Black & Latino leaders drive innovation at WI Tech Month 2024

WI Tech Month, an initiative co-owned by Milky Way Tech Hub and Latinos in Tech, launched on October 1st. This annual event aims to reshape Wisconsin’s tech landscape while addressing the industry’s lack of diversity.

Running until October 31, WI Tech Month focuses on developing future talent, supporting new business owners, and fostering inclusion within the tech industry. The program is led by Nadiyah Johnson and Benjamin Juarez, who took over three years ago with a vision for a more inclusive tech ecosystem.

Their mission is supported by current industry statistics. PEW Research reports that Black professionals represent only 8% of the U.S. tech workforce, while Latino professionals account for 7%. This underrepresentation is notable in sectors like artificial intelligence, software engineering, and venture capital.

Johnson, founder of Milky Way Tech Hub, aims to establish Milwaukee as a center for Black-led AI companies and technology millionaires. Her organization has awarded over $100,000 in funding, focusing on racial equity. Juarez, with 12 years of experience in software, contributes expertise in AI-driven solutions and serverless architecture. As Co-Founder and CTO of Rivet, he develops AI applications for community connections.

The month’s program is organized into themed weeks. The “Future of Work” week (October 6-12) includes the Equity in Tech Summit on October 9th, featuring an “AI for Community Hackathon.” This event will have participants create AI-driven solutions for local communities.

“Community Empowerment” week (October 13-19) focuses on women in tech, with the ‘Women Trailblazers’ event on October 15th offering workshops and networking opportunities.

“Midwest Tech Week & Workforce Development” (October 20-26) emphasizes regional collaboration and skill development. It includes Somos Tech Week, with events for the Latine community in tech. The Hackcreation: Somos Tech Summit Hackathon on October 26th will challenge participants to develop innovative solutions.

The month concludes with a Halloween-themed closing party on October 30th.

Key events during the month include the Equity in Tech Summit on October 9th, a half-day conference on AI and the future of work and education. The “Trailblazers Unplugged: Women Leading the Way in Tech” event on October 15th aims to connect women in Wisconsin’s tech sector. The Wisconsin Tech Invitational on October 17th offers a charity golf outing for networking.

WI Tech Month’s impact on tech industry diversity is notable. It provides platforms for underrepresented communities to engage with technologies like AI and supports Black and Latino-led tech companies.

Under Johnson and Juarez’s leadership, WI Tech Month has grown its network to over 10,000 followers and connected more than 3,500 community leaders. They’ve also built a network of 7,000+ HR and people leaders across Wisconsin focused on diversity & inclusion, well-being, and talent management.

As the month progresses, WI Tech Month combines a focus on new technologies with a commitment to diversity and inclusion. It aims to shape the future of tech in Wisconsin and potentially serve as a model for fostering diversity in the tech industry more broadly.

The tech community will be watching to see how this month-long initiative impacts the state’s tech landscape and its potential influence on diversity in tech nationwide.