Where did you grow up?
I grew up on the south side of Chicago, and lived there for most of my childhood. I moved to Jackson, MI right before starting high school. They were very different experiences.
What is your degree in? Why did you choose that degree?
My degree is in Information Science from the University of Michigan’s School of Information. I am a self proclaimed “seeker of knowledge” so I was drawn to the school because of the way technology pervades every aspect of our lives and shapes our world and interactions – from how we create knowledge and information on a psychological level to the design of things and how it literally constructs how we interact with the world around us. I loved that it was applicable in every domain because information surrounds us constantly, which means that there are endless possibilities for what we can create.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us.
The first time I went to a beach I was 20 years old.
What is your history with Detroit?
During school I had various opportunities to visit the city for events, like the Annual National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) conference and for a CSforALL summit. I also toured tech startups around the city for a “Tech Trek”. I’ve learned a lot about the city’s history in classes and often was able to hear from people working in organizations around the city. And because coursework at the School of Information was so project-based I was able to work with organizations in the city and learn even more. Besides those experiences I also have visited for the museums and food and all that fun stuff.
What did you do before working at D3?
I worked as a Data Science Fellow for the Economic Indicators Division of the US Census Bureau through Coding it Forward’s Civic Digital Fellowship program. There, I worked on automating the process of creating informational sheets for updates for each indicator as well as projects on business formation statistics. I also continued to work on campus at U of M as a program assistant promoting sustainability and on a research project focused on developing educational materials about the impact of algorithms in society.
What do you like about working at D3 so far? How do you think the work you are doing benefits the city/region?
I love the mission driven nature of the work at D3 and just having the sense that everything I do truly is attempting to contribute to making data accessible and equitable for everyone in the community. I think that in itself is a true benefit to Detroit, because data is an extremely useful resource. It is important for investments, transparency, general knowledge, and so much more.
What are your favorite types of data?
I love ethnographic data because it is more qualitative and conceptual. Don’t get me wrong, I think all kinds of data is interesting and useful but I really enjoy the immersive aspect of ethnography that provides narratives and promotes meaning, as well as the focus on communities.
Who or what inspired you to take the path to Detroit, data, or both?
I consider meaningful work to be a core value of mine. I have always been driven by a desire to leave the world better than I found it, even if that sounds a little cliche. My interest started with computer science but I found that the more human and empathetic aspect that I was so passionate about was missing. So I began thinking of how I could use my skills to help improve the wellbeing of people and communities or affect some sort of positive change. That led me here to D3, and I think that’s fate.