The document discusses the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in fostering collaboration and redevelopment in Detroit, focusing on public attitudes towards the city's future and initiatives for improvement. It highlights findings from surveys regarding internet access and social media use, as well as the significance of data-driven organizations and philanthropic efforts in the community. Challenges such as limited internet utilization and risk aversion among charities are noted, but there are positive developments in tech startups and civic engagement initiatives.

1. ICT4Detroit: The Role of ICTs in
Collaboration for Detroit
‘To Connect a Thousand Flowers’
Bill Dutton
On a Steep Learning Curve at the Quello Center
Michigan State University
Follow @QuelloCenter
Project briefing for a workshop on civic technology and urban informatics, University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor, October 7, 2016.

2. Acknowledgements
Support
• Michigan Applied Public Policy Research
(MAPPR)
• Institute for Public Policy and Social
Research (IPPSR)
Team
• Faculty: Bibi Reisdorf, Michael Thelwall
(Wolverhampton)
• Paige Blessman, Dontae Freeman, Kat
Hartman, Jessica Mcinchak, Whisnu
Triwibowo

3. Signs of Detroit’s (Re)Development
Halt to Decline in Population
A Recognized Center of Philanthropy
Redevelopment Centered on Midtown
• Quicken Loans
• Dan Gilbert (Moving into the City)
Rising Optimism

4. State of the State Survey (SOSS)
• Telephone survey with ~1,000 respondents
• Representative of Michigan
• Internet-related questions since 1997
• Fall 2016
• 32 questions about Internet use and attitudes
• N=995 (49.4% male, 50.6% female; 80.2% white,
12.9% African-American, 6.9% other)
Conducted 2-3 times/year since 1994

5. ICT4Detroit:
Public Opinions and Collaborative Initiatives
Opinions on Detroit’s Future
ICT4Detroit’s Progress

6. Attitudes Toward Detroit
24.8%
70.5%
4.7%
27.3%
72.7%
0.0%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
Decline Improve Unsure
Agreement that the City of Detroit will decline/improve over the coming years
Michganders Detroit Residents

7. Attitudes on Impact of Declaring Bankruptcy
14.3%
63.6%
4.2%
13.1%
4.7%
20.0%
50.9%
3.6%
18.2%
7.3%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
Much better off Somewhat better off Neither/nor Somewhat worse off Much worse off
Agreement that the City of Detroit is better/worse off as a result of declaring bankruptcy
Michganders Detroit Residents

8. Race and Detroit’s Prospects
12.4%
35.0%
52.6%
21.2%
3.4%
75.4%
30.4%
40.8%
28.7%
26.2%
4.0%
69.8%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
Decline Stay the same Improve
Agreement that the City of Detroit will decline/improve over the coming years by race
African American 2008 African American 2016 White 2008 White 2016

9. Continuing Problems
Distressed Neighborhoods
•Huge area of 139 square miles
Public Access to the Internet
•Average in Michigan
•Well Below Average in Detroit

10. Internet Access in Michigan, 1997-2016
69.5%
47.3%
42.7%
32.7%
26.5%
23.8%
21.4% 20.9%
18.3%
13.4% 12.5% 13.3%
30.5%
53.0%
57.3%
67.3%
73.5%
76.2%
78.6% 79.1%
81.7%
86.6% 87.5% 86.7%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1997* 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2008 2009* 2013 2016
Internet Use in Michigan
No use Use

11. Use of Social Media in Michigan
77.6%
22.4%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Yes No
Social media use

12. Promising Developments
The Place to Be
• Tech Startups
• Artists Finding Detroit
City’s Open Data Initiative
• Garlin Gilchrist II, Deputy Director for Civic Engagement
Rocket Fiber
• Business Network with Potential Spinoffs for Neighborhoods
Philanthropy
• Legacy, underpinning 1,300 Charities for Detroit

13. Collaboration in Detroit:
How Wide? How Deep?

14. 1,000 Flowers, Weakly Connected
Webmetric Analyses
• Scrapping IRS Forms of Foundations [Detroit
Ledger]
• Network Analysis of Mentions
• Identifying Clusters
Interviews, and Observations
• Sample from Clusters
• 20 Interviews, 20 Organizations (15 completed)

15. Clusters of Organizations 4 Detroit

16. Clusters
1. Low-Income Housing & Vulnerable Populations
• Brightmoor Alliance, City Connect Detroit
2. Com Development, Placemaking, Cultural Assets
• Erb Family Foundation
3. Grassroots Community Development
• Adopt a Plot
4. Open Data, Civic Tech & Education
• Skillman Foundation – 482Forward
• Data Driven Detroit, Motor City Mapping
5. Food Security + Development
6. Youth + Mentorship

17. Potential for ICTs
Collaborative Network Organizations
• Distributed Problems
Outreach
Fundraising

18. General Themes from Interviews
Limited Use of the Internet and Social Media
• Marginal to Most Organizations
• Some Making Effective Use
Signs of Marginalization
• Old, Not Up-dated Websites, Blogs
• Limited Commitments of Staff
Shift to Social Media and Video
• Facebook v Blogs
• Video Content

19. Challenges for Exploiting ICTs
Culture of Grassroots Charities
• Access, Age, Traditions, Face-to-Face, ‘Flyering’
Primacy of B-B Networking
Social Media Viewed as Substitute v Complement
Risk Aversion Among Competitive Charities
Limits on Openness and Transparency
• Risks to Activities, ‘the goat’
• Keeping Head Down: Risks of Bad Publicity
Limited Funding and Staffing (Social Media Not the Priority)

20. Amid Challenges, Many Exceptions
Centralizing Data Collection
• Data Driven Detroit (Detroit City Connect)
Connecting Neighborhoods
• 482Forward – Educational Reform
Well Produced Videos to Communicate Problems
• Community Development Advocates
Responsible Use of Social Media
• Food Policy Council, can’t name and shame markets re Food Justice

21. Limitations of the Exploratory Work
Still In Progress
Web and Blog Sites as Data
Limited Number of Qualitative Interviews
A Dynamic Topic

22. ICT4Detroit: The Role of ICTs in
Collaboration for Detroit
‘To Connect a Thousand Flowers’
Bill Dutton
On a Steep Learning Curve at the Quello Center
Michigan State University
Follow @QuelloCenter
Project briefing for a workshop on civic technology and urban informatics, University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor, October 7, 2016.