We were lucky to catch up with Micah Chapman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Micah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

1 out of 6 Americans adults are “smartphone-only” internet users which means they own a smartphone but do not have home broadband service. At Tech Goes Home TN (The Enterprise Center), our goal is to reduce the digital divide in Tennessee through trainings, technical assistance, targeted technical assistance, coaching, and help desk assistance to child care educators and child care agencies. The digital divide is the gap between those who have affordable access, skills, and support to effectively engage online and those who do not. As technology constantly evolves, the digital divide prevents equal participation and opportunity in all parts of life, disproportionately affecting people of color, Indigenous peoples, households with low incomes, people with disabilities, people in rural areas, and older adults. We influence digital inclusion and digital equity by providing the activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most disadvantaged, have access to a digital infrastructure. Tech Goes Home TN partners with schools, public libraries, churches, nonprofits, and other organizations to offer free courses designed to help residents develop skills and habits required for smart technology and Internet use. As Connectivity Ambassador, my role is to educate the public about affordable internet options such as the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and HCS EdConnect and assist households who qualify with the signup process, ultimately increasing home broadband adoption across Tennessee.

Micah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

In addition to serving as Connectivity Ambassador for Tech Goes Home TN (The Enterprise Center), I’m also the Co-Founder of Hip-Hop CHA and The Hip-Hop Summit (formerly known as Chattanooga Hip-Hop Summit) in Chattanooga, TN. I specialize in strategic marketing, event planning, and live production. My passion for hip-hop and the city of Chattanooga led me to connect with likeminded individuals in 2016 to start a collective (Hip-Hop CHA) as a platform for local artists and hip-hop fans to network. Our aim is to promote inclusion through hip-hop centric events all across Chattanooga. We created performance opportunities to highlight their music and we held workshops to help artists and creatives perfect their craft and learn how to break into the local music scene. We noticed local artists were navigating through the local music scene and were having some success but very few artists gained regional or national attention. In 2019, we created the “Chattanooga Hip-Hop Summit” in efforts to give aspiring artists the opportunity to break into the music business by gaining insight from industry experts. In 2021, we requested and received a proclamation officially acknowledging Chattanooga Hip-Hop Week (Oct 10-16) from the city of Chattanooga signed by Mayor Tim Kelly. This helped hip-hop increase its acceptance as an art and music genre in Chattanooga. In addition to my role as Connectivity Ambassador, I am also known for being a Minster at the Word Empowerment Church in Chattanooga, TN where Rev. J.W. Cole serves as Senior Pastor. My calling to Ministry came when I noticed the dark places God allowed me to be in were meant for me to shed light and not remain sleep in darkness. God begin to reveal things to me more and more and as I grew older the light in me begin to shine brighter and brighter and was revealed to others by the Spirit of God. Now my desire is to rightfully teach the word of God and my hope is to see all men and women embrace the consciousness of Christ.

Any advice for managing a team?

One of the most valuable things in life is having a team and the greatest asset for a leader is to know how to manage their team by empowering them. From my experience, empowering a team means to give them the responsibility and authority to utilize their ideas and insights to make decisions. Celebrate your team’s efforts and accomplishments by highlighting their work publicly and rewarding them monetarily when possible.

Focus on solutions and not issues! For every issue there is a solution and sometimes we can’t create a solution because we’re so focused on the issue. Don’t allow issues to keep your team from completing goals or focusing on solutions.

Last but not least, be fair and honest about expectations and goals to ensure that everyone is together and in agreement. Having a consistent time and schedule for team meetings will allow each person to know what the team’s goals are and what’s expected from each member. Also, be willing to have a personal relationship with each member as an individual and as a teammate. Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand them as an individual by showing empathy towards their perspective and situation.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I went from Foundry Operator to Connectivity Ambassador. I worked in a foundry for 5 years before being fired in 2019. During the 2020 shutdown, the company called me back to reapply for my position but I decided to leave for good. I always had a passion for bettering my community and helping others who are in need. So when they reached out, I was already working in civic services and becoming more involved in advocating for my constituents. I believe I would still be working in that foundry had I not got fired. The company paid well and offered great benefits but I also think I would’ve missed out on the opportunity to get paid well to do what I’m passionate about.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.micahchapman.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/_mickeyreal
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/micahchapman423
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/micahmickeychapman
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/_mickeyreal