Birmingham and Montgomery communities have developed a partnership through which they aspire to elevate minority tech talent and entrepreneurs. This collaborative effort, entitled, The Alabama Collective, seeks to bring together a plethora of talented tech professionals and entrepreneurs to develop and expand the state’s emerging tech, innovation and entrepreneurial programs, while also preserving the existing infrastructure which has proven to be vital to the economic prosperity of the state.

The Alabama Collective is led by some of the state’s most dynamic leaders; Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham and Mayor Steven Reed of Montgomery, alongside Tech Birmingham CEO Deon Gordon and TechMGM Executive Director Charisse Stokes. These change makers have been instrumental in the growth and development of the existing technical landscape and have collaborated diligently to stand up great initiatives like: Montgomery TechLab, Bronze Valley, Apple’s EdFarm and the Lab on Dexter, a newly developed social and tech innovation facility located on historic Dexter Avenue.

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November 24 | 12:00 pm

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3-PART SERIES

About the Alabama Collective

This collaborative endeavor welcomes professionals to participate in a series of community conversations to influence the development and growth of minority tech talent and entrepreneurs.

The inaugural event will be held in the Magic City on Friday, October 8th at Bar Sebastian at 3PM. Moderated by Co-founder and Investor of Fearless Fund, Arian Simone, this discussion will feature Dr Haley Kendrick of Bronze Valley and Dr Nichole Thompson from The Lab on Dexter. In addition, Marcus Shaw and Rashim McKinney of Montgomery TechLab and Waymond Jackson from EdFarm will provide remarks. During the conversation, city leaders will discuss the impact this initiative has on the entire community and how you can make a difference. This discussion will combine tech professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders from the Capital and the Magic City to create a well-rounded conversion surrounding entrepreneurship and economic development.

The Alabama Collective will continue this 3-part series on Friday, October 29th in Birmingham and Wednesday, November 24th in Montgomery.

Thank You Birmingham!

By 2026 our state is projected to need 850,000 STEM-related jobs. Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Woodfin and Mayor Reed, Birmingham and Montgomery will do their part to prepare the state of Alabama. Tech Birmingham and Tech MGM are working to elevate the conversation around Minority-talent, Tech, and Entrepreneurs. They will no longer operate in silos but do what is necessary to bridge gaps and forge partnerships that offer everyone a seat at the table!

Thank you so much for joining us at our inaugural conversation. Please be on the lookout for upcoming events!

Check out the photo gallery; you may find yourself in the mix!

Remember the words of Shirley Chisholm,
“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”