Jessica Washington’s Post

How do hybrid spaces within gaming culture support the articulation of marginalized interests and viewpoints? Join our Digital Civil Society Lab this Thursday, March 7, for a conversation with Dr. Kishonna Gray, who will discuss Black praxis in the digital era. Learn more and sign up here to join us in person at Stanford University: https://lnkd.in/gvXMrkQP #IntersectionalTech #DigitalCivilSociety

It is very hard to describe what Black Tech Saturdays is doing because there is no precedent. There is no model to compare it to and say hey this is like… It’s so new and so refreshing that you really just have to go and you will understand why every week the amount of attendees increases substantially. There were almost 1000 people in attendance for the Womens Founder Takeover!!! Every single floor was activated at Newlab at Michigan Central thee entire building was alive. Alexa Turnage and Johnnie Turnage have founded a start up that is impacting the tech and start up scene immensely. They have created a direct pipeline for innovation, implementation, and scalability in the City of Detroit and Wayne County Michigan that can impact the entire Country. I get asked what has made BTS so succesful so fast. Even Wayne State University is researching this phenomenom with the help of Nakim Edmond. My answer is this… The only rule that is associated with Success is Consistency. And Black Tech Saturdays and everyone involved are extremely CONSISTENT.

In the city’s heartbeat, where dreams collide, Aaron Dawson walks with a quiet pride. Through the lens of progress, he frames the fight, A modern Gordon Parks in the tech world’s light. Black Tech Saturdays, a vibrant scene, Where innovation dances with dreams unseen. He captures stories, raw and true, Of barriers broken and visions new. With each shutter’s click, a narrative unfolds, Of minds unchained, of courage bold. In code and silicon, their legacy thrives, In algorithms, their spirit survives. Dawson’s lens, a bridge between eras, Echoes of Parks in digital vistas. Where once the struggle was black and white, Now it's coded in bits, a tech-driven fight. He sees the architects of tomorrow’s sky, In boardrooms, labs, where their dreams fly high. Their brilliance mirrored in his photographic tale, A testament that against all odds, they prevail. Through circuits and servers, he charts their course, Black excellence, an unstoppable force. In each pixel, a story profound, Of a community’s rise, of dreams unbound. Aaron Dawson, with a vision so keen, Turns the digital age into a vivid screen. Black Tech Saturdays, a movement reborn, Where history and future are intricately sworn. In his images, the past and future align, A testament to progress, a legacy defined. Like Parks before him, he captures the strife, And the unyielding spirit of a community’s life. #keepgoing

Join us in the Zone👊🏿 We are so excited to announce that the BlackNorth Initiative, Black Founders Network, Nobellum, Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, Federation of Black Canadians, Black Opportunity Fund, DMZ, Tribe Network, and African Impact Initiative are uniting to form the Black Innovation Zone - featured at this year’s Collision Conf 2024! 🎉This collective is dedicated to increasing access and visibility, by amplifying the voices and innovations of Black founders, investors and professionals across Canada and beyond.🙌🏿 The Black Innovation Zone is more than just a collective; it's a movement aimed at empowering Black entrepreneurs, investors and professionals by providing them with the platform they need to showcase their talents on an international stage. Our goal is to foster professional development, community building, and to serve as a beacon for those navigating the challenges faced by Black founders in the tech industry and other sectors. Join us at our booth (E167) during Collision week, and stay tuned for exciting updates about the events, opportunities and activations we will be curating for Black innovators. We’re here to promote cross-cultural collaborations and inclusivity within the global business ecosystem. It's time to share the stories and innovations of Black founders at Collision. 🎉Here's to building a legacy and creating a road map for future Black innovators in Canada and around the globe! 🌍 Help us shape the Black Innovation Zone experience, by filling out our programming survey in the link below. With your feedback, we can continue to build for the community, with the community. 💪🏿 https://lnkd.in/gkUXq4nt #BlackInnovationZone #Collison2024 #TechConference #BlackEntrepreneurs #ProfessionalDevelopment #Community

FAN EXPO Dallas 2024 has solidified its position as the largest nerd and pop culture event in Texas, offering a wide array of attractions for fans of all ages and interests. The event featured an impressive lineup of celebrity guests, including genre veterans like William Shatner and David Tennant, as well as rising stars like Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo. Beyond meeting celebrities, FAN EXPO offered a treasure trove of activities for attendees, including interactive exhibits, gaming tournaments, and family-friendly stage shows. The event also celebrated Black Nerd culture, or "Blerd" culture, which has become a vibrant tapestry woven from a love of all things nerdy with a deeply rooted Black identity. Blerd culture is about more than just consuming content; it's about creating it. Black fans have been pushing boundaries and creating stunning portrayals of characters who may not have traditionally been seen as Black. The Black cosplay subculture is a vibrant and dynamic space within the larger cosplay community where Black cosplayers come together to celebrate their love of fiction and characters, while also navigating the unique challenges and triumphs of being a person of color in the world of cosplay. FAN EXPO 2024 showcased a plethora of Black writers, animators, and actors, all carving out their own spaces to craft and tell stories with Black heroes and heroines saving the day. Black artists are reimagining classic characters and designing their own fantastical worlds while Black coders are building innovative games and apps to house these worlds. The rise of anime's Black audience means creators might consider international political and cultural sensitivities when crafting stories. Power struggles, governmental corruption, and social unrest are already common themes in anime, while characters can embody political ideologies, with their actions sparking discussions about leadership, justice, and revolution. What are your thoughts on the role of Blerd culture in the media industry and its impact on representation and diversity? How can we continue to support and celebrate Black Nerd culture in the future? Read the full story by Marlissa Collier at dallasweekly.com #iamdw #blackpress #fanexpodallas #blacknerdculture #cosplayculture #animefans #nerdactivism

Join us in the Zone👊🏿 We are so excited to announce that Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, Black Founders Network, Nobellum, Federation of Black Canadians, Black Opportunity Fund, BlackNorth Initiative, DMZ, Tribe Network, and African Impact Initiative are uniting to form the Black Innovation Zone - featured at this year’s Collision Conf 2024! 🎉This collective is dedicated to increasing access and visibility, by amplifying the voices and innovations of Black founders, investors and professionals across Canada and beyond.🙌🏿 The Black Innovation Zone is more than just a collective; it's a movement aimed at empowering Black entrepreneurs, investors and professionals by providing them with the platform they need to showcase their talents on an international stage. Our goal is to foster professional development, community building, and to serve as a beacon for those navigating the challenges faced by Black founders in the tech industry and other sectors. Join us at our booth (E167) during Collision week, and stay tuned for exciting updates about the events, opportunities and activations we will be curating for Black innovators. We’re here to promote cross-cultural collaborations and inclusivity within the global business ecosystem. It's time to share the stories and innovations of Black founders at Collision. 🎉Here's to building a legacy and creating a road map for future Black innovators in Canada and around the globe! 🌍 Help us shape the Black Innovation Zone experience, by filling out our programming survey in the link below. With your feedback, we can continue to build for the community, with the community. 💪🏿 https://lnkd.in/gkUXq4nt #BlackInnovationZone #Collison2024 #TechConference #BlackEntrepreneurs #ProfessionalDevelopment #Community 

Tapping into a New Realm, International attention for #GreenvilleSC innovation, Unveiling interactive art and Honoring our officer of the year. Here's Loren with #GVLthisWeek.

We can’t wait to show you what we have in store for next month's ISG #DigitalBusinessSummit! Register now 🚀 so you don't miss #BusinessInnovations from VML, Imperial War Museum, eBay and more on how they are navigating #MarketTrends and staying ahead.

We can’t wait to show you what we have in store for next month's ISG #DigitalBusinessSummit! Register now 🚀 so you don't miss #BusinessInnovations from VML, Imperial War Museum, eBay and more on how they are navigating #MarketTrends and staying ahead.

We can’t wait to show you what we have in store for next month's ISG #DigitalBusinessSummit! Register now 🚀 so you don't miss #BusinessInnovations from VML, Imperial War Museum, eBay and more on how they are navigating #MarketTrends and staying ahead.