Ordinary Humans

AI for Mental Health Support: How Kai Blends Human Empathy with Technology to Close the Care Gap

mental health

The mental health crisis has reached alarming levels across the globe. Rates of anxiety and depression continue to climb, with the World Health Organization is estimating that one in eight people worldwide now live with a mental health disorder. At the same time, access to care remains limited — especially for young people and…

Read More

Latest

DisruptED
Technology for Good: Dug Song on Shaping a Better World Through Innovation and Impact (Part 3)

Detroit is redefining its role in the next era of American innovation. The conversation has shifted from what to build to how to build it in ways that deliver lasting impact. The goal is to do so sustainably, inclusively, and with the community at its core. The state’s growing network of research universities, multi-billion-dollar…

Read More
DisruptED
Technology for Good: Dug Song on Shaping a Better World Through Innovation and Impact (Part 2)

As Michigan reclaims its identity as a hub of American innovation, the next industrial revolution looks far different from the assembly lines that once defined it. New initiatives like the forthcoming University of Michigan Innovation Center, alongside grassroots movements such as Black Tech Saturdays, are powering that resurgence. Together, they reflect a statewide belief…

Read More
DisruptED
Technology for Good: Dug Song on Shaping a Better World Through Innovation and Impact (Part 1)

Technology is evolving faster than ever, and with that acceleration comes the question of whether we’re using it to make the world better or simply faster. As automation, AI, and cybersecurity shape the future of work and life, leaders are reexamining how innovation can drive not just profit, but progress. Michigan, once the cradle…

Read More
Articles Education Technology
A DisruptED College Pathway with My Little Brother Reynard Robinson and Lifelong Mentor Dr. Caesar

As college undergoes a transformation, driven by technology, equity, and new definitions of success, DisruptED explores how the “college experience” is evolving and what that means for today’s students. With the traditional four-year path under growing scrutiny—only 41% of first-time, full-time undergraduates at four-year institutions actually earn their degrees within that time—a new model…

Read More
Articles Education Technology
How Detroit Homecoming is Turning the City’s Diaspora into Champions of its Comeback (Ep. 2 with Mary Kramer)

Detroit’s resurgence story is impossible to ignore. Following decades of economic decline, the city has seen major revitalization, most recently highlighted when the NFL Draft drew over 700,000 visitors downtown. The stakes are high: Detroit’s growth depends not only on investments from billionaires, but on reconnecting with former residents whose personal and professional contributions…

Read More
Articles Education Technology
Detroit Homecoming: The Event Driving Future Prosperity Through the Power of the Detroit Diaspora (Ep. 1 with Mary Kramer)

Detroit’s renewal is no longer a distant dream—it’s unfolding in real time. From reimagined neighborhoods to booming small businesses, the city’s momentum is visible on every corner. Major events, like recent large-scale sports and cultural gatherings, have showcased its vibrancy to hundreds of thousands of visitors. But the real engine of this revival may…

Read More

Latest

safety
Safety, Pride & Zero Defects: The New Standard in Construction Excellence
November 13, 2025

In an era when construction headlines often center on delays, overruns, and litigation, the companies that quietly build with integrity are shaping the industry’s future in far more meaningful ways. The most enduring structures aren’t defined merely by their materials but by the standards and culture behind them—standards that treat quality not as…

Read More
Startup
Turning Corporate Discipline into Startup Momentum: The New Blueprint for Modern Marketing Leadership
November 12, 2025

As the business landscape grows faster and more unpredictable, marketing leaders who can balance the discipline of big-company strategy with the scrappiness of startups are redefining what modern leadership looks like. Brian Fravel’s journey from global tech giant Intel to high-growth SaaS and cybersecurity companies highlights how adaptability, curiosity, and hands-on execution drive success across…

Read More
Adrienne Mageors
Allowing Purpose to Lead: Adrienne Mageors on Building a Career Grounded in Inclusion and Community Impact
November 12, 2025

Sometimes, purpose finds you when you least expect it. For Adrienne Mageors, it came in the form of a question she couldn’t ignore—one that pulled her out of corporate marketing and into a life of service and inclusion. What began as a career pivot became something bigger: a mission to build spaces where every…

Read More
college
The New Playbook for College ROI: Podium Education’s Scalable Model for Real-World Learning
November 12, 2025

The debate around the return on investment (ROI) of a four-year degree has reached a fever pitch. As tuition costs rise and employers question the value of traditional credentials, higher education leaders are rethinking how to make college more career-relevant. Experiential learning—work-based and project-based education embedded within curricula—is emerging as one of the most promising…

Read More
Other Ordinary Humans
From Bitter to Better: How Purpose and Second Chances Can Change Entire Communities (Ep. 2)
August 13, 2025

In the second installment of this powerful two-part series, DisruptED turns from personal origin stories to the enduring lessons that come from surviving life’s hardest seasons. For host Ron J Stefanski and guest John Valverde, President and CEO of YouthBuild Global, the conversation is rooted in lived experience: moments of deep loss, the resilience…

Read More
From Bitter to Better: The Necessary and Difficult Journey to Second Chances (Ep. 1)
August 13, 2025

Some moments in life alter the course of who we are. For Ron J Stefanski, that moment came with the heartbreaking loss of his grandmother—a Polish immigrant who had stepped in to raise him after his mother passed, giving his childhood a foundation of love, steadiness, and strength. She was his anchor, his safe…

Read More
Creating a Lifelong Learner’s Pathway with Kermit Cook, CEO at Penn Foster (Episode 2)
August 12, 2025

Artificial intelligence is no longer a fringe concept; it’s at the center of educational innovation. According to a 2023 Gallup poll, public confidence in higher education has dropped from 57% in 2015 to 36% in 2023, largely due to concerns around cost, value, and workforce preparedness. In a landscape where AI tools are swiftly…

Read More
Creating a Lifelong Learner’s Pathway with Kermit Cook, CEO at Penn Foster (Episode 1)
August 12, 2025

Education is in a period of rapid reinvention as technology, economic pressures, and workforce needs redefine how people learn. College costs continue to climb, with average tuition at private nonprofit four-year institutions now exceeding $43,000 a year. Even public four-year colleges average over $11,000 annually for in-state students, and public two-year programs cost more…

Read More
Building a Future-Ready Workforce: Disrupting Outdated Education with Employer-Driven, Community-Powered, Practical Skills Training
July 28, 2025

Workforce training is undergoing a radical transformation as industries face critical talent shortages and rapid technological change. Building a future-ready workforce requires rethinking traditional higher education models. These models emphasize broad academic development over targeted skill-building and struggle to keep pace with employer demands. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report…

Read More
AI, Inclusion and Talent Strategies of the Future
July 16, 2025

As organizations race to integrate AI into every corner of business, an equally urgent conversation is emerging: How do we ensure this adoption doesn’t widen existing equity gaps? AI is both a disruptive force and an opportunity engine, as recent data shows that AI adoption among HR professionals jumped to 72 percent in 2025, up…

Read More
Unity’s Jessica Lindl on Playing the Career Game Loop: Learning to Earn in the New Economy (Episode 3)
June 16, 2025

As AI, automation, and immersive tech accelerate disruption, the future of work is being reshaped faster than most institutions can adapt. Entry-level roles for recent graduates are shrinking, traditional degrees are being questioned, and lifelong careers are being replaced by continuous reinvention. In this climate, the most valuable assets are no longer technical certifications…

Read More
Unity’s Jessica Lindl on Playing the Career Game Loop: Learning to Earn in the New Economy (Episode 2)
June 16, 2025

Today’s workforce is facing profound disruption, driven by automation, AI, and shrinking entry-level job opportunities. According to SignalFire’s 2025 State of Talent report, entry-level hiring in tech has dropped by 50% from pre-pandemic levels. In this shifting landscape, younger workers aren’t just seeking jobs—they’re demanding agency, feedback, and purpose. Game-based learning models like the…

Read More
Unity’s Jessica Lindl on Playing the Career Game Loop: Learning to Earn in the New Economy (Episode 1)
June 16, 2025

As traditional career paths break down, economic mobility is being redefined by adaptability, not academic credentials. Today, 52% of college graduates are underemployed a year after graduation, working in roles that don’t require a four-year degree. Meanwhile, networking strategies like informational interviews yield one job offer per 12 conversations—far more effective than the one-in-200…

Read More