What I read today June 16

I discovered this neat Detroit-based design firm, Civilla, that works with public institutions. Then I read this NY Times article, “How Tech Is Helping Poor People Get Government Aid.” Which is great that tech is finally diversifying their audience. BUT. It reminds me of when I worked in tech and we brought a team to a Women in Tech Hackathon and created a functional product that helps people on WIC to tell if a product is available for them through WIC and how we didn’t win becuase we didn’t have the flashiest presentation but the product that DID win was a rehash of Blue Apron, meal kits for poorer folks funded through donations. Poor folks are just like us y’all! And it was incredibly disappointing becuase we developed the product prior to these companies and it worked!