Baltimore Tech Hub: 5 Things To Know
It all begins with an idea.
I want to uplift a paradigm shift that I am not sure is as apparent to those around me as it should be.
Did you know that to realize comprehensive, sustainable change, those most impacted by systemic challenges are the key to creating the solutions?
Simply put, you must know pain to understand and learn to heal.
The story of the new "Urban America" is a narrative that will be told through its technological advancements. And yes, the future is Black.
In 2020, the twin pandemics of the COVID-19 crisis and the world's economic downturn--exposed and exacerbated deep-rooted challenges across African-American communities in our country. It also sparked a global uprising to address long-fought issues, including health disparities, digital inequity, barriers to access to financial capital, and disadvantages in hiring and advancement.
It is now 2024, and the question on the table is, "How much further have we come?"
The ability to create real change is in the hands of the social entrepreneur with the vision and ability to courageously acknowledge our shared struggles.
Social innovators are the catalysts that inspire and empower us all to take ownership of our history while providing us with the tools to create a better future. It's called a chain reaction for a reason.
This matter alone has prompted the US government to issue the Chips & Science Act, which invests over $2 billion in research, manufacturing, and workforce development. The federal government is trying to increase the pace of technological advancement in the United States.
In 2020, my company, Audacity Group LLC. partnered with Fearless Tech to develop HACK Baltimore, a nonprofit collaboration of social innovators, civic technology designers, and volunteers. The concept we were promoting was that Superman was not coming to save our cities, but we didn't need him because the most innovative minds exist in our communities.
This was when I met Nneka Nnamdi, Founder and COO of Fight Blight Bmore and one of the 2020 AccelerateBaltimore cohort members we mentored.
Four years later, the Greater Baltimore region is recognized as a federally designated tech hub for biotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI).
President Biden designated 31 communities across the region as part of the CHIPS and Science Act.
I recently sat down with Nneka Nnamdi to get the "410?" on how this designation impacts Baltimore's local communities and workforce development for our youth.
Here are five key takeaways from that insightful conversation.
1) Technology Is The Birth Right Of The Black Community
Did you know East Africa has the world's oldest record of human technological achievement? We're talking 40,000 years before the Greeks, Romans, etc...
2) CHIPS and Science Act Will Lower Costs, Create Jobs, and Strengthen Supply Chains
The global pandemic highlighted the negative consequences of the United States' dependency on outside countries for life-saving medical equipment.
3) Gentrification Is A Form Of Genocide
Gentrification, sold as Urban Renewal, is now a widespread national policy that threatens the survival of millions of working-class and poor people.
4) Focus On Your “Estate Plans” & “Property Taxes”
Black families need to take a proactive approach to help address historical wealth disparities and systemic injustices that have hindered wealth accumulation in the Black community.
5) People Are Making Good Money Bending Copper
Society needs to stop overlooking the importance of construction technology jobs. We need to tool up our young people for manufacturing development.
To watch the complete conversation, visit #MyBmore Project on YouTube to see the conversations you have missed.