Philadelphia is set to host its first Project NorthStar conference, a three-day event starting Wednesday that will focus on helping more entrepreneurs of color gain a foothold in the tech sector.
Named for Frederick Douglass’ abolitionist newspaper, the idea came after Mayor Jim Kenney left the 2017 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin, Texas disappointed by the lack of diversity among the participants and speakers. His office teamed up with Black and Brown Founders, a local nonprofit that supports black and Latinx entrepreneurs, especially those with modest means, to create a new conference to engage communities of color in technology.