JOURNi event to address creating an inclusive tech talent pipeline in detroit

journi2Tech leaders from across the country take part in a dialogue on minority inclusion in Detroit’s burgeoning digital hub with local businesses and community leaders at ‘The JOURNi to Revolutionizing Tech’ Panel on July 29th.

A new EdTech start-up launches in Detroit with a panel discussion on closing the tech education gap in the digital space. This event will introduce the Detroit community to JOURNi and its mission on creating a tech ecosystem that teaches everyday citizens the tech skills needed to compete in today’s marketplace in an inclusive and sustainable manner.

JOURNi’s launch event – The JOURNi to Revolutionizing Tech – takes place this Friday, July 29th, from 6-10 p.m. at MASH Detroit, 14711 Mack Avenue in Detroit. During the organization’s launch event, a panel of national technology leaders will discuss how we can better build a talent pipeline with a focus on youth training and internships and how low-income and underserved communities can and will play a pivotal role in technology’s future. This dynamic panel will summon a new generation of innovators who are breaking ground in noteworthy ways. The impressive roster of speakers includes:

Quiessence Phillips

Quiessence is a JOURNi founder and Assistant Vice President of Barclays – working in cyber security. She has been instrumental in creating New York City coding programs, and has overseen similar programs at Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University.

Peta Clarke

Peta is software engineer turned educator who currently serves as the community manager of Google Diversity Programs with a focus on CS Education in New York. She previously served as co-leader of New York City chapter of Black Girls Code. Peta is also cofounder of Urban Tech Alliance, a non-profit committed to cultivating the next generation of underrepresented youth and preparing them to meet the technical demands of the 21st century.

Trinity Manning

Trinity is the CEO and founder of OnceLogix, LLC – a multi-million dollar valued software company that specializes in web-based solutions for the Healthcare Industry. Headquartered in Piedmont Triad Research Park, OnceLogix, LLC developed one the leading web-based tools used by behavioral and mental health care specialists in the southeast. OnceLogix is also dedicated to improving underserved communities, supporting charitable organizations including the YMCA, Autism Society, Hooptee and Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Trinity will share what it takes to build a successful tech start-up and highlight his experience as a black founder in the tech world.

Niles Heron

Niles is Founder of Michigan Funders, an equity crowd-funding platform that helps small-business owners raise money to pursue their dreams.

JOURNi is currently partnering with My Brother’s Keeper Detroit, Eastside Community Network, and Grow Detroit’s Young Talent to teach to coding to youth across the city. The launch event will also give Detroiters a chance to talk with youth and parents that are currently enrolled in these Intro to Coding summer programs.

JOURNi co-founders, Brian McKinney, Quiessence Phillips and Richard Grundy, have been fortunate to work on local and national initiatives that have introduced computer coding, design and other tech related opportunities to young people who normally wouldn’t have had the opportunity. Through such work over the last few years, along with juggling their daily jobs as either tech founders and software engineers, they realized that increasing access to real tech opportunities requires long-term involvement within the communities with the least amount of access.

“For any start-up ecosystem to be truly sustainable, it must produce or attract a steady crop of capable hackers/engineers, designers and innovators willing to create often against sound reason and judgment. And it is to fulfill that need why we chose Detroit, and launched JOURNi. At JOURNi we are teaching youth, young adults and career changers alike more than how to code. We’re focused on ensuring that our students learn what role software development plays in their everyday lives and how they can utilize what they learn to impact the world in which they live.”

– Brian McKinney, JOURNi Co-Founder
The event is free, but registration is required. Click here to register.

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