THE LIGHT HOUSE
March 10th 2024 at The Belmont
presented by The Tech We WantJoin us for THE LIGHT HOUSE at The Belmont! This in-person event is a wayfinding point and beacon for those who want to connect about more than what the status quo has to offer to our communities during Austin's most exciting time of the year.Immerse yourself in a day filled with inspiring talks, interactive activations, and intimate screenings in our screening room. Connect with like-minded individuals who share a vision for a more responsible tech future that puts people first as we explore the implications of AI and responsible technology.
What is The Tech We Want?
We are striving for a better future, and that future is here in the company of those working towards it.While we are dedicated to making the world a better place, we also believe in enjoying that place together.We provide an environment that embodies a brighter tech future, filled with individuals who value pro-social technology and collective intelligence, but who also prioritize having fun.
MAIN STAGE
Throughout the day (11AM - 6PM), we’ll hear from these exceptional leaders and members of their communities on the Main Stage.Get ready to be inspired and co-envision the tech that will shape our future!
Schedule
March 10, 2024
11:00am | Doors Open11:30am - 12:00pm | Welcome and Opening
with Aniyia Williams and Jocelyn Macdougall12:00pm-1:00pm | Oh Hey! Networking LunchGrab a lunch on us and join an informal lunch table conversation with responsible tech leaders.Featuring: The Collective Intelligence Project, Berkeley Skydeck, DivInc, Love Now Media, Reimagining Life, Black@ Labs, Stanford d.school and The Tech We Want1:00-1:30pm | Lightning Talks
Hear 5 minute talks from 4 different leaders as they drop knowledge about today’s tech issues!1:30-2:00pm | PANEL: What role can Gen AI play in our future? with Omidyar NetworkJoin our sponsor Omidyar Network as they host a panel of leaders in conversation about Generative AI and how to create the infrastructure that mitigates risks and expands opportunities in the tech space..2:30-3:00pm | “A People’s History of Technology”Hear the leaders of this newly launched project share lessons about the intersection of tech, collective storytelling, and narrative change. Then add your story to the timeline!3:00-3:30pm | Collective Intelligence: A Group Sensemaking SessionTHE LIGHT HOUSE emcees, Aniyia Williams and Jocelyn Macdougall, will guide the crowd through a fun interactive exercise that demonstrates the power of people and our collective wisdom.3:30-4:30pm | Speed Networking SessionWe're cranking connection all the way up for a lightning fast round of linking up with others in the space and learning more about their work or passions.4:30-5:00pm | BREAK5:00-6:00pm | PANEL: Funding Responsible InnovationAre you a responsible innovator looking for funding? This panel will give you a peek into the mind of investors and grantmakers, what they care about right now, and the best ways to plug in!Moderated by Lili Gangas, Chief Technology Community Officer at the Kapor Center, tune into a conversation with:
- Michelle Shevin, Senior Program Manager, Public Interest Technology Catalyst Fund, Ford Foundation;
- Katy Knight, Executive Director and President, Siegel Family Endowment;
- Jenny Flores, Social Impact & Small Business Growth Executive, Wells Fargo Foundation;
- Govind Shivkumar, Director of Investments, Omidyar Network.6:00-7:00pm | Adam Conover - Comedy Tech Set and Fireside ChatAdam Conover will be joining us as our special guest at THE LIGHT HOUSE 2024! Come laugh and connect with us as Adam talks about narrative change, using humor and real world insights on the implications of how technology continues to impact our world! Adam will be joining us for half an hour of full on comedy followed by a fireside chat with Aniyia Williams on our main stage. Admission is subject to capacity limits, tickets do not guarantee admission.7:00-9:00PM | VIP Only Cocktail Hour
THE LIVING ROOM
Come hang out in The Living Room where we’ll be hosting screening and conversations in this cozy space.
Schedule
March 10, 2024
11:30am - 1:30pm | Visions of Impact (Screening, 2h)Dive into a curated selection of videos featuring our work at The Tech We Want, and the work of our Community Partners.Featuring: Black Innovation Alliance, Black & Brown Founders, DivInc, Black Digital Art Collective, Love Now Media, Organization for Ethical Source, FlyDuo, and A People’s History of Tech.2:00pm - 3:00pm | Voces de La Comunidad by LTX ConnectWe'll dive into the power of storytelling of everyday community leaders across the Latin community who share how their culture, passion, and opportunities have defined their lives. As LTX Connect moves more into a media nonprofit, we start with the stories of our community to serve as a way to inspire, educate, and empower.As we head to the elections, we know a lot is at stake and the Latine civic engagement is critical for democracy. Through these videos we hope to inspire purpose and drive action.3:30pm - 4:30pm | Black Innovation Alliance Living RoomWelcome to the Black Innovation Alliance Living Room, a place where ecosystem builders, innovative founders, and future minded folks can curate conversation, foster collaboration, and provide a safe haven for envisioning the future. At Black Innovation Alliance, we believe in the power of collective imagination, where diverse minds converge to shape the landscapes of tomorrow. Whether you're a visionary entrepreneur, a community leader, or passionate about the future of innovation, we want to see you in the Living Room.Hosted by India Fordham, Member Experience Manager, Black Innovation Alliance4:30pm - 4:45pm | Justice by the Numbers (Screening, 14m)What happens when a public interest technologist joins forces with an organization like the ACLU of Massachusetts? The single largest dismissal of wrongful convictions in U.S. history.Collaborations in public interest technology, like the one that saw these wrongful convictions overturned, is a burgeoning area of tech that envisions a world in which technologists like Villarreal can bring their expertise to other sectors, including civil society, to create a more just world. With technological advances outpacing government regulation and legal jurisdiction, public interest tech seeks to ensure technology is designed, deployed, and regulated in a way that protects and improves the lives of people, centering values of equity, inclusion, and accountability where the public interest is at stake.4:45pm - 5:00pm | Collective Intelligence and The Tech We Want (12m)Collective intelligence - as an alternative to artificial intelligence - embodies the shared knowledge and problem-solving expertise of a community, and is magnified by the leverage of technology. Aniyia Williams delves into this key theme of our work at The Tech We Want, and the personal meaning of collective intelligence, to help us reconsider our relationship with technology.
9:00PM-LATE | LIGHTS OUT! Party co-presented by The Tech We Want and Espacio LatinoJoin us for an electrifying night of fun at The Belmont as we close out our time in Austin this year! We’re gathered in person to catch a vibe - let’s get to know each other on another level beyond the networking and hardworking conference-going versions of ourselves.Connect with those who are actively working on making the world a better place, all while having fun.
You won’t want to miss performances by DJ Kick it, Karaoke, and chats with new and old friends.
Event kicks off at 9pm, daytime programming guests get express entry. More details here.
FESTIVAL GUIDE (PDF Download)We’ve put together a festival guide which includes a few of our recommendations for other events in town to look out for!
The Tech We Want
The Tech We Want empowers a new wave of leaders, companies, and technologies that are built on inclusivity, mutualism, sustainability, accountability, and responsible innovation.Learn more at thetechwewant.com
A People’s History of Tech
A People's History of Tech is building a more just and representative history of technology, so we can architect a more just, shared future.A People's History of Tech is a project supported by The Tech We Want and was incubated by the Omidyar Network’s Digital Luminary Fellows.Learn more at peoplestech.com
