For my independent impact project, I have been working with the Office of the Mayor on an idea called the Detroit Talent Accelerator. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the Chief Talent Officer for the City of Detroit, and it is fitting that my final work in Challenge Detroit continues a working relationship that began with our first project back in the fall.

Design Question: How might the City of Detroit offer structured support for people looking to elevate their skills or advance their career? How can we facilitate connections for mentoring and knowledge in Detroit?

The purpose of this project is to further develop the idea of a city-sponsored or city-supported career development tool and resource for connecting professionals. The mayor’s office is seeking to develop a platform to encourage and empower people living and/or working in the city to find opportunities to enhance their professional skills or connect with people who can share advice and expertise that is relevant to their career progression.

White Board

The Detroit Talent Accelerator is a proposed online platform, initiated by the City of Detroit, to serve Detroiters with a knowledge sharing platform and a centralized resource network for those seeking ways to improve their career outlook. As a people-focused effort to strengthen our city, DTA serves as a knowledge-sharing platform for professional development and career advancement. By building an online presence designed to accelerate talent development, the city creates a new resource for its residents as well as a new competitive advantage for the city in career recruiting.

 

Representatives from the following organizations were interviewed during the project:

  • Detroit Economic Club
  • DTE Energy
  • DTE Energy Foundation
  • Local 223, Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO
  • Mainspring Consulting Group

 

This impact project seeks to provide the Mayor’s Office of the City of Detroit with a portfolio of background materials to outline the strategic planning of Detroit Talent Accelerator. Elements of this portfolio include:

  • Overview and strategic plan of DTA idea
  • Case studies of similar initiatives outside Detroit
  • Connecting with relevant counterparts like Detroit Employment Solutions and Pure Michigan Talent Connect
  • Potential funding opportunities
  • Premise of program and online platform layout
  • How to promote, pitch, and market the concept
  • Survey questions for potential users of DTA

 

Because this project is mayoral in nature, I leave my final blog with one of the better pictures I came across this year:

 

Thanks, everyone.