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Education Event Recap: A Conversation About Growing Los Angeles' Tech Workforce
Thursday night in Los Angeles, GOOD and University of Phoenix hosted "Now Hiring: A Conversation About Growing Los Angeles' Tech Workforce," a panel discussion about how schools, businesses, and government can work together to ensure that we're educating the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professionals of the future.
The panel was moderated by GOOD CEO and co-founder Ben Goldhirsh and featured an impressive group of influencers making a difference in Los Angeles—Peter Diamandis, Founder and Chairman, X PRIZE Foundation; Eric Garcetti, the President of the Los Angeles City Council; Eric Hirshberg, CEO, Activision Publishing; Bernadette Lucas, Principal, Melrose Elementary Math Science Technology Magnet; and Blair Smith, Dean, College of Information Systems & Technology, University of Phoenix.
The panelists shared their perspectives on what it will take to turn Los Angeles into the next Silicon Valley, and engaged with audience members and the online community about what we can all do to help K-12 schools, colleges, businesses and community organizations set up students for success.
For those that couldn't join us, you'll find event photos and a recap of the conversation's highlights on the slides above. We look forward to continuing the conversation.
Moderator Ben Goldhirsh kicked things off by sharing how the demand for STEM professionals in Los Angeles and other cities far outpaces supply. It is predicted that tech workforce jobs will grow twice as fast jobs in other sectors.
Technology is changing so quickly, Peter Diamandis said, that one of the big things he tells people is that they have to train for the tech of the future, not the tech we have now. Both he and Eric Hirshberg shared that when they talk to students and
Bernadette Lucas, principal of Melrose Elementary Math Science Technology Magnet, shared that her school had the highest academic growth in the state last year because they focused on STEAM: science, tech, engineering, art and math. She said
Lenny, a college student in the audience, asked, "What can the average person can do to help Los Angeles' tech workforce grow?"
Garcetti said that STEM professionals and teachers need to get connected to each other and was adamant
Los Angeles' King of Green, Mud Baron, was in attendance and presented each panelist with a box of heirloom tomatoes. He asked about the future of food and technology, because hospitality is a huge
Another audience member, Erin Ross of City Year-Los Angeles, noted that the reality is kids don't have access to the internet, which makes it hard to become tech workers.
Lucas shared how all third-fifth graders at Melrose Avenue have their
A question came from Twitter about whether Los Angeles needs a lawsuit to provide tech access to every student. Diamandis noted that the United Nations recently said that internet is a basic human right, so legal action may be needed. However, Garcett
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