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📢 Uplifting Black Technologists: Spotlight on CODE2040

Here at DEV, we're dedicated to honoring Juneteenth and highlighting initiatives and organizations that empower Black and African-American technologists. Black Lives Matter, and we celebrate these orgs for their contributions toward creating futures for Black people and African-Americans while shaping our industry for the better.

Today, we want to focus our attention on an exceptional organization making a significant impact: CODE2040.

CODE2040's mission is to activate, connect, and mobilize the largest racial equity community in tech. They are committed to breaking down the structural barriers that hinder the full participation and leadership of Black and Latinx individuals in the innovation economy. Their goal is to achieve an equitable distribution of power in a digitally revolutionized economy, with proportional representation at all levels and roles for Black and Latinx individuals.

CODE2040 firmly believes in the power of collective action. As a growing movement of Black and Latinx technologists, allies, and advocates, they actively support, celebrate, and include others in their mission to transform the tech industry into an equitable and inclusive space.

Recognizing the need for structural change, CODE2040 continuously experiments with new approaches, shares knowledge, and identifies patterns that can drive industry transformation. They learn from technologists, companies, universities, and others to create meaningful and lasting change.

Embracing the complexity of reality, CODE2040 values multiple truths. They make decisions by involving those most affected, relying on data-driven insights, and navigating tradeoffs for progress. By combining data and lived experiences, they foster a comprehensive understanding of the challenges they face.


CODE2040 Events & Fellows Program
CODE2040 organizes a range of events, including gatherings, workshops, and programs tailored to Black and Latinx individuals in the tech industry. These events provide invaluable opportunities for networking, learning, and career development. Their flagship event, The Summit, is an annual conference held in San Francisco. Additionally, their Fellows Program, an intensive career accelerator, offers internships at top tech companies, racial equity advocacy work, and real-world projects in various domains such as software development, data analysis, design and user experience, marketing and outreach, and operations and strategy. The program has expanded nationwide, allowing participants to join virtually from anywhere. Find out more about the Fellows Program here.


Join us in celebrating Juneteenth and supporting CODE2040's incredible work in advancing racial equity in the tech industry. Together, we can shape a better, more inclusive future for all. 🙌

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Michael Tharrington • Edited

One of my favorite technologist on the web is Marques Brownlee aka MKBHD on YouTube.

A photo of Marques Brownlee with graphics of a YouTube logo and his handle "MKBHD"

This technologist is not a software developer (at least, I don't think...) but rather a tech YouTuber who I watch on the regular for gadget reviews and his takes on the consumer tech industry. I've also been digging his channel Auto Focus for learning more about electric vehicles. His skills as a video journalist are on point and I've really enjoyed watching his growth as a producer over the years — as he's grown, his videos get more polished and his breakdowns/explanations are sharper.

Notably, he has a video called Reflecting on the Color of My Skin that is well worth a watch. It's inspired by Neil deGrasse Tyson's post here that uses the same title. I'll avoid clumsily trying to sum these up, and instead I just highly recommend that you check them both out.

Marques Brownlee is arguably one of the most well-known, successful folks in the YouTube techie space. I'd recommend him to anybody looking for a thoughtful, fun, well-spoken tech guru to follow.