Kinfolk Tech

Truly appreciated the opportunity to participate in a National Center for Civil and Human Rights hosted community feedback session on the Bellwood Quarry’s Memorialization Project. Led by the National Center for Civil and Human Rights’ Truth & Transformation team, community members were invited to share ideas around how to best unveil and illuminate the Bellwood Quarry’s past history as a site for convict labor in Georgia. Many incarcerated individuals, the majority African-American, were forced to work in “labor camps” like Bellwood Quarry. They were forced, under horrific circumstances, to break rocks for city and county infrastructure projects. Oftentimes, the incarcerated individuals would be chained together, forced to break and extract granite from the Quarry during the most extreme heat of the day. Some died of heat stroke, others suffered beatings. Shockingly, this forced labor practice continued until the 1950s. Our discussion included a digital simulation by Kinfolk Tech where we could digitally add historical figures into our space to help imagine digital memorializations for Bellwood Quarry. The exercise included avatars from music, sports and history. I chose Ida B. Wells & Shirley Chisom as my “spirit” statues. What a transformative experience! (Photos in comments below!) Darrin Sims idris brewster Samantha Watkins Staci Walker Kama Bethel Pierce Sandra Barnhill

Visionary. Multidisciplinary. Passionate. These words encapsulate why we're thrilled to welcome Ravon Ruffin Feliz (she/they) to the Kinfolk Tech team as our new Director of Strategic Partnerships! Ravon is a cyber anthropologist, artist, and facilitator who brings a wealth of experience in cultural preservation, technology, and community engagement. Their background perfectly aligns with Kinfolk's mission to harness emerging technologies for archiving and amplifying stories of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Queer communities. Ravon's impressive journey includes: ? Founding Citation Studio, a Black feminist experimental thinking studio ? Roles at NEW INC, The Studio Museum in Harlem, MoMA, and Smithsonian NMAAHC ? M.A. in American Studies from George Washington University ? focuses on Black geographies, computing, archives, and public programs In Ravon's own words: "I chose Kinfolk because it strongly aligns with my values in designing for and with community, and equally recognizes the necessity of storytelling and archiving to envision our collective liberation."We're excited to see how Ravon's unique perspective and expertise will drive our partnerships and amplify under-told stories in public spaces! #CulturalTech #DiversityInTech #StrategicPartnerships #StorytellingInnovation #NewTeamMember

Innovative. Versatile. Purpose-driven. These qualities exemplify why we're excited to welcome Omoyemi Oni (he/him) to the Kinfolk Tech team as our new Producer! With over 14 years at the forefront of storytelling and cutting-edge technology, Omoyemi brings a wealth of experience that spans: ? Video game development ? XR (virtual and augmented reality) ? Broadcast media (TV and radio) ? Web production ? Live events Omoyemi's passion for leveraging technology to tell human stories and shift narratives aligns perfectly with Kinfolk's mission. In his own words:"From commercial projects to pro bono work, I'm fascinated by technology's ability to tell human stories and shift narratives, whether for entertainment or education. This passion is what draws me to Kinfolk's mission: using augmented reality to amplify the stories of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and queer communities." His expertise in game development for major platforms, proficiency with Unreal Engine and Unity, and certifications in Agile, Scrum, and XR Design make him an invaluable addition to our team. We can't wait to see how Omoyemi's diverse skill set and dedication to impactful storytelling will elevate our work in using AR to empower underrepresented voices! #TechForGood #StorytellingInnovation #DiversityInTech #ARForChange #NewTeamMember

Introducing?Bibi Bahari, our latest digital monument made in collaboration with the legendary?Wangechi Mutu?as part of our Signature Series! Bibi Bahari is inspired by the mythological water spirit?Mami Wata, the African mythological icon known for offering prosperity, healing, fertility and sexual freedom to her worshippers.?Bibi Bahari?is a character that evokes the place, the conditions, the mystical symbolism of the ocean, from which She and all life come from. This digital monument emerges from the waters at?Brooklyn Bridge Park?in NYC and?Moonwalk Riverfront Park?in New Orleans. Catch her as She ascends, turning your phone screen into a magical portal where art, nature, and mythology collide. Download the Kinfolk app on iOS and Android to experience the entire monument and reflect on the state of our relationship with water and all life it sustains.

After a lot of work with artists, developers, and community organizations, I'm happy to announce the Children's Creativity Museum?is launching the new Step into the Mural AR walking tour in San Francisco! ?? ??♂? Discover new virtual murals and watch existing murals come alive with augmented reality?? while walking through the SOMA Pilipinas-Filipino Cultural Heritage and Chinatown neighborhoods. This interactive tour will captivate both kids and adults, connecting you with the rich stories of our city’s communities. Download the free Kinfolk app for iPhone or Android and tap the map icon to start your journey today! A prompt to view a mural will automatically pop up in the app once you are near one of the 10 locations in the city, so get moving. ??♂? ??♀? ??♂? ??♀? As someone who loves??? and appreciates San Francisco's street art, it has been very rewarding to lead this effort, helping local artists use technology to beautifully express their personal attachments to our city. Thanks to all our ?? superstar mural artists??, Nicki Aquino and Carol Tang?at CCM for connecting with local artists and groups to truly make this a community effort, Emily Maletz?for the tireless work to make the AR enhancements on the existing murals,?Kinfolk Tech?for partnering with us and adding all the content into their awesome app, and Verizon and NYU Tandon School of Engineering for funding and coordination. Please check out all these links to learn more and download the Kinfolk app:? Step into the Mural webpage at CCM where you will find more info about the local artists who made virtual murals for the tour: https://lnkd.in/gR45dGuZ Download Kinfolk for iPhone: https://lnkd.in/gr7tAX4t Download Kinfolk for Android:?https://lnkd.in/gMTQKSri Printable map of the walking tour: https://lnkd.in/ghkAKWHG To explore more AR experiences, visit Verizon Innovative Learning:?https://lnkd.in/gzNE7VXy #stepintothemural #muralwalkingtour #murals #kinfolkapp #childrensmuseumsf #creativitymuseum #visitsf #sanfrancisco #somapilipinas #chinatownsf

idris brewster’s groundbreaking work as the founder of Kinfolk Tech, an augmented reality archive that builds apps and experiences centering Black and Brown history, has garnered him honors like Forbes 30 Under 30, delivering a speech at the UN, and a feature in the MoMA. Now he shares #careeradvice, including how to overcome imposter syndrome. Hear what he has to say: #puck #findyourpeople?

When we think about technology and our mission of collective liberation, we approach it with a specific lens: ? How can we harness the power of AI for more effective progressive messaging? ? How are we monitoring and evaluating data for bias? ? How can we develop community-driven tech solutions? ? How will we mitigate AI's risk of harm? ?? New Media Ventures is proud to announce investments and grants into innovative startup organizations that are doing just that--and more. ?? Chorus AI is a tool that will help you put all your data into one place, so you can easily surface the most critical news and social media and find the documents you need. ?? Kinfolk Tech Foundation is harnessing emerging technologies to empower stories of Black, Brown, and Queer communities in public spaces through imagination and play. ?? AI4Abolition is creating an abolitionist future by promoting AI literacy and developing open-source community-led products that engender a just and regenerative future. ?? Data Nutrition Project is empowering data scientists and policymakers with practical tools to improve AI outcomes. We celebrate the work these organizations are doing and look forward to working closely with them to realize this future. ?? Visit the following link to learn more about the important work these organizations are doing and how you can help: https://lnkd.in/gCVsZhiQ Jessica Salinas Phillip Sanders Abigail Leung Carlos Emmanuel Salinas Carlissia N. Graham Kasia Chmielinski Tareq Alani Aaron Myran Samuel Landenwitsch Avriel Epps Jordan Epps idris brewster Micah Milner

Have you heard? We are #Hiring! We are seeking a part-time Fundraising Assistant to help fuel our mission of revolutionizing how we experience diverse heritage. As our Fundraising Assistant, you’ll be the powerhouse behind our fundraising efforts. You’ll co-write compelling grant proposals, steward donor relationships while playing a crucial role in sustaining and growing our impact. What does it take to be successful in this role? - You’re a wordsmith who can translate our insights into compelling narratives; - You’re skilled at managing relationships and especially well-versed with the unique needs of donors; - You’re a grant writer with a track record of success. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/g-8nhw3Y #Fundraising #Development #KinfolkTech

For us, “Question the status quo” isn’t just a catchy phrase - it’s the spark that ignited our entire mission. Did you know that out of 48,178 monuments nationwide, only 240 represent Black and Brown people? This staggering disparity in representation is exactly the kind of status quo we refuse to accept. Kinfolk Tech’s journey began with a simple “What if?” What if we could use emerging technology to amplify diverse voices and stories often left out of our public spaces? This questioning spirit led us to reimagine how we interact with history and culture in our everyday environments. Now, we’re harnessing the power of augmented reality to bring untold stories to life, creating digital monuments that celebrate the full richness of our shared heritage. But questioning the status quo doesn’t stop at our products - it’s deeply embedded in how we work. It fosters an environment where every team member, regardless of role or department, is empowered to challenge assumptions and bring fresh ideas to the table. It’s not uncommon to see our tech experts brainstorming with historians, or our UX designers collaborating with community leaders. This cross-pollination of perspectives leads to innovative solutions that none of us could have developed alone. By constantly questioning “how things have always been done,” we’ve cultivated a synergistic approach that magnifies our impact and pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in tech for social good. At Kinfolk Tech, questioning the status quo means looking at the world not just as it is, but as it could be. It means using technology as a force for equity and inclusion. It means never settling for “that’s just how things are.” As we begin to plan beyond 2024, Kinfolk is committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible when technology meets social impact. We’re just getting started in redefining representation in public spaces to push past the status quo. Want to be part of this exciting journey? Follow our page for regular updates on our latest projects, team insights, and the innovative ways we’re using AR to amplify diverse voices. Together, we’re not just questioning the status quo – we’re actively reshaping it. Join us in creating a more inclusive, representative future. What untold stories should we bring to life next? #QuestionEverything #TechForGood #DiversityInTech #AugmentedReality #KinfolkTech #FutureOfTech #SocialImpact #StayTuned

Throughout her career as a teacher and principal, Jasmine Maze, M.S.Ed. (D.C. ‘11) saw how the lack of representation in monuments and textbooks fueled educational inequity. Today, she's the Chief of Education and Learning at Kinfolk Tech, leveraging emerging technologies to amplify stories of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Queer communities in public spaces through imagination and play. Jasmine's journey is inspired by her family, ancestors, teaching experience, and mentors. ????? #EducationEquity #RepresentationMatters #Inspiration #TeachForAmerica #Kinfolk