November 29, 2022

High Tech Career Training Firm Creating A Real Life ‘Wakanda’ Gets ByBlack Certified

Automation Workz, a Detroit-based cybersecurity and tech re-skilling firm seeking to create a real-life ‘Wakanda,’ has secured ByBlack certification.

Developed by the US Black Chambers, Inc. and presented by American Express, ByBlack is an extensive national Black business directory and the only national certification exclusively for Black-owned businesses.

The certification provides Black entrepreneurs with advanced ways to reach their target client base and access valuable business tools.

Creating a real-life Wakanda

Automation Workz, founded by urban economist Ida Byrd-Hill, is a cybersecurity reskilling firm and creator of the first tech grit assessment to discover, predict, motivate and coach front-line workers through digital re-skilling and training. 

The company’s tech training program has adopted an HBCU-style learning environment for those looking to break into tech. The program, which utilizes the “Black Effect,” proves that culturally relevant education helps deliver career and mental success to Black learners. 

“[We are trying to] create a real-life ‘Wakanda’ of emerging technology within the residential neighborhoods of cities like Detroit”

The no-cost program, funded by workplace development coins, provides a large amount of support to Black front-liners, helping them to go on and secure high-end salaries. Many have even managed to double their income entirely. 

“Despite the many barriers our learners face, we achieve learner completion rates of 75%, a lot higher than the 15% rate of community colleges,” said CEO Ida Byrd-Hill.

“We provide enormous support beginning with our personalized admissions process, weekend/evening instructor office hours, and hands-on video gaming/digital stimulation lessons.”

“We are hoping the ByBlack certification is, also, a signal to corporations to hire our corp of highly credentialed Black tech workers as we create a real-life ‘Wakanda’ of emerging technology within the residential neighborhoods of cities like Detroit,” added Byrd-Hill.

Kumba Kpakima

Kumba Kpakima is a reporter at POCIT. A documentary about the knife crime epidemic in the UK got her a nomination for the UK's #30toWatch Young Journalists of the Year.