TAMPA : James Faison is a self-described tech enthusiast who wants to see more people like himself - young and black - on the city's tech landscape.
But finding this tribe can be difficult, even in a tech-progressive city like Tampa. So instead of searching around, Faison is putting out a call a la Field of Dreams "build-it-and-they-will-come" for other black tech lovers to meet up.
Hosted by A Seat At The Table, (ASATT), LLC, The Mainframe takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday (June 28), at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, 400 N. Ashley Dr.
The quarterly event targets local black tech entrepreneurs, professionals, and enthusiasts to immerse them into the Bay Area's startup community.
The event is the brainchild of Faison and five other partners - Michael Washington, David Young, Marek Carter, Cleveland Mitchner, and BJ Atkins - who lament the lack of black men and women at tech-related events.
"We're trying to stand in the gap and connect the dots between the black community and the tech landscape," he said.
It's a bridge that's sorely needed: white men make up the majority of those working in tech at 63 percent with African-Americans making up a smaller share at 14 percent, according to a report by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The Mainframe is more than just a networking outlet; local tech entrepreneurs and developers will be invited to discuss and demonstrate their products.
The Mainframe, however, is not exclusive to blacks. Anyone with an interest in tech is welcome to attend, Faison said.
"We want to see Tampa live up to its full potential," he said. "We have to embrace the idea that everyone, no matter their race, deserves a fair shake."
Contact Kenya Woodard at hillsnews@tampabay.com
