The ability to empathize with communities more than your competition

Antonio Rowry
Aug 24, 2017 · 3 min read
Blue Studios, the only Pre-K through 12th grade STEM pathway serving Chicagoland Hackathon event.

“I know how you feel.”

Perhaps there is no phrase in the English language that can ring truer — or sound more hollow — than those five simple words. That’s because, as human beings, we relate to each other through shared experiences. Our nuanced history, and stories, are what help build a national identity, they help create a culture within a community, and they create a basis of understanding between people who share these commonalities.

Conversely, when someone who doesn’t share a similar background tries to empathize with members of a given community, it can come across as shallow — even if the attempt is well-intentioned. That’s simply because the outsider hasn’t been through the same experiences, and therefore, they lack authenticity. These outsiders miss the nuances — or even the larger, glaring areas — a community that has lived through such an experience has seen. Even if places claim diversity, people who are underrepresented recognize authenticity (or lack thereof) where other groups simply don’t see.

That’s where we at BLUE1647 have intentionally stepped in to bring an authentic voice to issues of diversity in technology and entrepreneurship. We’re a network of minority-owned and operated entrepreneurship and technology innovation platforms that foster economic development in technology and 21st Century skills through people development (classes, workshops, and events around technology), workforce development (youth and adult technology programs to prepare individuals for high-demand jobs) and Business Acceleration (through industry events and strategic partnerships).

The entrepreneurial community we serve has experienced the same challenges as the leaders of any other business — the struggles to find exceptional technical assistance, to capitalize on solid networking and partnership opportunities, and to secure access to seemingly scarce start-up and growth resources. These challenges become exacerbated by bias, and what often is a lack of intentionality around recruitment, support, and capital solutions for us who are marginalized.

One element that makes us different is that as black men and women, we have the ability to empathize with others’ because we have experienced these same challenges. Our common experiences allow us to cut through others’ talk about diversity and inclusion to access authentic solutions that work for us — and, in turn, allow you to work for your clients, build relevant skills, networks, and ventures within an innovative space within our neighborhoods.

By building a truly diverse and emphatic environment that focuses on consistent experiences and training in technology, small business technical assistance and mentorship, as well as cohort-based initiatives that develop genuine and lasting support networks, we can comprehensively address the needs of our BLUE1647 member community.

We really do know how you feel— and we can help you.

Antonio Rowry is the COO of BLUE1647, an award-winning network of education and technology innovation platforms, cofounder of the 21st Century Youth Project featured in CNN, Chicago Crain Business, SiliconANGLE, and Code Chicago where youth & adults received cohort-based trainings in hardware and software development. Antonio graduated from DePaul University with a degree in Business Administration and Management, where he focused his studies on new venture enterprise and organizational frameworks. With a passion for building organizations that make the world a better place, Antonio’s mission is to enhance the diversity in tech and entrepreneurship.

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Building BlueStudios.io. Previously, BLUE1647 & @DePaulU. Building ventures that make the world a better place. Life plan = loop { create_value(); have_fun(); }

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