TechCrunch Sessions: Justice 2021 - Announcement
Even with ongoing diversity assessments and inclusivity programs, the technology sector continues to face challenges in reaching fair representation for Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous individuals. Simultaneously, accounts of racial bias, unfair treatment, and employment law breaches remain common. A persistent disparity in funding also exists, favoring those who identify as white and/or male.
On March 3rd, at TC Sessions: Justice, we aim to address these issues. While a complete resolution of the tech industry’s diversity and inclusion challenges isn’t immediately achievable, we will provide a platform to listen to and learn from individuals actively driving positive change within the industry – through innovation, investment, worker advocacy, and dedicated support.
Our intention is that insights from leaders such as Arlan Hamilton, Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, Naj Austin, founder of Ethel’s Club and Somewhere Good, Vanessa Bain, co-founder of the Gig Workers Collective, Clarissa Redwine, a co-organizer of the Kickstarter union, and others, will motivate further action and progress throughout the tech world.
We anticipate attendees will gain the understanding that proactive, ethical behavior doesn’t require authorization and that community-level organization can be highly effective. The core principle of this event could be described as bold action, or, as eloquently stated by the late Congressman John Lewis, creating “good trouble.”
We invite you to join us as we delve into topics such as equitable recruitment practices, improved funding opportunities for Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous entrepreneurs, and strategies for building inclusive and welcoming workplaces. We will also consider the perspectives of independent contractors and individuals with prior incarceration, groups frequently excluded from the economic benefits of Silicon Valley. The event will conclude with a conversation about the influence of venture capital in building a more equitable tech landscape. These topics, and many others, will be explored at TC Sessions: Justice.
