Representation matters can be seen with Wm Jackson a 31-year career, professional educator that encourages HBCU students, faculty, staff and administration to
attend and participate in WordCamp Conferences.
Having spoken in Calgary, Canada in Alberta, San Jose, Costa Rica in Central America and a sponsor of WordCamp, Kids Camp and Youth Camp Conferences in Africa.
Wm encourages HBCU’s t seriously consider the benefits and career impacts for HBCU students that attend these dynamic conferences.
As a speaker, volunteer, organizer, sponsor, and advocate of WordCamp conferences I encourage HBCU instructors to encourage students to attend conferences and become
engaged in local Meetups in their respective cities. The knowledge gained is invaluable and the networking potential phenomenal. The term “it’s not what you know, but who you know,” tells a valuable story. Networking is vitally important. What you know in your brain cannot be appreciated unless you have others that can appreciate your knowledge and potential to learn more.
The expansion of People of Color (POC) attending tech conferences is increasing as the need and demand increases for those with technical knowledge grows.
There are growing numbers of POC that love tech, embrace being nerds, enjoy bring geeks.
Attending WordCamp conferences locally, nationally and internationally are refreshing reminders that geeks are everywhere, in every city, state, country;
People of Color embracing tech and learning to be producers not just consumers.
Productivity brings engagement in conversation about the dynamics of not just WordPress (which over 35% of web pages are designed on globally). This affects
graphic design, e-commerce, apps, Google analytics, SEO, marketing and achieving entrepreneurial dreams.
HBCU students can change the narrative because of their engagement their children as well will be exposed and inspired to start their own businesses.
The WordPress community is just that, a community that sees beyond just the simplistic nature of the web. They see the unlimited possibilities of self-employment,
intellectual design, community engagement, and social activism.
Social media is increasingly dominated by POC’s building brands, building business relationships, applying marketing strategies, and helping entrepreneurial dreams to be fulfilled.
The development of new technologies, apps, and platforms geared to business are allowing more to be engaged in online environments for communication, collaboration
and business ventures.
What should be encouraged is the involvement of HBCU institutions taking advantage of platforms like WordPress and encouraging students to attend WordCamp conferences.
If HBCU students do not understand the language of their professions they cannot sit at the tables of tech companies to become influencers.
HBCU students are learning that much of what they are learning in the classroom may be outdated as industry standards change, they need to be attending, contributing and even speaking at conferences like WordCamp. It should not always take alumni coming back to HBCU institutions speaking when students themselves have valuable information they can share from involvement and exposure.
The benefits are enormous and lasting.
