Cobuilding Mississippi's Future - our first year

It has been just under one year since we announced the expansion of the Microsoft TechSpark program to Jackson, MS.??

Today’s announcement of TechSpark expansion to all 50 US states has filled me with great excitement because it will build off the lessons learned from the deep community engagement work of Microsoft TechSpark from the previous 5 years in regions throughout the US and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and activate these learnings in all 50 states. This is a great opportunity for community organizations focused on creating inclusive economic opportunities to apply to receive a mix of funding and contextual technical assistance through in-person and virtual support.?

The past several months in Mississippi have been a whirlwind of activity as I work with partners on innovative programs designed to give students a chance to experiment with computer science, equip learners with job skills, and support local entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed. The recurring water system issues in Jackson have made life challenging for many residents, who went without safe drinking water in September and then again just before Christmas. Despite this, I have tremendous respect for the resilience of the people in Jackson and their ability to overcome these unprecedented difficulties. The combination of the water crisis and inflation uncertainty reinforces TechSpark's investment in the region and renews our commitment to the work.??

COBUILDING: Partnering for greater impact

This past year can be characterized by the theme "CoBuild", which is quite apt. The challenges facing Jackson are complex, and no one company, industry, or organization can solve them alone. That’s why I am working across sectors and borders to foster collective action and amplify impact in the region to drive progress faster and farther. So much of my perspective and our initial success can be traced back to the wisdom shared with me by the people and organizations I’ve been lucky enough to work with over the last nine months. Here are four things I discovered and our plans going forward:??

1. This is a time to celebrate our progress with CS education and reinforce our commitment to CS with the emergence of AI.?

The theme of this year's #CSEdWeek was Celebrating Our Progress. Mississippi can be proud of the significant progress made in computer science. Two years ago, the Mississippi Cyber Education Equality Act was signed, requiring all public schools in Mississippi to offer computer science education by the 2024-2025 school year. The bill lays out a phased-in approach for the mandated implementation. Although the statewide strategic plan and K-12 standards have put our state ahead. Policymakers must now reexamine the curricula, knowledge, and skills necessary to support student engagement, learning, and future preparation.?

• The State of CS report shows that 71% of the state’s high schools offer foundational computer science, but only 6.5% of the students there are studying computer science. To spark our students' passion for this field, we must delve further to help them see themselves as potential computer science professionals.???
• I am constantly inspired by local CS champions like Krystal Chatman, EdS , a Computer Science Teachers Association Equity Fellow, who helps PK-12 teachers maximize technology integration into their daily teaching, impacting more than 18,000 students. She takes the opportunities and learnings from the fellowship and pours it back to the district to help dismantle inequities in the computer science classrooms.?
• The CS for Y'all initiative is our partnership between the Community Foundation for Mississippi , the Mississippi Statewide Afterschool Network , local schools and summer programs, and was established to support computer science education in the region with the goal of accelerating ongoing initiatives through strategic alliances and funding. CS for Y’all has made impressive progress in a brief time, providing increased access to computer science for students through programs like The Bean Path and the Young Futurist Project. Additionally, CS for Y’all set up the first IT Academy in Jackson Public Schools, offering 30 students per year practical learning opportunities, digital skills certification, and guidance from local technology experts.?

The lack of computer science training in pre-service teacher programs in Mississippi continues to contribute to the shortage of computer science teachers. This is an opportunity for TechSpark to synchronize our institutions with a solution that incorporates computer science into pre-service teachers' required curriculum or design specialized tracks for computer science educators. A partnership between JSU's College of Education and Human Development and BootUp Professional Development is in the works to provide computer science training and exposure to preservice teachers, addressing the teacher shortage and fostering collaboration. Stay tuned for an announcement in the coming weeks.??

2. The path to a muscular local and state economy is paved by digital inclusion and entrepreneurship.?

TechSpark's initial partnership in the state was helping to launch CoBuilders Accelerator with Innovate Mississippi , a nonprofit aimed at promoting entrepreneurship. Over the past 20 years, they have been instrumental in the development of 1,500 new companies and have facilitated over $181 million in seed and venture capital. The first cohort of the Microsoft-powered CoBuilders Accelerator ended this fall with 16 startups receiving seed funding, mentorship, and access to Microsoft's Founder's Hub to enhance their growth.

The startups were selected through a process that began with one of the seven regional partners, including two from Jackson - The Bean Path and Jackson State University - who brought in The Skin Consult , Momentum Dryer and iResonate.

“CoBuilders helped us refine our roles as Founders, understand the process of fundraising and pitching, and all those things I was not so great at before," said Sajani Barot, CEO of The Skin Consult, Inc. "I got to really learn a lot [during] those 12 weeks. When I pitched at CoBuilders Pitch Day that really brought me confidence. That was actually my first official pitch-on-stage event. [Pitch Day] gave me the confidence to say 'OK, we can go out and pitch to other people.'"?

Entrepreneurship and innovation are the driving forces behind economic development. These innovative individuals, like the founders of CoBuilders, establish businesses that lead to job growth and economic mobility. The impact of job creation, job flexibility, wealth creation, and new technologies by entrepreneurs can have a positive impact on the quality of life for many people in our region, making the successful launch of CoBuilders an exciting milestone!?

My three key takeaways from the CoBuilders pilot:??

• To promote a more inclusive and thriving economy, we must engage with organizations that focus on the "care economy" and provide access to support such as education and care for children and elderly. By doing so, we can empower a greater number of entrepreneurs to utilize resources and drive economic growth.?
• Mississippi’s startup scene is quietly emerging. With programs like CoBuilders, we will continue to see a rise in venture capital investments as investors look for opportunities in the state’s growing startup scene. Mississippi is making significant strides in fostering a supportive environment for entrepreneurship and innovation, and it has the potential to become a hub for start-ups in the future.?
• The success of CoBuilders' tech enablement and digital transformation efforts for early-stage startups prompts me to consider ways of delivering similar digital capabilities to small businesses that have limited personnel and technical know-how. What are ways to improve our small businesses’ operational efficiency and productivity using cloud services? How can we help them capture and manage data with CRM systems? Who can help them integrate cybersecurity tools to secure their data? By working with partners like the Mississippi SBDC Network , TechSpark has the opportunity to create a significant impact in promoting economic mobility and wealth development for our small and medium-sized businesses by tackling the digital equity and transformation needs of rural and marginalized communities.

3. A disaster response may require more than just a cash grant, even though it is much appreciated.?

In late August 2022, low water pressure throughout Jackson left many in the city without sufficient water for activities of daily living, including homes, businesses, schools and first responders. Most of Jackson’s 180,000 residents were affected. Decades of infrastructure disinvestment led to this crisis.

In late August 2022, low water pressure throughout Jackson left many in the city without sufficient water for activities of daily living, including homes, businesses, schools and first responders. Most of Jackson’s 180,000 residents were affected. Decades of infrastructure disinvestment led to this crisis.??

• The Microsoft Disaster Response team worked closely with the Community Foundation for Mississippi to open a grant for nonprofits to apply for $11-12,000 mini-grant reimbursements related to the water boiling notices. This also supported the LED filtration pitchers alongside a years’ worth of filters and in-home education for 100 families in Jackson who qualify as high-risk for lead in their drinking water. ?
• Despite the grim circumstances, I am inspired by the Community Foundation’s focus to invest in the community’s capacity to leverage government funding and other entities to create real systems change and long-term solutions through local mobilization and preparedness which includes identifying unheard voices, unmet needs and organizations that haven’t yet been considered or invited to the decision making table regarding water needs.

Our engagement to address the immediate relief has been significant and I am grateful for the federal support that has led to the appointment of a Third-Party Manager of JXN WTR . I look forward to supporting the team with our technical expertise and software solutions to boost the organization's efficiency.

4. Equip us with the tools and witness us rise to new heights.?

Back in November we launched the next steps in our Skills for Jobs program, providing free access to 350 courses and six new Career Essentials Certificates for six of the most in-demand jobs in the digital economy. It’s been wonderful, and not-at-all surprising, to see innovative small organizations like the Bean Path, Jackson Resource Center and others quickly develop skilling programs that utilizes Microsoft’s skilling initiative’s free curriculum and brings people together in a self-paced cohort to earn certifications and badges.??

• We partnered with Innovate Mississippi to help bring the gener8tor Mississippi Skills Accelerator, a five-week skills training program for unemployed people and historically underrepresented. The program provides one-on-one career coaching, technical and workplace skills training, and access to local hiring partners. To date, 67 people have participated in the program, half of them were women and 88% were from racial and ethnic minority communities, and 219 certificates were received with a $700,791 economic impact based on the graduate salaries. ?
• Partner organizations like the Mississippi Coding Academy hold immense value for our state. MCA operates a tuition-free, 11-month course that transforms individuals into coders and web developers. This past year they certified 40 coders in tech jobs and have certified more than 120 coders in the past 5 years. Thrilled to see how this program continues to expand throughout the state and create economic opportunity for Mississippians.?
• Refill Jackson Initiative, a workforce training cafe for 18–24-year-olds, had to close its cafe portion in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was uplifting to see the re-opening of the cafe and learn how they continued to train youth in the Jackson area by tapping into local businesses to serve as on the job training sites. The initiative has trained 140 youth in the Jackson area. I am eager to learn how Techspark can continue to equip their graduates with digital skills and a plan for their future.

As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to investing in organizations that offer the skills critical to this economy. We have a tremendous opportunity to build on our achievements and convene our skill development partners to launch a comprehensive community skills program. This program will involve working with local and state workforce agencies, the business sector, and other philanthropic organizations to ensure that everyone has the skills necessary for success.?

In a single year, an incredible amount of community impact can be achieved. The knowledge I have gained in bridging silos, bringing together stakeholders, and cobuilding initiatives to create a more inclusive digital economy is substantial. This is why I am eager to support the TechSpark Community Engagement Fellows through mentorship and guide individuals in the next chapter of TechSpark. I invite all community leaders to join us and learn how to create local ecosystems that drive societal opportunity in their communities. Explore our playbook and?Resource Hub ?at?TechSpark ?and?Sign up ?for our webinar to find out how we can support your digital access, skills, and transformation efforts. I am eager to support and guide communities as they embark on this exciting chapter with TechSpark.

Even in these turbulent times, we must continue to cobuild together.?

Through the TechSpark program, Microsoft partners with communities to understand their unique regional challenges and to explore solutions, programs, and partnerships that will be most effective at the local level.???