This is the philosophy of Akil Alvin, Global CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Digital Detroit Media, and is the element of grit that drives DDM Culture Academy, where future moguls are made. Our academy molds the next generation of creatives and entrepreneurs, opening a portal of possibilities in real-time.
DDM Culture Academy is a 501c3 mentoring program that leverages Digital Detroit Media’s relationships with corporate clients and professional networks to expose students to career pathways in design, advertising, and marketing. They will receive real-world insights, cultivate their skills, and hone their craft alongside industry experts.
Our subject matter experts facilitate modules and curate opportunities for students AND their parents in areas including:
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Advertising/Marketing
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Financial Literacy
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Cinematography
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Interpersonal Communication
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Conflict Resolution
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Health & Wellness
Akil understands what it takes to grind. He launched Digital Detroit Media after graduating from the world-renowned Detroit School of Arts in 2013. Since launching his company, Akil has been propelled far beyond his seven-year-old vision when he began working on branding his local library, sparking his interest in marketing. By age 13, he was building his resume while learning the ins- and- outs of production from some of the world’s leading experts. Fast forward to age 18 and the launch of Digital Detroit Media, his company fueled by #Detroit Hustle, a global agency taking the world by storm.
In 2019, DDM was honored as one of 10 millennial-led companies around the nation, and Akil was awarded the title of an Emerging Young Entrepreneur by The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), which included a one-year advisory partnership with Warner Media. In 2020, DDM made history by becoming the first company to be advised by the iconic Walt Disney Company. This advisory partnership blossomed as senior executives of Disney, globally, fell in love with DDM, dubbing them “The North Star” to their Florida and California-based offices. Quickly, the mentorship blossomed into a global partnership.
In 2021, Akil returned to where it all started, the Detroit City Council chambers, this time, to receive the coveted Spirit of Detroit Award and later to make history as the first ad agency to sign an exclusive multi-million dollar agreement with a municipality in the country. In 2022, Akil was named one of Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Top Advertising Executives for North America and one of the Most Influential Executives in America by the Black Marketers Association of America.
And at the heart of it all, there is always #Detroit Hustle.
He and his rapidly expanding company are on the main stage boasting a clientele that includes some of the world’s leading brands and municipalities. DDM's impressive client roster includes the Bank of America, Ford Motor Company, and the iconic Walt Disney Company. And with the recent agreement signed overseas, DDM is taking its global brand to a new level.
Our founder, who began to "follow his dreams as he grew up, and not when," Akil, has embedded the importance of giving back into DDM’s core values. We are committed to Authentically. Impact. Culture. And the process begins with embracing young people and opening doors for them to step into their tomorrow, TODAY. We help them curate their talents while showing them possibilities that today holds and guiding them to internship, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities leading them to immediate success. Through DDM’s Culture Academy, we remind our young people to “activate and unleash your hustle because no matter where you are, the hustle lies in you.”
