Central Brooklyn State Sen. Jesse Hamilton is leading a partnership with a Chicago-Based Tech company to hold a 24-hour youth tech challenge for 25 7th-12th graders from throughout Central Brooklyn this coming weekend.
Dubbed Brooklyn’s first 24-Hour Hackathon and Youth Tech Challenge, the purpose of the event is to expose youth to future career opportunities that are available in the field of Information Technology and Coding.
The event is in partnership with Chicago-based BLUE1647, an entrepreneurship and technology innovation center that fosters economic development in technology and 21st Century skills through people and workforce development preparing individuals and youths for high-paying tech jobs.
Also included in the partnering event is Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Assemblywoman Diana Richardson (Crown Heights/Lefferts Gardens) and City Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo (Fort Greene/Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) as well as CAMBA, Light the World Foundation, and Cablevision.
“Minority communities and women are grossly underrepresented in the information technology industry. Our goal is to ensure underserved youth have equal opportunities to participate, excel, and develop their talents,” said Hamilton.
Adams said the event is an excellent way to to energize the borough’s young people to explore the world of computer science. “Our young people’s future will be written in zeros and ones, and Brooklyn’s first-ever Hackathon is a great way to challenge our students and ensure they have the skill sets to compete for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” he said.
Richardson noted in order to be successful in the modern job market, it is absolutely vital that Brooklyn’s young men and women learn the skills that will make them desirable to employers.
“Science, Technology, Engineering and Math degrees are increasingly becoming the most secure way to gain entry into prosperous well-paying industries. As elected officials, it is important that we offer our young residents paths toward successful, comfortable lives; and I am happy to partner with Senator Hamilton and the rest of my fellow representatives in this excellent program,” said Richardson.
Cumbo called the challenge an incredible platform that will help cultivate the next generation of innovators in science, technology, engineering, architecture, the arts, and mathematics.
The 24-Hour Hackathon is slated for between 11 a.m., this Saturday, Dec. 12 to 11 a.m., Sunday Dec. 13 at the Nigerian American Muslim Integrated Community, 801 Dean Street in Prospect Heights.
