NEW YORK, February 22, 2022 — Today Silicon Harlem and C-Better Foundation held a grand opening ceremony for a new Gigabit Innovation Center in Harlem, and NYU McSilver’s inaugural Chief AI Officer, Minerva Tantoco was invited to give remarks. A collaboration between the City of New York, Intersection, Zenfi, Silicon Harlem, and C-better Foundation, the Center will provide high-speed Internet, technology training, after-school hours for students and support for technology innovation and small business development in the local community.
Ms. Tantoco, who was previously New York City’s first Chief Technology Officer, hailed the Center’s mission. She noted that communities in need of technology advancement are too often left behind. “We want to make sure that the technology that is being created actually fulfills the promise that technology has, not only to do no harm, but to actually benefit the society, to actually be a force for good. The only way that we can do that is to have more people of color, more underrepresented folks in the technology industry.” She will lead The AI Hub at McSilver starting March 1.
Video Recording
Among the other notables who gave remarks were Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, City College of New York President Vincent Boudreau and Margaret Anadu, Global Head of Sustainability and Impact for Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY, 13) and Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel submitted pre-recorded remarks. The afternoon was presided over by Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lloyd Williams, and Silicon Harlem CEO Clayton Banks.
Learn more about The AI Hub at McSilver.