Christopher Lafayette
Emergent Technologist
Thought Leader. Culture & Inclusion Advocate.
Speaking Categories
Current & Future State of XR
Blacks in Technology May 14th, 2020
Much has changed in the world. We’ve become more digital in the past two months than in the past ten years. Where does virtual and augmented reality stand in the post COVID-19 world? Explore with Christopher Lafayette as he gives us insight into the future and current state of extended reality and emergent technologies.
Black Technology Mentorship Program
A Mentor Mentee program that inspires, educates and brings underserved black communities into technology.
- Deliver coaching and mentoring support, so mentees are guided in the direction that best uses their strengths.
- Create learning environments that encourage exploration and discovery which allows mentees to narrow down available career and entrepreneurship options before pursuing areas that don’t fit.
- Prepare talent that is performance driven and has the necessary commitment and skills to work on dynamic product delivery teams.
- Provide opportunities for engagement in team pilot projects and/or competitions to hone skills.
- Provide mentor/mentee stipends and resources to ensure that typical barriers such as WiFi and hardware accessibility hardships are removed.
- Create entrepreneurs of tomorrow in emerging tech through proper incubation and acceleration.
Mission Statement
Build a career pipeline of black talent that’s prepared for the evolution of industry 4.0 and emergent technologies.
Create environments where new entrepreneurs are inspired to contribute their complete working selves and are guided well.
Become a Mentor
We’re at the nexus adoption of emerging technologies. It’s pertinent to increase the impact of opportunity for black people. It is necessary for the survivability of technology itself, that every culture be afforded a part to play in this great build.
Our program provides mentors the tools needed to guide youth and adults toward careers and entrepreneurship in emerging technology sectors. We do this by leveraging resources and support services through our ally groups and community partners.
The first step for our mentors is to attend ( two minimum) our virtual summer training sessions on how to become a great mentor for black communities in technology.
Make the commitment.
Become a Mentee
Our Mentees are so very important to us.
The Black Technology Mentorship Program is a system focused on teaching emergent technologies to black communities.
Emergent Technology. The way to begin. The way forward. From adolescence, teens and onward to adulthood; the approach to career and entrepreneurship path is long, necessary and enduring. Giving each Mentee an experienced Mentor to help along the way.
Our program is about educating Mentees and demonstrating new and advanced technologies that youth and adults can actualize, understand and know that they’re the builders of today and the future.
The Black Technology Mentorship Program Delivers coaching and mentor support, so mentees are guided in directions that best uses their strengths.
There is an opportunity to sustain and increase product demand by aligning the workforce with the trendsetters of mass adoption while at the same time creating entrepreneurial leaders for new companies and expanded economies in tech.
Two tracks. Two paths. One program.
This cataclysm of change ushers in a world of new opportunities for entrepreneurs and career minded people.
If you are interested in partnering with us, please fill out the form below. We will follow up with you as soon as possible. Thanks!
Mentor Training Schedule
Our areas of focus for Mentee developement
Week 1
(only required meeting)
July 8th
Week 2
Dealing with Racism, Implicit and Explicit Biases
July 29th
Week 3
Artificial Intelligence:
Identifying ai Bias and Professional recommendations that help to eradicate bias removal in artificial intelligence.
August 5th
Week 4
Climate Tech
Technical ideation towards climate responsibility.
August 12th
Week 5
Robotics
The most recommended paths for entering into the Robotic world.
August 19th
Week 6
“If we’re going to extend reality, then we must bring reality with it”
How do we do that?
August 26th
Week 7
Smart Cities
Why every culture matters in building Smart City developement.
September 2nd
Week 8
September 9th
FAQs
How much does it cost to participate?
What are the benefits of this program:
Benefits
- Cultivating talent and influencing positive outcomes.
- Expanded networking opportunities with industry leaders.
- Participating in cutting edge strategies to improve livelihood in the wake of 4IR.
- Contributing to the increase of advanced skilled workers in low-income areas.
How will sessions be conducted?
Some sessions will have guest experts to hold part or whole entire sessions.
The idea is for mentors to listen, learn and elevate your understanding when it comes to black community mentorship for emergent technologies.
When does this program start?
How do I sign up?
How can I help?
Logistically, we’ll need people and companies that can contribute useful information and Resources regarding technology careers and entrepreneurship geared toward and or welcoming to everyone in the black community.
Most importantly, we need you to share this program with others.
If you care enough to see this happen, we ask that you help share.
Awareness and lack of resources is the hardest part.
What do I need for this course?
Also, it’s recommended to take written or audio notes.
What will I learn from this experience?
What should I bring?
Leadership focus.
How many people are attending?
Spacing may become limited.
Become an Ally
Being an ally means using your gifts and privilege to ensure that black people are considered in everything we design, create, build and innovate.
Our ally program focuses on supporting our mentors and mentees by way of
ideation sessions and most importantly, action.
If you are committed to supporting us, please register as an ally and join us for our group sessions.
2020 Sponsors and Partners
A Note
For more Black people in Technology.
To build the next Google, Apple and Amazon.
For children to come home to a parent that works in Tech.
To see things differently in the necessary discussion of social equality for black communities, and to combat systemic racism by producing positive efforts towards driving actionable and scalable narratives for black communities.
Through the Black Technology Mentorship program, we’re connecting brilliant minds of technology to our black hidden genius youth-and-adult mentees.
To mentor progress in becoming entrepreneurs and career contributors.
We just can’t make social posts and forget about it.
We must live it.
The commitment of time is small. The impact is huge.
Companies, Cities and Countries
Past Speaking Engagements
The Linux Foundation
Stereopsia
European Immersive Computing Summit
Blacks in Technology Conference
Laval Virtual
UCLA
Miami VR Expo
CoreTech
VR 4 Everyone Conference
Holodeck Engineering Lecture
Virtual Reality Global Forum
VRX Conference
Augmented World Expo
Mayo Clinic
Featured In
Press
Written Blogs and Articles
A Gathering in Brussels
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow : XR is still growing
The need for more simulations of the human body
The Lost World of Spatial Computing
The Extension of Reality
Filmmaker
First person to direct a 360 NFL video Trained San Francisco 49ers in 360 Media Technology
Has filmed a series of professional musicians:
E40, Michael Feinstein, Digital Underground, Mistah Fab, M.C. Hammer, Spencer Day and more.
19 Shades of Black Documentary
19 Shades of Black, a conversation about the experience of 19 Black woman from their eyes of perspective.
Holodeck Development
Building Holodecks for Location Based Education and Training spaces for immersive experiences.
Platforms
Images & Videos
Transitioning platforms to virtual
Countries
Cities
Spoken Events
Focus Topics
Quality
We’re setting standards in virtual tech by building content with an emphasis on quality.
Building Immersive
Quality rendered is met at a premium standard. Content hyper realism is measured in everything we build.
#BUILDTOGETHER
#BUILDSTRONG
#CARE
Continents
Billion People
Countries
Earth
Reach Out
Location: Silicon Valley
Email: [email protected]