In classrooms, after-school programs, and neighborhood centers across Detroit, Black students are gaining hands-on experience with coding, robotics, and engineering. Programs designed to close the opportunity gap are helping young people build technical skills early, often before they reach high school. For many, it’s their first time working with code or assembling a robot. Beyond the tools, however, these experiences change how students see themselves and their future.
The Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program, better known as DAPCEP, is one of the oldest and most well-established efforts in this space. Every weekend, students from across the city attend free workshops hosted by partner universities, where they’re introduced to subjects like robotics, computer programming, and biomedical engineering.
DAPCEP is part of a broader push to build a sustainable pipeline of Black talent in STEM fields. In Detroit, where the majority of students are Black, and many neighborhoods still face digital divides, early access to technology is seen as both an educational and an equity issue.
Programs like CODE313, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to ensuring equitable access to STEAM education, aim to help bridge the digital divide by offering workforce development, career readiness, and broadband access to young people aged 7 to 17.
Bartell Welch, Executive Director of CODE313, has high hopes for the continued growth of the tech industry in Detroit and wants to change the narrative.
“Detroit is now becoming the next Silicon Valley,” Welch said.
“I want our city, our people, to be the people to fill those jobs, especially within our own city.”
A significant number of students discover that these programs serve as their first ever encounter with advanced technology. For some, it’s a moment of discovery, the first time someone recognizes their potential and empowers them to believe they can truly thrive in this field.
“Code313 was initially founded to close that technology gap between
your urban schools, and I wanted to change that narrative,” Welch said.
Dashia Graham, a bright and ambitious 8th grader, is setting her sights on the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation. With an interest in coding and robotics, she spends her afternoons immersed in online courses that explore the fundamentals of software development and artificial intelligence.
Dashia is fueled by a passion for problem-solving and creativity. She envisions a future where she can contribute to groundbreaking advancements in technology by designing apps that enhance everyday life and creating intelligent systems to tackle global challenges.
“CODE313 taught me a lot of stuff I can use in the future, actually,” Dashia said.
“I think it will better kids’ future and make them think differently.”
Inside the Michigan Science Center (Mi-Sci), science isn’t just something you observe; it’s something you become. With the relaunch of its signature initiative, the STEMinista Project, Mi-Sci is putting girls at the center of that transformation, empowering them to see themselves as future scientists, engineers, and innovators.
Originally launched to connect middle school girls with real-world STEM role models, the STEMinista Project returns with fresh programming designed to spark curiosity and build confidence through hands-on exploration.
In Detroit, the future is already being built, one line of code at a time. These programs are more than educational opportunities; they are launching pads for ambition, confidence, and change. As students learn to design robots, write code, and solve complex problems, they’re also learning to imagine themselves as engineers, inventors, and leaders. With each keystroke and circuit wired, they’re not just preparing for the jobs of tomorrow; they’re shaping what tomorrow looks like.
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