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How Philanthropy Can Advance Public Interest Technology by Investing in Diverse Technologists

Victoria Mintzer July 13, 2022

As governments, civil society, and companies deploy more and more technology to address the challenges we face, we need experts who have the skills and perspectives to consider tech not simply as a tech solution but as a solution that has wide-ranging consequences, positive and negative for people, communities, and the environment. While the rapid growth of technology is radically transforming how we live, work, and engage with the world, the workforce creating these tools does not reflect the diversity of people using them. The lived experiences and expertise of communities marginalized on the basis of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, and class are crucial to the ethical development and deployment of innovative tech-based solutions. It’s time to disrupt the status quo. 

In this session, we will hear from leading technologists and changemakers about the investment that will be necessary to build the ground force of diverse talent across all technology sectors—and why it’s vital to do so. 

Arabella Advisors will co-host this session with the Ford Foundation and will feature leading funders and changemakers in the public interest technology field. 

Format

Fireside Chat (3 speakers maximum)

Meta Themes

  • Reimagine Systems

  • Deliver Equity and Inclusion

Themes

Public Interest Technology, Equity and Diversity

Purpose and Desired Outcome

In this discussion, we hope to define the term “public interest technology” for the audience and highlight the intersectional nature of it – technology is essential to tackling the biggest challenges we face as a global society (democracy, climate change, systemic inequity, etc.), but it is not neutral. As governments, civil society and companies deploy more and more technology to address the challenges we face, we need experts who have the skills and perspectives to consider tech not simply as a tech solution but as a solution that has wide-ranging consequences, positive and negative for people, communities, and the environment. We plan to underscore the urgent need to invest in: 1) the important work of Dr. Latanya Sweeney, Professor of the Practice of Government and Technology, and other leading changemakers in the sector, and 2) building the pipeline of talent to continue to scale and train the next generation of public interest technologists. Attendees will walk away with actionable items on how they can contribute to the movement on various levels – as individuals, organizations, and/or a sector. We hope that there are follow-up conversations with select attendees and Arabella or members of the Public Interest Technology Infrastructure (PIT-I) group (Ford Foundation, Siegel Family Endowment, Pivotal Ventures, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Schmidt Futures) which was formed to build a collective movement to invest in the infrastructure of public interest technology.

Audiences

  • Allocators (Family Offices, HNW Individuals, Foundations)

  • Asset Managers

  • Intermediaries (Financial Advisers, Investment Bankers)

  • Corporate & SME

  • Entrepreneurs

  • Government

  • Academia

  • Service Providers

  • Accelerators & Incubators

Speakers

  • NameJenny Toomey
  • TitleInternational Program Director of Tech and Society
  • OrganizationFord Foundation
  • StatusInvited
  • NameLatanya Sweeney
  • TitleProfessor of the Practice of Government and Tech
  • OrganizationHarvard Kennedy School
  • StatusInvited
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