[ad_1]
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) – Leaders, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders gathered for the first-ever “1Philadelphia” Innovation weekend this weekend, which was a fruits of a number of occasions to rejoice these working to construct an equitable tech ecosystem within the metropolis.
1Philadelphia is a reasonably new initiative spearheaded by leaders of the native nonprofit Coded by Kids, which began in 2014, in South Philadelphia at a rec heart. Danae Mobley, COO of the nonprofit and Director of 1Phialdelphia says the objective is to place town on the map because the capital of equitable tech and innovation.
“We’ve got such potential and expertise right here, she stated. “We all know that tech is in all places. It is ubiquitous. We’re all shoppers of it. But when we’re consuming it, why are we as black and brown folks not being the creators and main in it? So it is vital as a result of it impacts each a part of your life.”
The 1Philadelphia Innovation Weekend introduced a whole lot collectively for that objective. She says a few of the highlights–an innovation bowl that gave out $11,000 in prizes to college students, and the announcement of 8 grantees which are receiving $250,000 to assist sort out underrepresentation in Philadelphia
“We’ve got a grant and we will probably be doing this yearly,” she stated. “A few of them are tackling tech fairness by way of apprenticeships, a few of them are tackling tech fairness by way of a mannequin of instructing youth entrepreneurship. And that is what we wish to see. As a result of we all know not one strategy is actually going to unravel the issue or put a dent in it.”
Organizations receiving the grant embody Hopeworks, Mother your small business, The U Faculty, and extra. Mobley says their innovation awards additionally honored two council members doing the work, Isaiah Thomas and Allan Domb.
“We actually thought [Thomas and Domb] exemplify making an attempt to push for a top quality programming and entrepreneurship and tech and innovation for our college students,” she stated.
1Philadelphia continues to be searching for members to take the pledge and be part of the mission.
Extra info could be discovered on their web site.
[ad_2]
Source link
