It was an electrifying evening when Beyoncé took the stage for the Detroit leg of the long-awaited Renaissance World Tour. Beyoncé set Ford Field on fire, literally with her hot wardrobe changes, fiery visuals, and firework show. The Queen Bey performed her classic favorites and her new hits from her recently released album Renaissance. Not only did she deliver a highly anticipated show for Motown, but she also brought with her $100,000 for students at the Detroit School of Digital Technology (DSDT).
DSDT, located in Southwest Detroit on 21st Street off of W. Vernor, is closing the “digital divide, which describes the unequal access to digital technology, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and the internet. Beyoncé created the foundation to focus on economic equity by supporting marginalized and under-resourced programs, committed to serving people through educational scholarships. Technology needs to be more robust in Detroit, particularly in Southwest Detroit.
DSDT was hand selected by Beyonce’s foundation after they learned about DSDT’s impact on the Southwest community. BeyGOOD contacted founder and CEO Jamie Harris directly. He was thrilled to hear about DSDT being selected when he received the email about the scholarship selection. Representatives from BeyGOOD soon visited the DSDT campus, talked to students, and listened to their stories, significantly impacting everyone.
“How DSDT got on Beyonce’s radar remains a mystery to us, but our dedication to our mission of Training, Employing, and Empowering students caught the attention of BeyGOOD,” Chief Financial Officer Racquel B. Williams of DSDT said. “The foundation announced the Renaissance Scholars program before the start of her tour, where they committed to donating $100,000 to ten different schools and nonprofits along the tour route.”
DSDT shifted its focus in 2019 from Astute Artistry, providing training in Makeup & Special Effects and Film & Video Production in Farmington Hills, by adding Information technology and moving to Southwest Detroit due to the increasing demand for technology in underserved communities in Detroit. “Seeing this disparity, we decided to take action and developed an innovative, hands-on curriculum for technology courses. By providing opportunities for individuals to gain essential tech skills, we could empower them to secure better career prospects and contribute to our community positively,” Williams says.
The scholarship is available to prospective BIPOC students who have shown academic excellence, with an overall 3.0 GPA or a letter of recommendation affirming their capabilities despite having lower grades.
“DSDT provides life-changing training and support to students, mentoring and guiding them through various hurdles; (it) is something I wish I had access to during my educational journey,” Williams said. “Being a part of this organization and contributing to its mission, knowing that we are making a positive difference in the lives of young individuals, has been an impassioning experience for me.”
Ten DSDT students will receive a life-changing $10,000 scholarship.
