Press Release – NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE “HACKING” A PATH TO SOCIAL JUSTICE IN FORT LAUDERDALE

20 Jul Press Release – NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE “HACKING” A PATH TO SOCIAL JUSTICE IN FORT LAUDERDALE

Some of the nation’s brightest minds in tech will be working around the clock at the National Urban League 2015 Conference, designing original applications to alleviate the most pressing social issues of our day.

“More and more, the fight for social justice is being waged online,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “The new face of civil rights is young, educated and tech-savvy. And these 21st-Century civil rights defenders are developing the 21st-Century tools they need.”

Hosted by the National Urban League in partnership with Digital Grass, the two-day “TechConnect: Hack-A-Thon for Social Justice,” presented by Comcast NBCUniversal, will take place from 5 pm Thursday, July 30, to 6:30 pm Friday, July 3.

“Digital Grass is honored to help with civic hacking in our community” Digital Grass Founder and CEO Michael Hall said. “It’s important to not just develop social apps but software and applications that can help with civic innovation and improve the quality of life for our core urban community. This event is the right step in that direction.”

TechConnect provides a space for innovators to design original social justice applications, , specifically those in tune with this year’s Conference theme, “Save Our Cities: Education, Jobs, and Justice.” At least one of the top resulting application/software will be implemented by the Urban League to enhance civic engagement, voting, education equity, housing, health, justice and job creation in urban communities

Developers, designers, civic leaders and creative thinkers are all invited to be among the first to create solutions to Save Our Cities and compete for $2,500 in cash and $25,000 in prizes.

WHAT
“TechConnect: Hack-A-Thon for Social Justice,” to develop innovative and impactful tech solutions to address some of the nation’s biggest problems in the areas of public safety, voting, education, jobs, housing or health.

WHERE
Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center
1950 Eisenhower Blvd. • Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316

WHEN
Intro and Information will take place July 30, 2015.
The Hackathon will take place July 31, 2015.

COST
Free Entry Fee for Competitors

SCHEDULE

Thursday, July 30th

5:00 PM Check in
5:30 PM Welcome & Remarks
6:00 PM Pitches, Team Formation and Networking
7:00 PM Finalize Teams & Hacking Starts

Friday, July 31st

8:00 AM Hacking Continues
2:00 PM Hacking Ends
3:00 PM Presentation Prep
4:59 PM Start Demos
6:15 PM Close Demos/Judges Deliberate
6:30 PM Prizes and Closing Remarks

Visit nultechconnect.digigrass.com for registration