Over 200 middle and high school students in STEM will attend a multinational tour at the new Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
On June 14, 2019, STEM students from one of Atlanta’s largest school districts will experience The Have Not Story’s Tech Empowerment Tour, a flagship program designed by technology evangelist and storyteller, Rokeya Jones.
Mission-driven and focused on fostering inclusivity for minorities, The Have Not Story is an organization committed to inspiring young people by creating paths to join and thrive in the technology industry.
Atlanta is not only Jones’ hometown, but is the official third stop of the tech program. Destiny Adams, web designer for The Have Not Story, shares her excitement around the event, calling Jones a “prime example of what black excellence looks like in the tech community.”
The event takes place at Atlanta’s newest incubator and coworking space, the Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RCIE). Previous locations of the tour include Johannesburg, South Africa and Seattle, Washington, with more growing tech hubs on the horizon.
Dr. Eboni C. Chillis, Director of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) at Clayton County Public Schools, has partnered exclusively with Jones to make the Tech Empowerment Tour possible with the Georgia-based school district.
“The Have Not Story’s stop in Atlanta is an amazing opportunity for students to authentically visualize who they will become, what they can do and the necessary strategies to get there,” shares Dr. Chillis. “The event places students in a networking hub with direct interaction with company executives, designers, programmers, cinematographers, athletes, and entrepreneurs who are willing to share key secrets to accelerate their college, career and entrepreneurial trajectories.”
The tour will end the school system’s SummerT.I.M.E. Camp, brought together by K-12 Science Coordinator Janetta Greenwood. This partnership marks what Jones and Dr. Chillis envision to be the first of a highly-anticipated annual event moving forward. Students from ages 13 to 19 will participate in a variety of activities and workshops designed to build confidence, helping them to connect the similarities in principles between personal growth and product development.
“I want underserved students to harness the superpowers they already have to realize a brighter future made possible by applying diverse experiences to a career in technology,” says Rokeya Jones, Founder of The Have Not Story.
In addition to Clayton County Public Schools, The Have Not Story proudly partners with International Women’s Think Tank, founded by Dr. Brenda Morant, and Roddy White’s Keep The Faith Foundation. Refreshments are made possible by Hint, Chick-Fil-A, and Edible Arrangements.
About Rokeya Jones: Entrepreneur, activist, speaker, and mother, Jones is a distinguished global executive and catalyst for equality recognized for enterprise integrations at Disney, Verizon, Microsoft Azure, and IBM. She is a recipient of the 2018 “Woman of Excellence” Award by the Atlanta Tribune, and honored as a “Distinguished Speaker” by Jackson County Public Schools of Mississippi. Jones is well-renowned for her influence in providing technical jobs to the Southeast market. Her product designs and innovation in cloud-native emerging technologies have impacted billions of users around the world.
About The Have Not Story: An organization committed to inspiring young people by creating paths to join and thrive in the technology industry. #TheHaveNotStory, #DesignYourStory, #LivingInTech, and #RokeyaEmpowers are all hashtags associated with The Have Not Story. Learn more at www.thehavenotstory.com. All sponsors and general inquiries should be directed to info@thehavenotstory.com.
About CTAE of Clayton County Public Schools: The Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Program of the Clayton County Public School System provides the interdisciplinary and technical skills to students preparing to enter businesses and industries for high-demand, high-skilled, high-wage occupations.
About The International Women’s Think Tank: The International Women’s Think Tank works to empower women and girls. The Youth Initiative promotes, advance, and support literacy and STEM programs. It provides a platform that identifies gaps in programs to under-served youth and works to bridge the gap by linking resources to the needs of the community.
About Roddy White Keep The Faith Foundation (RWKTFF): Founded by former NFL player Roddy White, the mission of RWKTFF is to educate minds, inspire creativity, enrich healthy habits, empower full potential and encourage integrity for the youth through positive and direct interaction.
