Congrats Michaela R. Henley, on your Siegel Family Endowment fellowship and for building a beautiful digital and AI future for black and brown communities.
💡 Research Fellow Spotlight 💡 While AI captures much of the world’s attention, many communities across the U.S. still face the everyday reality of limited or no internet access. Michaela R. Henley, Program Director at the #BlackTechFutures Research Institute Research Institute, witnesses this digital divide firsthand within the Black tech ecosystems she works alongside. Through her work on the Black Tech Ecosystem Index, Michaela identifies vital community institutions and develops educational resources that empower partners to gain the knowledge needed to shape the future they envision. Her efforts highlight that meaningful participation in emerging technologies like AI requires addressing fundamental barriers—broadband access, devices, and digital skills—first. Drawing on her lived experience and background in international affairs, Michaela is creating a framework that can be adapted to support thriving tech ecosystems both locally and globally. Watch her video spotlight here: https://lnkd.in/eZGMkEs9