All About Technology

08/19/2026

Twenty-five years ago I opened All About Technology, a computer repair shop in Detroit because I believed something simple and stubborn: a person's ZIP code should not decide whether they get to participate in the digital economy.

This week I'm in as a delegate of All About Technology at the 126th National Business League Conference.

Founded in 1900 by Booker T. Washington. The oldest Black business organization in America. 2,500+ delegates. 50+ national Black business organizations. Four days on AI, capital access, procurement, and supplier development — under the theme "Economic Sovereignty."

Here's why that agenda matters to me and not just to my calendar:
is the next digital divide. We arrived late to . We arrived late to . I've spent 25 years watching what "late" costs a neighborhood. I'd like us to be early exactly once.

access isn't abstract when you've built without it. Every year All About Technology stayed open was a year we solved a capital problem that a bigger company would have wired around.

is the whole ballgame. We're a -owned minority business enterprise. Corporate and government buyers say they're looking for firms like ours. This week, some of them are in the same building.

So if you're in — procurement leaders, founders, program directors, anybody building digital inclusion work — I'd like to meet you. Not to pitch you. To trade notes and see what we can .

has a habit of building things the rest of the country eventually needs. I'm bringing some of that with me, and I intend to bring something back.

My name is Willie Brake, I am a Delegate for All About Technology and I approve this message. Find me on the Whova app or email me directly at [email protected]

08/16/2026

25 Years in Detroit: What Resilience Actually Looks Like

August is National Black Business Month, and I want to share the part of my entrepreneurial journey that never makes it onto a social media post.

All About Technology didn't start with a polished business plan and a launch party. It started with a decision to bet on myself.

Twenty-five years is a long time to keep a small business open anywhere. In that time, the technology changed completely — desktops gave way to laptops, laptops gave way to the cloud, and the cloud is giving way to whatever comes next. The neighborhood changed. The economy changed more than once. And we faced circumstances I would not have believed if you had described them to me on day one.

We adapted every time. We built out repair when people needed things fixed. We built out training when people needed to learn. We built out sales, services, and workspace when businesses and nonprofits needed a partner instead of a vendor. Every pivot came from the same question: what do the people in front of us actually need right now?

That's the part I'd want a younger version of myself to hear. Resilience isn't a personality trait you're born with — it's a decision you make again on an ordinary Tuesday, when it would be easier not to. Perseverance is that same decision, repeated until it becomes who you are.

We have never given up on . Twenty-five years in, we are still here, still committed to the mission we started with: making , , and for all.

If you're a reading this in the middle of your own uncertain season, hear me: the doubt doesn't mean you're on the wrong path. More often, it means you're exactly where growth requires you to be.

Support Black-Owned Businesses this month and every month. And if you're building one — keep going.

Always remember, the technology is the tool. The people are the point.

08/14/2026

If we building data centers, especially in , cut us in or cut it out!

Electricians under 30 are making $240,000 to $280,000 a year at AI data centers in Texas. The average electrician salary in Michigan sits around $65,000, according to reporting by The New York Times. Overtime, bonuses and the sheer scale of demand are pushing earnings into territory the trades have rarely seen.

OpenAI's Michigan facility — the largest single private investment in the state's history — needs hundreds of electricians working 10-hour shifts, seven days a week, to keep construction moving. Data centers are dominating the conversation at Detroit's electrical apprenticeship training center, where 850 apprentices are currently training.

The tradeoff is real. "I understand the draw," said apprentice electrician Tyler Shelton, "but I also like to have a life outside work." Endless 10-hour days stacked seven in a row leave little room for rest or family. For younger workers trying to buy a house or pay off debt quickly, the math may still work. For others, the personal cost is harder to justify.

The more significant long-term story is what Big Tech is doing about supply. Google is part of a $50 million initiative to grow annual electrician apprentice enrollment from 19,500 to 30,000 over the next three years. Meta has launched a $115 million program to train electricians and plumbers. The companies building AI infrastructure aren't just competing for today's skilled workers — they're funding the pipeline for the next decade.

The AI boom is reshaping what high-paying work looks like. The most in-demand career of the next decade may not require a college degree. It may require a license and a willingness to show up for a very long shift.

08/06/2026

Back-to-school season is almost here—and the #1 thing I see every year is laptops acting up right when students need them most.

Before day 1, run a quick Back-to-School Tech Check: • Speed (is it lagging/freezing?)
• Battery (does it die too fast?)
• Storage (is it constantly “almost full”?)
• Wi‑Fi (does it drop or crawl?)

If you want a hand, bring it by and we’ll help get you ready.
📍All About Technology — 6450 Michigan Ave, Detroit
📞 (313) 262-6186
🕙 Mon–Sat 10:00–5:30

08/04/2026

It's official — and it's LIVE. 🎉

I've been selected for Leadership Detroit Class 47, and today my campaign is open. This is my chance to grow as a and pour everything I learn right back into our .

My goal: $4,900 by August 28 — and every gift is tax-deductible through Center For Creative Arts.

💙 Give $47 for Class 47 (or any amount)
🔗https://lnkd.in/ertJxdFi
🙏 Can't give right now? A helps just as much.

Let's do this . I'm so for every one of you.

07/22/2026

All About Technology is proud to be attending the 2026 :IN Global Conference in Dallas
this July!

We’re thrilled for the opportunity to connect with fellow businesses and disability inclusion leaders who are shaping the future of business. If you’ll also be in Dallas,
let’s connect.

Learn how you can join IN:

The Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo convenes global leaders to shape the future of disability inclusion and accessibility in business, innovation, and strategy.

05/13/2026

DID YOU KNOW: All About Technology is a registered trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

This milestone represents our commitment to innovation, quality, and the trusted brand you’ve come to know. Thank you for being part of our journey—this achievement is as much yours as it is ours!

Stay tuned for more cutting-edge updates from All About Technology.