexities that come with building applications and are open to learn some AI prompting skills, this workshop is for you. We'll see ya in-person in April. https://lnkd.in/eChB_QHm

Thank you so much to Black Tech Saturdays for the invitation to be a vendor at the Women’s HERStory Celebration this past weekend! Words honestly can’t capture the energy. Huge thank you to every single person who stopped by and shared space with us. But first, let me say this: we HEARD you. So many of you shared your personal stories with us, and that is exactly the kind of impact, motivation, and connection this company was built to create. This is the space we’re here to hold—and we’re just getting started. Learn more about us at shesodetroit.com. ??? #SheSoDetroit #blacktechsaturdays

We’re honored and excited to present our latest research at the Society for Applied Anthropology Conference this Friday in Portland, OR. ???Session Title:?Beyond Hustling and the Individual Entrepreneur: Building a Black Tech Ecosystem in Detroit ?? Our study explores how Detroit’s Black tech entrepreneurs are reshaping the narrative of wealth creation—rooted in collective impact, cultural legacy, and community-driven innovation. By centering lived experiences and local values, we aim to reframe entrepreneurship not as a solo hustle, but as a systems-level movement. Presented by: Yuson Jung (Wayne State University, Anthropology Department) Dawn Batts (Milestone Growth Capital Institute) Frankee Thomas, Kayleigh Reimueller, Rickey Underwood, Nakim Edmond, and Morgan Walter Special thank you to our incredible ecosystem in Detroit who supported and encouraged this work! Johnnie Turnage Black Tech Saturdays Marlo Rencher, PhD, CDE Anne Maghas, PhD Nathan Jones #BlackTech #DetroitInnovation #EntrepreneurshipEcosystem #SfAA2025 #InclusiveEconomy #MilestoneCapital

March Jobs of the Month are HERE! ?? Looking to make your next career move in marketing, advertising, or media? We’ve rounded up the hottest opportunities in Detroit that are perfect for creatives, strategists, and future leaders alike. ?? See something you love? Save this post and apply today! ??? These roles—and more—are listed on our job board. Access the full list by visiting our website! #AdcraftDetroit #DetroitJobs #GigAlert

?? Calling all Midwest underrepresented founders! ?? Transparent Collective is launching our first-ever early-stage program in Detroit, May 26–31! Are you (or someone you know) a Black, Latino, or woman pre-seed/seed stage founder based in the Midwest who's ready to raise VC funding and level up your startup? Apply now to join a week-long intensive designed to give underrepresented founders the strategies, resources, and investor access needed to successfully fundraise. ?? Detroit alumni have already started to show what’s possible: ? Justin Turk (Livegistics) – Raised $8.6M + won the $1M Black Ambition Grand Prize ? Javier Evelyn (Alerje) – Raised $3.1M ? Ashton Keys (Athlytic ) – Raised $1M We’re partnering with Venture 313, Black Tech Saturdays, Invest Detroit, TechTown Detroit, and Silicon Valley Bank to make this a transformative week. If you’re fundraising, this is the program you’ve been waiting for. ?? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e2An_RAW ?? Apply now: https://lnkd.in/ee4Rqt7j ?? Or tag a founder who should! #TCDetroit #FoundersOfColor #WomenInTech #VCfunding #StartupLife #DetroitTech #TransparentCollective #UnderrepresentedFounders #EarlyStageStartups #StartupFounders #TechFounders #FoundersOfColor #WomenFounders #LatinxFounders #BlackTech #BlackFoundersMatter #FundBlackFounders #LatinxInTech #WomenInStartups #RaisingCapital #VentureCapital #StartupFunding #PitchToVCs #InvestInDiverseFounders #DiverseVC #MidwestStartups #DetroitTech #DTXTech #DetroitStartups #MidwestFounders

Celebrating Innovation and Sisterhood in Tech at Black Tech Saturdays "Listen Black Women, we're Innovators," Erika Monaé Lewis Detroit is Different at Black Tech Saturdays March 22 2025 for HERStory for a powerful Women’s History Month celebration. Watch as we amplify the voices and brilliance of Black women innovating in tech and transforming our communities through creativity, entrepreneurship, and vision. We are proud to highlight the leadership of Black Tech Saturdays founder Alexa Turnage and the dynamic minds sharing their knowledge through workshops and discussions: Erika Monae Lewis, Jeneba Wint ??, Eden Sabolboro, Jordan Blackwell, and panel moderator Demarra West. This event will spotlight the power and innovation of women in tech, with over 60 industry leaders set to share their expertise. Do not miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate. #DetroitIsDifferent #BlackTechSaturdays #WomensHistoryMonth #BlackWomenInTech #DetroitEvents #TechAndCulture #CommunityInnovation #BlackExcellenceInTech #HealingThroughCulture

Empowering Youth Through Animation & Digital Storytelling with Briaca Duesette, founder of Animation Discovery Studio #animation #womenshistorymonth #womeninbusiness #womenintech #eloquentdigitalpodcast #

? Excited to share that I'm hiring a Senior Strategist to work alongside me and DTE's Community Engagement team ? Are you passionate about making an impact in Michigan communities and working on a team that feels more like a family? Join us! This dynamic position is responsible for driving impactful short- and long-term strategies, operational designs, and special projects. You'll work closely with senior leadership, contribute to strategic presentations, lead cross-functional teams, and be an integral part of strengthening our relationships across Michigan! Become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement! ??

Tickets are selling fast.. Don't miss this private reception featuring the "7 Mile + Livernois" exhibition by Tiff Massey. Please join the Founder's Junior Council as we honor Tiff's contributions to the Detroit art community and celebrate her historic run at the Detroit Institute of Arts. #DIA #FJC #7miandLivernois #DetroitArtists #TiffMassey Click below for tickets: https://lnkd.in/g-qyjHyX

This past weekend, I had the honor of delivering the keynote at Black Tech Saturdays – HerStory. Thank you Johnnie Turnage and Alexa Turnage for walking in your purpose! And Geralyn Gaines for being an amazing host throughout the day! The most impactful part of the event for me were the individual conversations after the presentation. It was a reminder of the importance of allowing the light inside of us to shine bright. My keynote explored the power of Authenticity, Alignment, and Ascension in writing our stories and our impact in this world. We talked about the moments when we’ve felt the pressure to shrink—to dim our light, hold back our voices, or conform to spaces that weren’t built with us in mind. Here’s what I shared with the room: ?? Authenticity isn’t about being all of you, all the time—it’s about knowing how to show up in ways that serve your purpose. ?? Alignment requires us to stop moving on autopilot and start making intentional choices that match our values. ?? Ascension happens when we refuse to stay small, step into our power, and create impact on our own terms. The truth is-we cannot wait for permission to take up space, lead boldly, and own our narratives. I’m leaving this same challenge for you: Where in your life do you need to stop shrinking? What’s your next move toward stepping fully into your power? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to know. ???? #NoMorePlayingSmall #Authenticity #Leadership #WomenInTech #HerStory #BlackTechSaturdays #Empowerment #PersonalGrowth #Rocket #RocketCareers