BRITTANY YOUNG
TONEE LAWSON
BRITTANY YOUNG
FOUNDER , B-360
Baltimore native and former engineer and educator Brittany Young founded B-360 after noticing a need to create better pathways to STEM careers for local talent . Perhaps surprisingly , dirt bikes ended up being the answer . Recalling her experience as a Baltimore child watching dirt bike riders in Druid Hill Park , Young created a nonprofit organization that uses the culture and skills of street riders to strengthen community relationships and build STEM interest for area youth .
On what ’ s special about Baltimore :
The people , the community and the culture . It is rare to find people that have so much pride in their city and have the commitment to want and make change . As a business owner , Baltimore is also a top 10 tech city , growing for women in business and ripe for impact . In Baltimore , I get to be home and connected to making my city better and that is a feeling I cannot get anywhere else .
On how to get Baltimore ’ s youth interested :
As a proud Baltimore City public school graduate , our identity exists in our culture and innate genius . In Baltimore , a common pastime is dirt bikes , but most people will overlook the genius riders have — how they fix their bikes , how they have to think about the gasto-oil ratio to make sure their engines do not get messed up , the skills to pop a wheelie at 12 o ’ clock while honoring Newton ’ s Laws , and all of the innovation that is coming with research and development for better helmets , for electric dirt bikes , for safety gear that is more eco-friendly and so much more . At B-360 we connect what youth already love and recognize with the engineering design process to show them how their genius can be activated to pursue STEM careers and more . One hundred percent of students may come for dirt bikes , but over 93 % leave wanting to pursue STEM fields . That is transformative .
TONEE LAWSON
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR , BE . ORG
A nonprofit organization built around supporting Baltimore youth , Be . Org offers a variety of STEM-specific enrichment programs and networking opportunities to area students — including an annual Tech Conference and Be . Virtual , during which students learn coding skills while creating video games .
On why Baltimore is a great place for tech :
Baltimore is a powerhouse for startups and tech entrepreneurs . The city has a great tech community and ecosystem for founders and those looking to expand their businesses . Baltimore is also home to many anchor institutions / health systems , like Johns Hopkins University and the University System of Maryland . That makes it very accessible to connect with researchers , professors , students and others to further develop your skills , network and land a job on a team that may be working on cuttingedge technology . Baltimore is also uniquely situated near Washington , D . C . and Fort Meade , which makes it an ideal location for biotechnology and cybersecurity and healthcare , and government and defense contractors .
On the future of tech :
There will be more opportunities for individuals to learn skills and gain credentials that directly translate to careers and increase their employability . In a city where there is so much opportunity , but often trouble accessing resources , education and workforce development programs will become more equitable , allowing people to gain skills , get a job and earn well beyond a living wage that will leave them more financially stable . It is also my hope that Baltimore will continue to bridge the digital divide , allowing every home to be equipped with a device and access to the internet . Reimagining access to tech as a necessity and not a luxury will provide more equitable opportunities for all residents in the city . VB
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