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Technology Conference Bridges Black Digital Divide

Black Tech Week Connects Powerful Influencers of Color In The Technology and Innovation Field To The Future Influencers of Color

MIAMI – Black Tech Week’s technology conference creates  a platform of excellence for those interested in the tech industry, presented by Code Fever the conference has created a launchpad to help bridge the technology gap within communities of color in South Florida.

With African-Americans making up just 2% of tech workforce, the 2nd annual Black Tech Week delivers solutions for stronger partnerships for startups, training and information for students of color, as well as a strong platform to expand the technology blueprint in the black community.

The week long series of events will be held during Black History Month, February 15-20,2016 at Florida International University (3000 NE 151 Street, North Miami, FL 33181).

Black Tech Week includes interactive workshops for idea exchange, the Power Moves Early Stage and Series A Startup Bootcamps, a 3 Day Technology and Startup Conference, Women’s Innovation Brunch, Walker Legacy’s Women in Tech events, Pitch Competitions and VC Mentor Sessions. Attendees can register at http://blacktechweek.com/.

Black Tech Week is the premier pipeline in South Florida for people of color, to have access to key global players of color in the tech industry. The visionaries behind the conference are Derick Pearson and Felecia Hatcher who are also the founders of the Miami-based, Code Fever. Their commitment to training African-American and Caribbean youth and young adults in the areas of technology and entrepreneurship through full stack development coding boot camps, in school programs is unmatched.

black tech week technoloty conference
Felecia Hatcher during Black Tech Week 2015

“The 2nd annual Black Tech Week is a jammed packed  week during black history month dedicated to getting our community all the resources we need to move our community forward in the innovation economy, states Felecia Hatcher. This year we are excited to partner with the Knight Foundation, Florida International University, Simpkins Foundation, Baptist Health, Power Moves and Walker’s Legacy to celebrate entrepreneurs, innovators and technologist in our community and across the globe”.

Black Tech week has tapped into a global network of some of the most influential and notable keynote speakers and session leaders. The impressive roster of speakers include; Jeff Hoffman, Co-Founder of Priceline.com, Kathryn Finney, Founder of Digital Undivided, Justin Washington, QA Engineer at SnapChat,Frederick,Hutson-Founder/CEO of P​igeonly, Chris Powell-Chief Executive Officer for BlackbookHR, Eunice Cofie-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Chemist of Nuekie, and George E. Curry-Founder of Emerge Magazine, Previous Editor-in-Chief of National Newspaper Publishers Association just to name a few.

The Knight Foundation has been an essential supporter to the long-term success of a more diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem. Their unwavering commitment to position Miami’s diversity and increasing inclusion in the tech and entrepreneurial space has been key to the blueprint of Black Tech Week and the working partnership with Code Fever.

Conference Highlights

Key highlights of the conference include the Knight Foundation Angel Pitch competition with Power Moves, ,Women Innovators in Tech panel, Tech HAHA Hackathon and Comedy Show, Patent and Trade Market workshop for Women Innovators. The summit will culminate with the Women Innovation Brunch that spotlights women tech achievers sponsored by Baptist Health.

Code Fever is committed to closing the technology education gap among-low-income and underserved youth in South Florida. During Black Tech week, a series of hour-long Black Tech Hour workshops will be conducted at area schools and community organizations. Designed to empower and encourage minority youth to learn and consider careers in technology at a young age.

South Florida Caribbean News

The SFLCN.com Team provides news and information for the Caribbean-American community in South Florida and beyond.

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