Building software that actually means something

Recently, I accidentally started a new passion project experimenting with AI and machine learning models in my spare time.

While exploring datasets, I came across Detroit’s 911 data on their open data platform and immediately saw a golden opportunity.
An opportunity to help an emerging city confront one of its biggest challenges:

Crime.

Detroit has faced decades of economic and civil unrest since the 1960s, and even today, remnants of that gritty past—tension, poverty, and urban decay—still shape life in many areas.

I was born in Detroit in 1996 and grew up in one of the city’s roughest neighborhoods.
My zip code was once ranked among the most dangerous in the country. I remember how strict my father was about my safety—what seemed like overprotection back then now makes perfect sense.

You couldn’t walk more than a few blocks without seeing gang graffiti, stripped cars, or people caught in addiction. Crime wasn’t just a statistic—it was woven into daily life.

After second grade, my parents moved me to Florida, where I spent the rest of my childhood. It was like stepping into another world.
The schools there had awards lining the hallways, top test scores, competitive sports programs, and—believe it or not—brand-new books that crackled when you opened them.

Sometimes I wonder what my life would’ve looked like if I had stayed in Detroit.
Would I have had access to the same resources? Would I have discovered tech at an early age or even lived long enough to pursue it?

I firmly believe the root of crime is scarcity—scarcity of opportunity, of education, of access.
And while it’s easy to point fingers, I’ve come to realize that real progress begins with visibility. If we want safer cities, we need informed citizens.

That’s why I built Detroit911—a crime awareness platform that shows residents where crime is happening and how quickly police are responding.
It’s a work in progress, but right now it pulls in real-time 911 data so you can see what’s going on in your area and how your city is performing.

My goal is simple:
Help Detroiters stay aware, stay safe, and hold their city accountable.

If we can shine a light on what’s really happening, maybe we can finally create a future where fewer kids have to be “moved away” to feel safe.

Detroit deserves better.
And I’m building the tools I wish my family had back then.

Check it out at Detroit911.com