David Zapata '94 appointed to Chicago's inaugural Technology Industry Diversity Council

ENews Park Forest carried a January 9 news article announcing the formation of Chicago's first ever Technology Industry Diversity Council. David Zapata, a 1994 graduate of Gettysburg College, was appointed to serve on the council.

From eNews Park Forest:

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that, for the first time in the City’s history, a council has been appointed for the sole purpose of creating opportunity for minorities in Chicago’s technology economy.

“Chicago’s technology economy is thriving, creating thousands of jobs and generating interest from around the world,” said Mayor Emanuel. “As we experience this unprecedented growth in this key sector, it is incumbent that the opportunities that are being developed are available for all Chicagoans and that the city’s technology community reflects the diversity and vitality of the city itself. These talented leaders will work directly with the technology community and my office to create innovative programs and new ideas that will help expand the diversity and vibrancy of the technology economy throughout the City.”

The Technology Industry Diversity Council will have three main goals:

• Increasing the percentage of minority employees for technology firms.
• Increasing the percentage of minority-owned and operated technology firms.
• Helping to create a pipeline through which Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges of Chicago students can transition into the technology economy.

The council will be given an initial four-month timeline to make its first set of recommendations to Mayor Emanuel for specific things that can be undertaken by the Mayor’s administration to foster this sort of growth.

Read more