so twenty six point three million Americans live in food deserts and
Americans live in food deserts and
Americans live in food deserts and almost double that over fifty million
almost double that over fifty million
almost double that over fifty million Americans live economically distress
Americans live economically distress
Americans live economically distress meaning that they’re disconnected from
meaning that they’re disconnected from
meaning that they’re disconnected from the innovation economy and this boom
the innovation economy and this boom
the innovation economy and this boom that we’re having in the United States I
that we’re having in the United States I
that we’re having in the United States I know about food deserts firsthand
know about food deserts firsthand
know about food deserts firsthand because for seven years I was the chief
because for seven years I was the chief
because for seven years I was the chief popsicle of feverish ice cream and
popsicle of feverish ice cream and
popsicle of feverish ice cream and gourmet pops a company that I founded
gourmet pops a company that I founded
gourmet pops a company that I founded with my awesome and really cute husband
with my awesome and really cute husband
with my awesome and really cute husband after falling now chasing an ice cream
after falling now chasing an ice cream
after falling now chasing an ice cream truck in heels
truck in heels
truck in heels so how careful I was coming down those
so how careful I was coming down those
so how careful I was coming down those steps right who does that
steps right who does that
steps right who does that but me providing and manufacturing
but me providing and manufacturing
but me providing and manufacturing healthy treats and bringing those two
healthy treats and bringing those two
healthy treats and bringing those two neighborhoods and people that are
neighborhoods and people that are
neighborhoods and people that are disconnected from food deserts
disconnected from food deserts
disconnected from food deserts vegan-friendly popsicles and I won’t
vegan-friendly popsicles and I won’t
vegan-friendly popsicles and I won’t take too much time talking about them
take too much time talking about them
take too much time talking about them but every now and then we’d put a little
but every now and then we’d put a little
but every now and then we’d put a little alcohol in those pops right I now work
alcohol in those pops right I now work
alcohol in those pops right I now work as a co-founder and executive director
as a co-founder and executive director
as a co-founder and executive director of code fever in Miami and the founder
of code fever in Miami and the founder
of code fever in Miami and the founder and co-founder co-founder of Black Tech
and co-founder co-founder of Black Tech
and co-founder co-founder of Black Tech Week with my husband and we are on a
Week with my husband and we are on a
Week with my husband and we are on a mission to rid our communities across
mission to rid our communities across
mission to rid our communities across the United States of innovation deserts
the United States of innovation deserts
the United States of innovation deserts 50 million people in the United States
50 million people in the United States
50 million people in the United States are disconnected from the innovation
are disconnected from the innovation
are disconnected from the innovation economy what can we do about that what
economy what can we do about that what
economy what can we do about that what should we do about that I used to play
should we do about that I used to play
should we do about that I used to play basketball I played basketball for a
basketball I played basketball for a
basketball I played basketball for a pretty long time you can tell by my
pretty long time you can tell by my
pretty long time you can tell by my height a little bit right I got a job in
height a little bit right I got a job in
height a little bit right I got a job in the WNBA as a marketing manager in the
the WNBA as a marketing manager in the
the WNBA as a marketing manager in the minister for the Minnesota Lynx I never
minister for the Minnesota Lynx I never
minister for the Minnesota Lynx I never actually like I know go Minnesota right
actually like I know go Minnesota right
actually like I know go Minnesota right I never actually made it to the leagues
I never actually made it to the leagues
I never actually made it to the leagues but because I was able to work for them
but because I was able to work for them
but because I was able to work for them and Mark and I’d take that as like a win
and Mark and I’d take that as like a win
and Mark and I’d take that as like a win right like I feel like I got drafted in
right like I feel like I got drafted in
right like I feel like I got drafted in some sort of way but my high school
some sort of way but my high school
some sort of way but my high school basketball coach would always say you’re
basketball coach would always say you’re
basketball coach would always say you’re only as strong as your weakest player
only as strong as your weakest player
only as strong as your weakest player and our communities
and our communities
and our communities our cities our blocks our neighborhoods
our cities our blocks our neighborhoods
our cities our blocks our neighborhoods our countries are only as strong as our
our countries are only as strong as our
our countries are only as strong as our weakest people and so what can each and
weakest people and so what can each and
weakest people and so what can each and every one of us do to rid our
every one of us do to rid our
every one of us do to rid our communities of innovation deserts
communities of innovation deserts
communities of innovation deserts through the work that we’ve done with
through the work that we’ve done with
through the work that we’ve done with black tech week a national convening
black tech week a national convening
black tech week a national convening base in Miami that brings people of
base in Miami that brings people of
base in Miami that brings people of color from all over the globe to Miami
color from all over the globe to Miami
color from all over the globe to Miami to celebrate innovators of color but
to celebrate innovators of color but
to celebrate innovators of color but most importantly connect them to the
most importantly connect them to the
most importantly connect them to the resources so they can be active
resources so they can be active
resources so they can be active participants and financial beneficiaries
participants and financial beneficiaries
participants and financial beneficiaries of the innovation economy through our
of the innovation economy through our
of the innovation economy through our study the economic development and the
study the economic development and the
study the economic development and the inclusive and innovation report that
inclusive and innovation report that
inclusive and innovation report that we’ve done with our organization we’ve
we’ve done with our organization we’ve
we’ve done with our organization we’ve come up with a few key things that we
come up with a few key things that we
come up with a few key things that we think are important when we talk about
think are important when we talk about
think are important when we talk about innovating and ridding our communities
innovating and ridding our communities
innovating and ridding our communities of innovation deserts the first thing is
of innovation deserts the first thing is
of innovation deserts the first thing is innovation hubs and co-working spaces in
innovation hubs and co-working spaces in
innovation hubs and co-working spaces in these communities that are disconnected
these communities that are disconnected
these communities that are disconnected that I don’t like to deem impoverished
that I don’t like to deem impoverished
that I don’t like to deem impoverished communities but lo opportunities
communities but lo opportunities
communities but lo opportunities communities we know these collision
communities we know these collision
communities we know these collision points and what they can provide to
points and what they can provide to
points and what they can provide to these communities as a catalyst for
these communities as a catalyst for
these communities as a catalyst for innovative conversation but most
innovative conversation but most
innovative conversation but most importantly innovative activity it’s
importantly innovative activity it’s
importantly innovative activity it’s disheartening that if you want to be an
disheartening that if you want to be an
disheartening that if you want to be an active participant and be involved in
active participant and be involved in
active participant and be involved in tech get tech training advance your
tech get tech training advance your
tech get tech training advance your career opportunities be an active
career opportunities be an active
career opportunities be an active participant in the innovation economy
participant in the innovation economy
participant in the innovation economy and not as a service worker right
and not as a service worker right
and not as a service worker right driving a car or delivering food but as
driving a car or delivering food but as
driving a car or delivering food but as an active participant that you have to
an active participant that you have to
an active participant that you have to leave your home you have to leave your
leave your home you have to leave your
leave your home you have to leave your neighborhood you have to leave your
neighborhood you have to leave your
neighborhood you have to leave your block and none of these resources are
block and none of these resources are
block and none of these resources are with arms reach that’s a problem and
with arms reach that’s a problem and
with arms reach that’s a problem and that’s a problem that I definitely want
that’s a problem that I definitely want
that’s a problem that I definitely want us to fix but it starts with having
us to fix but it starts with having
us to fix but it starts with having these places and these convening places
these places and these convening places
these places and these convening places and these innovation hubs within our
and these innovation hubs within our
and these innovation hubs within our communities where this kind of activity
communities where this kind of activity
communities where this kind of activity takes place on an ongoing basis then it
takes place on an ongoing basis then it
takes place on an ongoing basis then it allows us to thrive it also starts with
allows us to thrive it also starts with
allows us to thrive it also starts with changing the narrative of what
changing the narrative of what
changing the narrative of what innovation is or who an innovator is
innovation is or who an innovator is
innovation is or who an innovator is there’s kind of a stereotypical mold of
there’s kind of a stereotypical mold of
there’s kind of a stereotypical mold of what we think an innovator is
what we think an innovator is
what we think an innovator is and that’s a problem because if we don’t
and that’s a problem because if we don’t
and that’s a problem because if we don’t think that someone that looks like me
think that someone that looks like me
think that someone that looks like me right or a woman or someone from the
right or a woman or someone from the
right or a woman or someone from the LGBTQ communities right or someone from
LGBTQ communities right or someone from
LGBTQ communities right or someone from an indigenous community or an immigrant
an indigenous community or an immigrant
an indigenous community or an immigrant is an innovator that group those group
is an innovator that group those group
is an innovator that group those group lack a certain kind of resource
lack a certain kind of resource
lack a certain kind of resource magnetism that is extremely important
magnetism that is extremely important
magnetism that is extremely important for them to be able to excel in the
for them to be able to excel in the
for them to be able to excel in the innovation economy the other
innovation economy the other
innovation economy the other conversation that we don’t often have
conversation that we don’t often have
conversation that we don’t often have around innovation and inclusive
around innovation and inclusive
around innovation and inclusive innovation and reading communities and
innovation and reading communities and
innovation and reading communities and innovation deserts is policy
innovation deserts is policy
innovation deserts is policy alright so often we immediately go to we
alright so often we immediately go to we
alright so often we immediately go to we need to do coding training and we need
need to do coding training and we need
need to do coding training and we need to find jobs and we’re not looking at it
to find jobs and we’re not looking at it
to find jobs and we’re not looking at it from a top-down approach oftentimes this
from a top-down approach oftentimes this
from a top-down approach oftentimes this activity is bottom-up right grassroots
activity is bottom-up right grassroots
activity is bottom-up right grassroots organizations working really hard and
organizations working really hard and
organizations working really hard and both of those have to be able to meet in
both of those have to be able to meet in
both of those have to be able to meet in the middle and provide some policy
the middle and provide some policy
the middle and provide some policy redirect redirecting funds and resources
redirect redirecting funds and resources
redirect redirecting funds and resources working with Community Redevelopment
working with Community Redevelopment
working with Community Redevelopment agencies to be able to build these
agencies to be able to build these
agencies to be able to build these spaces house this kind of programming
spaces house this kind of programming
spaces house this kind of programming and foster the innovation we’ve been
and foster the innovation we’ve been
and foster the innovation we’ve been fortunate enough in Miami to be able to
fortunate enough in Miami to be able to
fortunate enough in Miami to be able to be funded by the knight foundation to do
be funded by the knight foundation to do
be funded by the knight foundation to do this work
this work
this work Miami was an innovation desert four
Miami was an innovation desert four
Miami was an innovation desert four years ago when we first started
years ago when we first started
years ago when we first started especially as it relates to the African
especially as it relates to the African
especially as it relates to the African American Caribbean and the low income
American Caribbean and the low income
American Caribbean and the low income Hispanic community most people think
Hispanic community most people think
Hispanic community most people think about Miami as this bustling area it’s
about Miami as this bustling area it’s
about Miami as this bustling area it’s one of the leading or arm cities when
one of the leading or arm cities when
one of the leading or arm cities when you talk about entrepreneurial growth
you talk about entrepreneurial growth
you talk about entrepreneurial growth but as 13 targeted urban areas that were
but as 13 targeted urban areas that were
but as 13 targeted urban areas that were innovation deserts and we have to do
innovation deserts and we have to do
innovation deserts and we have to do something about that and it starts with
something about that and it starts with
something about that and it starts with policy it also starts with creating
policy it also starts with creating
policy it also starts with creating asset Maps right so there’s all these
asset Maps right so there’s all these
asset Maps right so there’s all these resources that currently exist in cities
resources that currently exist in cities
resources that currently exist in cities that people are disconnected from
that people are disconnected from
that people are disconnected from because they don’t know how to navigate
because they don’t know how to navigate
because they don’t know how to navigate that so the strength of a community when
that so the strength of a community when
that so the strength of a community when you’re truly committed to making sure
you’re truly committed to making sure
you’re truly committed to making sure that your innovation and your resources
that your innovation and your resources
that your innovation and your resources and those opportunities are spread
and those opportunities are spread
and those opportunities are spread across everyone in your community it has
across everyone in your community it has
across everyone in your community it has to it has to have an asset map for
to it has to have an asset map for
to it has to have an asset map for specific groups that allows them to
specific groups that allows them to
specific groups that allows them to easily map out their mobility within
easily map out their mobility within
easily map out their mobility within that space they should understand how to
that space they should understand how to
that space they should understand how to go from the idea
go from the idea
go from the idea to success and be able to map that out
to success and be able to map that out
to success and be able to map that out with the resources that make sense for
with the resources that make sense for
with the resources that make sense for them VC and residents or residents
them VC and residents or residents
them VC and residents or residents programs this is something that we
programs this is something that we
programs this is something that we launched to solve a major problem with
launched to solve a major problem with
launched to solve a major problem with the entrepreneurs that we were working
the entrepreneurs that we were working
the entrepreneurs that we were working with is around funding and not having
with is around funding and not having
with is around funding and not having access to funding for minority
access to funding for minority
access to funding for minority entrepreneurs and not just the funding
entrepreneurs and not just the funding
entrepreneurs and not just the funding pools but most VCS aren’t meeting with
pools but most VCS aren’t meeting with
pools but most VCS aren’t meeting with you unless someone that they know and
you unless someone that they know and
you unless someone that they know and trust introduces you and so what happens
trust introduces you and so what happens
trust introduces you and so what happens if you don’t even have that person to
if you don’t even have that person to
if you don’t even have that person to introduce you to that person you’re
introduce you to that person you’re
introduce you to that person you’re completely disconnected from the funding
completely disconnected from the funding
completely disconnected from the funding in our organization in our office we
in our organization in our office we
in our organization in our office we always joke around and say what if your
always joke around and say what if your
always joke around and say what if your friends and family can only give you a
friends and family can only give you a
friends and family can only give you a round of applause and not a round of
round of applause and not a round of
round of applause and not a round of funding right what do you do but the
funding right what do you do but the
funding right what do you do but the same thing happens with your community
same thing happens with your community
same thing happens with your community right and we can’t joke about that what
right and we can’t joke about that what
right and we can’t joke about that what if your community can only give you a
if your community can only give you a
if your community can only give you a round of applause to say good job good
round of applause to say good job good
round of applause to say good job good luck you may not have all the resources
luck you may not have all the resources
luck you may not have all the resources but we expect you to succeed just the
but we expect you to succeed just the
but we expect you to succeed just the same and so we have to challenge our
same and so we have to challenge our
same and so we have to challenge our communities that we live in to be more
communities that we live in to be more
communities that we live in to be more supportive and provide wraparound
supportive and provide wraparound
supportive and provide wraparound services for our entrepreneurs and not
services for our entrepreneurs and not
services for our entrepreneurs and not just minority entrepreneurs but rural
just minority entrepreneurs but rural
just minority entrepreneurs but rural areas as well because they are
areas as well because they are
areas as well because they are disconnected from the innovation economy
disconnected from the innovation economy
disconnected from the innovation economy innovation funds there are some
innovation funds there are some
innovation funds there are some communities across the United States
communities across the United States
communities across the United States that do a really good job of that you
that do a really good job of that you
that do a really good job of that you think of Ohio with the jump start fund
think of Ohio with the jump start fund
think of Ohio with the jump start fund you think of Detroit with investing Troy
you think of Detroit with investing Troy
you think of Detroit with investing Troy you think of what’s going on in Atlanta
you think of what’s going on in Atlanta
you think of what’s going on in Atlanta but I have to admit even where I live
but I have to admit even where I live
but I have to admit even where I live there’s not an Innovation Fund for
there’s not an Innovation Fund for
there’s not an Innovation Fund for high-growth minority companies in the
high-growth minority companies in the
high-growth minority companies in the tech space or launching startups and
tech space or launching startups and
tech space or launching startups and that’s a problem and we can do a much
that’s a problem and we can do a much
that’s a problem and we can do a much greater job if we want to build and
greater job if we want to build and
greater job if we want to build and foster innovative companies they need
foster innovative companies they need
foster innovative companies they need funding they need the luxury to be able
funding they need the luxury to be able
funding they need the luxury to be able to innovate they need to make sure that
to innovate they need to make sure that
to innovate they need to make sure that basic Maslow’s needs are met so that
basic Maslow’s needs are met so that
basic Maslow’s needs are met so that they can actually innovate that takes
they can actually innovate that takes
they can actually innovate that takes time that takes money that takes
time that takes money that takes
time that takes money that takes resources and that takes a really true
resources and that takes a really true
resources and that takes a really true commitment another thing that we can do
commitment another thing that we can do
commitment another thing that we can do when we talk about government local
when we talk about government local
when we talk about government local state and federal and we talk about
state and federal and we talk about
state and federal and we talk about organizations and most importantly we
organizations and most importantly we
organizations and most importantly we talk about how major
talk about how major
talk about how major corporations and our communities can
corporations and our communities can
corporations and our communities can play a major role outside of funding
play a major role outside of funding
play a major role outside of funding from angel and VC funding and innovation
from angel and VC funding and innovation
from angel and VC funding and innovation funds our procurement opportunities
funds our procurement opportunities
funds our procurement opportunities right the best thing that a business can
right the best thing that a business can
right the best thing that a business can have in a start-up can have is customers
have in a start-up can have is customers
have in a start-up can have is customers right and contracts and this is an
right and contracts and this is an
right and contracts and this is an easier pulse of time than creating an
easier pulse of time than creating an
easier pulse of time than creating an Innovation Fund and this is something
Innovation Fund and this is something
Innovation Fund and this is something that we can definitely do on a local
that we can definitely do on a local
that we can definitely do on a local level to make sure that those contracts
level to make sure that those contracts
level to make sure that those contracts are there make sure that we’re matching
are there make sure that we’re matching
are there make sure that we’re matching budding startup founders with
budding startup founders with
budding startup founders with opportunities within these corporations
opportunities within these corporations
opportunities within these corporations value is another thing and one of the
value is another thing and one of the
value is another thing and one of the most important things that we have to
most important things that we have to
most important things that we have to understand we have to increase the way
understand we have to increase the way
understand we have to increase the way that our marginalized communities are
that our marginalized communities are
that our marginalized communities are valued within the innovation economy and
valued within the innovation economy and
valued within the innovation economy and at the same time add value to the
at the same time add value to the
at the same time add value to the innovation economy to me this is one of
innovation economy to me this is one of
innovation economy to me this is one of the bottom line issues with the
the bottom line issues with the
the bottom line issues with the innovation deserts that we have is we
innovation deserts that we have is we
innovation deserts that we have is we don’t value these people as concert
don’t value these people as concert
don’t value these people as concert contributors within this space we don’t
contributors within this space we don’t
contributors within this space we don’t understand the long history that
understand the long history that
understand the long history that marginalized groups have had as
marginalized groups have had as
marginalized groups have had as innovators and solving problems out of
innovators and solving problems out of
innovators and solving problems out of necessity my family’s from Jamaica my
necessity my family’s from Jamaica my
necessity my family’s from Jamaica my mom’s from Jamaica and in Jamaica we
mom’s from Jamaica and in Jamaica we
mom’s from Jamaica and in Jamaica we have something called the Judah taxi
have something called the Judah taxi
have something called the Judah taxi right and the Judah taxi you pay about
right and the Judah taxi you pay about
right and the Judah taxi you pay about two dollars to go from point A to point
two dollars to go from point A to point
two dollars to go from point A to point B a ton of people pile into these vans
B a ton of people pile into these vans
B a ton of people pile into these vans right safety is kind of completely out
right safety is kind of completely out
right safety is kind of completely out the window but that’s another story in
the window but that’s another story in
the window but that’s another story in Miami in the Little Haiti area we have
Miami in the Little Haiti area we have
Miami in the Little Haiti area we have something called the jitney taxi the
something called the jitney taxi the
something called the jitney taxi the jitney taxi is 30 years old the utility
jitney taxi is 30 years old the utility
jitney taxi is 30 years old the utility of those two companies in Jamaica in the
of those two companies in Jamaica in the
of those two companies in Jamaica in the Caribbean here in the United States one
Caribbean here in the United States one
Caribbean here in the United States one solving a transportation issue but to
solving a transportation issue but to
solving a transportation issue but to the same utility is no different than
the same utility is no different than
the same utility is no different than uberpool
uberpool
uberpool right solving a transportation issue
right solving a transportation issue
right solving a transportation issue people piling in with strangers paying a
people piling in with strangers paying a
people piling in with strangers paying a few dollars to go from point A to point
few dollars to go from point A to point
few dollars to go from point A to point B with the right resources in the
B with the right resources in the
B with the right resources in the communities with the right deal flow in
communities with the right deal flow in
communities with the right deal flow in the communities it’s not for a lack of
the communities it’s not for a lack of
the communities it’s not for a lack of ideas does this guy essentially created
ideas does this guy essentially created
ideas does this guy essentially created uber pool thirty years ago we can make
uber pool thirty years ago we can make
uber pool thirty years ago we can make sure that we are building communities
sure that we are building communities
sure that we are building communities that are strong that are innovative
that are strong that are innovative
that are strong that are innovative and raise the potential and the capacity
and raise the potential and the capacity
and raise the potential and the capacity for competitive competitiveness of my
for competitive competitiveness of my
for competitive competitiveness of my god sir I didn’t get my copy in the
god sir I didn’t get my copy in the
god sir I didn’t get my copy in the United States if we make sure that we
United States if we make sure that we
United States if we make sure that we are ridding communities of innovation
are ridding communities of innovation
are ridding communities of innovation deserts thank you
deserts thank you
deserts thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
you
you [Music]
”
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