Newly launched Black Technology Council working to attract African American tech talent to Austin

The new Black Technology Council recently launched by the the Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce in Austin, Texas and co-chaired by Lola Bakare and Rob Jackson has already began working towards attracting African American tech talent to Austin.

The Black Technology Council is comprised of more than 30 in the technology field, across several of the companies in the Austin area.

According to Natalie Madeira Cofield, the president of the Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce, “Austin, is becoming more of a technology epicenter in the US and it was important to me that the organization is aligned with the highest growth industry of the city, which is technology” furthermore, “The Black Technology Council was developed with the mission to accelerate engagement in entrepreneurship, identify and share best practices, and encourage inclusivity.”

Ms. Bakare, told reporters that that the city of Austin has a bit of a leakage problem, as African Americans often move to New York, San Francisco, and other larger cities, and that Austin has a slightly smaller percentage of African Americans compared to the national average.

“It’s critical for us to cultivate that same level of excitement and vibrancy in our city so we don’t have that brain drain and so we can attract people so we can continue to build,” she said. “The council is for everyone who is passionate about ensuring that people of color become a part of this community.”

The Black Technology Council intends to hold quarterly networking programs and connect with citywide technology conferences to ensure minority engagement.