By Forum Staff
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. is set to host his third annual Queens Tech & Career Expo on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria.
Richards said that the expo will feature more than 45 different career and technology vendors, as well as a litany of interactive activities geared toward residents from historically disadvantaged communities with an interest in breaking into the city’s tech industry, including:
- A free job skills assessment powered by leading artificial intelligence firm Skyhive and JobsFirstNYC.
- A fireside chat featuring Borough President Richards and Hot 97 host and video game influencer Gerard “HipHopGamer” Williams on the gaming industry’s impact in Queens.
- A gaming competition hosted by HipHopGamer, with prizes for participants.
- Interactive, hands-on coding workshops led by All Star Code, a firm that works to prepare young men from underserved communities for tech careers.
- Free professional mentoring opportunities led by Cornell Tech and We Rule.
- Keynote speeches by Borough President Richards, Nigerian-American tech entrepreneur Chinedu Echeruo and Bronx-born gaming industry leader Albert Dankwa.
Nearly 30 percent of city residents are Latin and 24 percent are Black, but Latin and Black residents hold just 12 percent and 11 percent of NYC tech jobs, respectively, according to a 2020 study by analytic firm HR&A Advisors, Richards noted. Meanwhile, half of the Big Apple’s population identifies as female, but just 35 percent of tech jobs are filled by women.
“The talent in those very communities is limitless, and the key to unlocking our economic potential as a borough is tapping into that talent,” said Deputy Borough President Ebony Young. “I couldn’t be prouder of the work our administration is doing to empower brilliant minds all across our borough and I look forward to all the critical work still ahead of us.”
Later this year, Richards will cut the ribbon on the Global Tech & Innovation Center in Long Island City. First announced by the Borough President in his 2024 State of the Borough address and created in partnership with tech firm Pursuit, the center will serve as a hub of programming, investment and growth for Gotham start-ups — providing entrepreneurs with the financial investment services and business mentorship tools they need to scale up.
Richards has allocated more than $4.6 million in capital funding into the establishment of the GTIC, which is slated to open in the second quarter of 2025.
“The key to creating a cutting-edge economy here in Queens can be summed up in one word — opportunity. But for too long, communities of color across our borough have been denied the opportunity to participate in our city’s growing technology and innovation spheres,” said Richards. “Through the annual Queens Tech & Career Expo and countless other initiatives, my administration is putting an end to that practice. When all our families are afforded an opportunity to fuel our shared future, we all succeed. I look forward to seeing many of you in Astoria on January 25.”
Borough residents interested in attending the Queens Tech & Career Expo can register by visiting eventbrite.com/e/2025-queens-borough-president-office-career-tech-expo-tickets-1106544547529?aff=oddtdtcreator.
