U-M, Black Tech Saturdays and Michigan Central are teaming up on Bridge to Success, a three-week micro-credential pilot meant to plug Detroiters directly into the city’s growing innovation economy. The in-person tracks offer practical badges in areas like AI fluency, storytelling and design thinking that organizers say participants can start using right away. Sessions are slated for Saturday mornings at Michigan Central’s Newlab starting this summer.
Program basics and schedule
Organizers say the pilot will deliver University of Michigan-backed credentials for entrepreneurs, creatives, working professionals and would-be innovators, with the first classes set to begin June 6 and run on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at Newlab in Michigan Central. The first 100 people who enroll will not pay a fee, and each certification track includes nine hours of classroom time spread across three weeks. Applications for the initial cohort are already open, according to The Michigan Chronicle.
How the pilot works
Each micro-certification runs over three consecutive weeks, pairing instructor-led instruction with independent work between sessions. Tracks include AI Fluency, Storytelling & Marketing, Problem Solving, Design Thinking and Leadership, and participants who make it to every class earn a verified digital badge. The offering is in person only and requires full attendance to complete, per Black Tech Saturdays.
Funding and local partners
The pilot is backed by a foundational investment from the Knight Foundation as part of its recent multi-million dollar round of Detroit grants; the foundation says this support is intended to help grow digital infrastructure and economic pathways. The University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit will provide academic oversight and co-brand the credentials while UMCI continues work on its permanent campus, and it lists Newlab at Michigan Central as its temporary Detroit home. The Knight Foundation and UMCI both describe the effort as part of larger investments in the city’s emerging innovation district.
Organizers frame the pilot around equity
Co-founders Johnnie and Alexa Turnage pitch the credential as a concrete on-ramp for residents. "Bridge to Success is that credential," Alexa Turnage said. Since launching in 2023, BTS has grown quickly and, organizers say, has engaged tens of thousands of Detroiters while raising millions of dollars to expand programming and device distribution. Leaders at Michigan Central and the Knight Foundation praised the collaboration as an example of community-rooted, place-based investment that shares ownership and benefits with Detroiters, according to The Michigan Chronicle.
Who should apply
The pilot targets entrepreneurs, creatives, professionals and anyone seeking fast, career-relevant credentials, and no technical background is required for the AI Fluency track. Organizers emphasize that participants need to commit to attending all three weeks in order to earn a badge. Additional details on eligibility, dates and sign-up are posted on the program page run by Black Tech Saturdays.
Why Detroiters might notice this
Short, stackable credentials like these are one way local leaders hope to turn a few weekends of learning into immediate job and business opportunities in mobility, AI and the broader digital economy. Organizers say Bridge to Success will help fine-tune curriculum and pathways before any wider rollout, as UMCI moves toward completing its permanent Detroit facility. For now, Newlab at Michigan Central (2050 15th St) will serve as the pilot site.
