The Bronx’s technological era draws closer thanks in no small part to one local tech savvy non-profit organization.
Code/Interactive, a Bronx-based non-profit organization which teaches underserved high school students how to code will host its 3rd Bronx Tech Meetup event.
It is expected to draw over 1,000 students and technologists to the borough’s largest technology event in recent history.
Scheduled for Monday, May 18 from 7 until 8:30 p.m., all are invited to attend the Bronx Tech Meetup at Roosevelt High School’s auditorium for an evening of live product demos, tech education opportunities, and networking with fellow technologists, students and community members.
Tom O’Connell, C/I program director, revealed this event will feature Minerva Tantoco, Mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation chief technology officer of the City of New York; Keith Klein, Doran Jones CEO; Angie Kamath, Per Scholas executive director; Matt Brimer, General Assembly – Opportunity Fund co-founder; Milton Sussman, Fordham Foundry general manager; Jerelyn Rodriguez, The Knowledge House executive director; and Majora Carter, Startup Box South Bronx founder as special guests highlighting initiatives to bring more tech-related jobs and education to our borough.
He added the evening’s live product demos will feature Natasha Green, WeInt
“Tech is one of the fastest growing business industries in New York City, but we haven’t really witnessed any substantial tech growth here in the Bronx mainly because people here don’t know how they can enter into this field,” O’Connell revealed.
“The education opportunities provided at the Bronx Tech Meetup will offer tech employment right away and all of our live product demos featured this evening are created by Bronx residents,” he explained.
C/I seeks to highlight the success Bronx residents have had so far in launching tech startups as well as learning through education programs which could benefit thousands more underserved residents.
Founded in 2001, C/I currently teaches 325 students computer science twice a week at their high schools with a C/I teacher to work on self-directed modules in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
O’Connell explained Bronx Tech Meetup is free for members, however non-members are welcome to become Bronx Tech Meetup members to enter free of charge or pay $5 at the door.
Following the Bronx Tech Meetup, a networking after party will be celebrated at Fordham Foundry, one of the Bronx’s only tech incubators.
The after party, which runs from 8:30 until 10 p.m., costs $5 for everyone to cover food and drink costs and will feature beer provided by the Bronx Brewery.
For tickets, visit www.weare.ci/event/bronx-tech-meetup-after-party-at-fordham-foundry/.
In addition to this event, C/I is organizing a Saturday, May 30 hackathon at the Fordham Foundry with tech sponsor CartoDB, a tech mapping company.
Scheduled from 10 a.m. until 7:30 p.m., C/I’s 3rd hackathon will feature students utilizing tech and entrepreneurship skills to construct tech projects.
O’Connell said C/I is looking for Bronx tech mentors for this event who are preferably skilled in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to aid their students in building a web app.
If interested, contact Tom O’Connell at either (914) 874-3278 or tom@weare.ci for more information.
