Blacks in Technology Engage Austin Youth & Local Residents at SXSW Interactive

PRLog (Press Release) - Mar. 7, 2013 - Blacks in Technology (BiT), the preeminent coalition of African-American technology organizations will be kicking off the inaugural BiT House today at the 20th annual SXSW Interactive Festival running March 8 - 12, 2013. Offering over 32 panels, workshops, parties and special events BiT House will not only bring together many of the top tech talents from around the country but spotlight several of Austin's own brightest innovators through the “Generation Change” Initiative.

Generation Change spawned out of the insights of 5 young, local pioneers who sought to bridge the digital divide in technology and beyond. After 3 years of careful planning and strategizing the team will be bear the fruits of their labor as they introduce a host of Austinites to new programming in the SXSW lineup this year including the Youth Media Project (YMP) and the Screen>Play: iPod Film School & Web Design community workshop.

The Youth Media Project (YMP) was created especially for SXSW as a collaboration between E4Youth, Inc., Krew12, and BiT. The program provides hands-on mentoring and training in career development, filmmaking, radio production and more. Participating students complete a month long media bootcamp to earn a Gold Badge - their ticket to a week at SXSW Interactive - where they will utilize their new skills in documenting and posting their thoughts and interviews on social media sites via iPods, flip cams, Smartphone and other new media tools.

Youth also have the opportunity to participate in the Screen>Play: iPod Film School & Web Design community workshop in which Black Girls Code founder Kimberly Bryant will be teaming with Austin firm Mojo MediaWorks to fuse mobile learning and coding for an interactive and educational field day.

Additional Austinite BiT House participants include panelist Mike "Ambassador" Bruny (Hashtags to Handshakes: The Art of Conference Networking ), Kaneisha Grayson (Digital Penetration: Love & Sex for Overachievers), Naya Jones (Grits & Greens: Exploring the Intersection of Food, Art & Tech), Carl Settles ( Off the Chain: Blacks, Social Media and Django Unchained) , Sanders Wingo (Sorry, Your Brand Voice Doesnt Speak to Me)  as well as Dionne Ross, Kevin D. Thomas, Ph.D., Geraldine Rosa Henderson, Ph.D. , Saul Paul, Bianca Neal, Felicia Craig, Jennifer Rangubphai, Kory Coleman, Monique Walton, Shuronda Robinson, Sheryl Cole, Joah Spearman, Douglas Matthews, Ayeshia Toy, Craig Brimm, Shanteka Sigers, Mikaila Ulmer, Terry Likens and Jerel Booker.

BiT is an initiative that grew out of a concern expressed by African-Americans living in Austin to promote more diversity during the SXSW conferences. In 2008, SXSW began hosting a free Welcome Reception at the Carver Museum targeting local African Americans. The event has transformed into the preeminent hub for honoring the achievements of blacks in technology and one of the most highly anticipated segments of interactive week.

To learn more about Black in Technology or Generation Change please visit http://wearebit.com and http://wearebit.com/generation-change/ respectively.

Register for Screen>Play: iPod Film School & Web Design for $25 at https://www.smore.com/vx88-black-girls-code-sxswi?ref=my

Excluding the welcoming reception and awards banquet, you must have a SXSW Interactive, Gold or Platinum badge to attend BIT programming. SXSW Interactive, Gold and Platinum badges can be purchased online at www.sxsw.com/attend.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the 2013 SXSW Interactive Festival runs March 8-12 in Austin, Texas. See www.sxsw.com/interactive for more information.

For media inquiries contact: Amanda Spann, BRANDSPANpr at aspann@brandspanpr.com

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