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Helping More Brooklyn Residents Access Tech Careers

Event - January 2024

Helping More Brooklyn Residents Access Tech Careers

On January 11th, the Center for an Urban Future held a policy forum that discussed what actions are needed to close the opportunity gap for tech careers in New York and bolster tech education and training infrastructure in Brooklyn.

Tags: tech economic opportunity

"Helping More Brooklyn Residents Access Tech Careers"
A Center for an Urban Future Policy Symposium

Replay of the event
Event materials


New York's fast-growing tech sector has become the city's most consistent source of new middle- and high-wage jobs, but much work remains to be done—both citywide and in communities across the five boroughs—to ensure that far more New Yorkers of color are able to access these well-paying careers. To shine a light on this opportunity, CUF held a five-borough forum series to discuss what actions are still needed to close the opportunity gap for tech careers in New York and bolster tech education and training infrastructure in communities across the city.

This forum focused on the opportunity to expand access to tech careers in Brooklyn. It featured Brooklyn-based leaders discussing the borough's tech education and training ecosystem, and examined what more policymakers, employers, educators, and workforce practitioners should do to help more Brooklyn residents get on the path to technology-powered careers.

Speakers included:

  • Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso 
  • New York City Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez
  • New York City Council Member Rita Joseph
  • Helen Kogan, Executive Director, NY/NJ Metro Area, NPower
  • Reuben Ogbonna, Executive Director, The Marcy Lab School
  • Kayon Pryce, Founding Principal, The Brooklyn STEAM Center at the Navy Yard
  • Evin F. Robinson, Co-Founder & President, America On Tech
  • Michael Zigman, President & CEO, NYC FIRST

A video of the full discussion is available here.

This symposium was made possible through generous support from Amazon. We are also grateful for general support from The Clark Foundation, the Altman Foundation, and ongoing support from a number of other philanthropic funders.