Launchpad Philly

This was day one of #diversitech2025. I had lots of opportunities to learn, and lots of interesting conversations surrounding technology. Coming into this space was very intimidating as a young professional, but I soon started to realize that I was just as capable as my peers around me. Moments like these allow me to realize how far I’ve come and how grateful I am for these opportunities. Big thank you to Launchpad Philly for paving the way for me to be here, Shannon Morales for opening up this space for us, Antonio Archer, Demitri DeLuca-Lyons, and Rob Thomas for keeping me company while I wandered around the area!

After eight months of hard work, our Launchpad 101 students have completed their Ignite projects! Last summer students identified a community problem and brainstormed a tech solution. In August, they pitched their solution in front of a live audience for a cash prize. Over the fall, they learned Figma and designed interactive prototypes of their apps before sending them out for feedback from LiftOff Associates, UX professionals, and their communities. After multiple rounds of feedback and revisions, students have finally built out case studies reflecting on their progress. Take a look at some of their case studies: https://lnkd.in/gRr_2USN #launchpadphilly #ux #ui

A huge thank you to Lilly Chen from FSH Technologies (formerly Contenda) for coming in and sharing her journey with our students! Lilly spoke about the realities of building in tech—the wins, the challenges, and the lessons learned along the way. She emphasized that bumps in the road are part of the journey, and success comes from continuously problem-solving, coding, and refining. Some key takeaways: ?? Stay curious—Always ask questions and explore how systems work. ?? Be aware—Understanding how people interact with technology is just as important as the code behind it. ?? Discovery is the hardest part—Uncovering what people don’t realize about how things work and extracting insights is a critical skill in building better systems. Thank you, Lilly, for inspiring our students to keep learning, iterating, and pushing forward! ?? #LaunchpadPhilly #TechEducation

?? Calling all financial experts! Launchpad Philly is looking for volunteers for just 1 hour the week of March 31st to review financial plans with our Associates. You can join virtually or in person to help them strengthen their financial futures. ?? Over the last few weeks, we've used #MoneyMonday to help build financial skills. Because let’s be real—the key to a financially secure life isn’t just landing a good-paying job. You have to know how to manage your money. Our associates have been putting in the work to: ? Figure out their tax withholding rate and calculate their take-home pay after deductions. ? Build a budget that includes income, expenses, and savings goals. ? Create a plan to reach an emergency savings goal and prepare for moving out. Now, we’re looking for financial experts who can spend 1 hour the week of March 31st reviewing their plans and offering real-world guidance. This is a great opportunity to share your expertise, support the next generation of tech professionals, and help them develop strong financial habits for long-term success. Interested? Drop a comment or send me a message, and we’ll follow up with more details!

Thank you to one of our industry partners, Seer Interactive, for hosting our Launchpad 101 students for a tour. Students had the opportunity to hear from founder and VP Innovation, Wil Reynolds, who inspired students by sharing his own personal story getting his first job. Wil reminded the students of the power of their phone in their pockets remaking "there is no iPhone for billionaires". From there, students heard from Devonte Grant (SEO Associate), Kelly McCullough, SHRM-CP (Sr. Manager, Talent Acquisition), and Christina Blake (Director, Product) about the three main focuses of Seer - Paid Media, SEO, and Analytics. We wrapped up with informational interviews followed by a tour. Thank you to Joanna Bowen for coordinating our visit and being an advocate for our work. #launchpadphilly #seerinteractive #employerpartner #mentorship

?? Four of our LiftOff students—Sianni Strickland, Bryan Gunawan, Antonio Archer, and Mohamed Souare—put their skills to the test at Philly Codefest, hosted by Drexel University's College of Computing & Informatics (CCI)! Philly Codefest is a hackathon that brings together students and professionals of all backgrounds to develop AI-driven solutions for real-world challenges. This year’s theme, "AI in Industry," explored how artificial intelligence can transform industries like healthcare, retail, finance, education, and more. Using Next.js, TypeScript, Firebase, and Figma, our students built Philly Social—a hub for Philadelphia news, events, local businesses, and community connections. ?? ?? Check out their work ???? : https://lnkd.in/ekZxvmsU

I’m heading to SXSW in Austin! If you're passionate about: ?? Career-connected learning — building real pathways from classrooms to careers ?? Employer partnerships — especially when corporate DEI is under fire ?? Tech training programs — equipping young talent for the future of work Let’s connect! Austin’s all about bold ideas and even bolder conversations — and I’m ready to dive into both. Whether over tacos, live music, or a good old-fashioned coffee chat, I want to swap strategies and share what’s working (and what’s next). Who’s in? Drop a comment or DM — let’s build something great, y’all!?

?? Wishing a very Happy Birthday to our amazing VP of Technology Instruction, Rob Thomas! Rob’s love for Launchpad runs deep—so much so that he relocated here to create and lead our forward-thinking tech training curriculum. We’re so grateful for your vision and leadership, Rob! Here's to another year of innovation and success. Want to get to know Rob better? Check out our Q&A blog ?? https://lnkd.in/eXxVzDaw

Launchpad is #hiring. Through our partnership with PHENND Fellows VISTA we are excited to announce that we are hiring a VISTA Fellow scheduled to begin this Fall. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to make an impact and help to transform the lives of young people in our city. The VISTA will be supporting Launchpad's recruitment efforts, forming relationships with high schools and partner organizations and helping spread awareness about Launchpad to the community! Thank you Eden Kainer and Roslynn Blount, MSW for all of your support through this process! Apply here: https://lnkd.in/ewgdVKSG

Over the next few weeks, LiftOff Associates will be diving into Unmasking AI by Dr. Joy Buolamwini as part of our Launchpad Lit series! ???? At Launchpad Philly, we’re encouraging our associates to think critically about the tech they’ll help create—and the responsibility that comes with it. Before even beginning the book, and after exploring the The Algorithmic Justice League website, our associates had some powerful questions on their minds: - What does a just world with AI look like? - How can we all take action to make sure that AI serves all of us fairly? These questions are central to the journey we’re embarking on with Unmasking AI. We’re eager to explore them further as we continue reading and, hopefully, get the chance to connect with Dr. Joy herself to learn even more! As we dive deeper into the book, we’ll be reflecting on the idea that "who codes matters, how we code matters, and we can code a better future"—a future where our work as technologists shapes a more equitable and just world for all.