Michael Butler is a reporter for Technical.ly Philly and a Report For America corps member for 2020-2021. He graduated from Temple University in 2016. He grew up in Augusta, Georgia, as part of a military family and moved around several times over the course of his life. As a freelance journalist, he has contributed to platforms like National Public Radio affiliate WHYY and reported on culture and the arts for publications like Okayplayer and Remezcla. In 2019, he was one of the recipients of the Lenfest Institute for Journalism’s inaugural Next Generation Award grant. Later that year, he was selected by the Maynard Institute for Journalism to be a Maynard 200 fellow. Report for America is an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.

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How can Philly can ‘build back better’? 5 tenets of a post-pandemic recovery

access

Dec. 21, 2020 9:31 am

How can Philly can ‘build back better’? 5 tenets of a post-pandemic recovery

By Michael Butler /

For one: Workforce development must be prioritized, say policy pros from Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Pew Charitable Trusts and PolicyLink.

A new tech reskilling initiative aims to train 5,000 Philadelphians in resilient careers

access

Dec. 18, 2020 2:48 pm

A new tech reskilling initiative aims to train 5,000 Philadelphians in resilient careers

By Michael Butler /

With support from Accenture and local orgs, the Philadelphia Skills Forward Initiative will help job seekers advance their entrepreneurship, health tech and administration, and IT skills over 18 months.

access

Dec. 16, 2020 2:42 pm

LeRoy Jones exited a company. Now, he’s using his biz experience to help new entrepreneurs thrive

By Michael Butler /

In the latest phase of his career, Jones, whose GSI Health was acquired in 2019, is empowering other founders via management consulting firm EREflow.

Here’s how Reading dev agency NeoPangea built Wawa’s new AR game

software development

Dec. 15, 2020 1:18 pm

Here’s how Reading dev agency NeoPangea built Wawa’s new AR game

By Michael Butler /

Plus: What's the Berks County city's tech scene like?

This South Philly native is fundraising for a collaborative workspace at 19th and Washington

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Dec. 14, 2020 2:59 pm

This South Philly native is fundraising for a collaborative workspace at 19th and Washington

By Michael Butler /

Technologist and teacher Brandon Washington wants to build 1901, a community hub that will offer high-speed internet, computers and tech education.

company culture

Dec. 11, 2020 1:34 pm

This York entrepreneur wants to to help Black job seekers find fairer workplaces

By Michael Butler /

Jasmine Whaley's newly launched platform Black Owned and Hiring allows employees to anonymously review workplace culture and find jobs with companies that share their values.

Backed by local resources and corporate lessons, Emeka Oguh’s PeopleJoy is on a mission to boost financial wellness

growth

Dec. 10, 2020 3:06 pm

Backed by local resources and corporate lessons, Emeka Oguh’s PeopleJoy is on a mission to boost financial wellness

By Michael Butler /

The Philly fintech company is helping people better manage student debt during a year upended by the pandemic. Here's how he's grown and pivoted PeopleJoy via homegrown programs, funding and mentorship.

Here’s how to donate your unused computers to Philly families in need

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Dec. 10, 2020 7:18 am

Here’s how to donate your unused computers to Philly families in need

By Michael Butler /

Have some old laptops or desktops collecting dust? The City of Philadelphia can redistribute them for you.

Could income-based repayment, not student debt forgiveness, help more borrowers?

civic

Dec. 8, 2020 2:22 pm

Could income-based repayment, not student debt forgiveness, help more borrowers?

By Michael Butler /

Amid discussion of Joe Biden's student debt policy proposals, a new study co-led by a Wharton professor offers a different solution to the crisis than universal forgiveness.

Free bootcamp Resilient Coders expands to Philly with hopes of building an equitable tech pipeline

software development

Dec. 7, 2020 2:51 pm

Free bootcamp Resilient Coders expands to Philly with hopes of building an equitable tech pipeline

By Michael Butler /

"It’s patently wrong when you have such a vibrant tech economy and in communities of color you’re seeing double-digit unemployment," said Resilient Coders' managing director of engineering, Leon Noel, a South Philly native who will lead the expansion from Boston.