'Lots of great talent': City leaders have high aspiration for the Cream City to be the next cyber city
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Is the Cream City on track to become the next cyber city?
That was the question tech leaders and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson entertained at a luncheon held at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Thursday, Jan. 12.
The consensus of Thursday's meeting was tech is here, tech is now, and tech is Milwaukee.
With the optimism for a cyber Milwaukee came a reminder from one area tech startup calling on city leaders not to forget tech talent in Black and brown communities.
"Lots of great talent that has the capability of learning tech skills, and we need to make that pervasive," said Kathy Henrich CEO of MKE Tech Hub.
Henrich was joined by other city leaders. They spoke to members of the Tech Council Innovation Network, but some believe a smaller voice in the tech sphere should have been there.
"Milky Way Tech Hub sort of carries the essence of creating a new table that creates equitable opportunities for black and brown individuals in the tech ecosystem here in Milwaukee," said Nadiyah Johnson, founder of Milky Way Tech Hub, a for-profit tech startup.
Johnson said while the Cream City is poised to put its name on the map for technology, everyone in the city should be invited to the table.
"There needs to be a place, a resource hub that is dedicated to these demographics, and we exist and there are multiple Black and brown tech hubs that exist here in the city and throughout the state," said Johnson.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson agreed inclusion is a big key to getting Milwaukee's name ingrained in the tech space.
"In order to do that, there needs to be prioritization on black tech hubs, black accelerators, black funds," said Johnson.
Until then, Johnson remains hopeful for the future of tech landscape of the Cream City.
"How incredible would it be for the coast, LA or Atlanta, to look at Milwaukee and say we are the next leading Black tech mecca and I know that we have the potential to do that," said Johnson.
For more information on Milky Way Tech Hub, click the link here.