With Change Comes Opportunity: Code2040 Fellow Jenny Martinez Reflects on Summer Summit
By Jenny Martinez
As I waited patiently near my gate for the flight attendant to start boarding, I decided it was finally the right time to start reading, Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy by Cathy O'Neil, a book I had put off for a long time. The book had appeared to me just days before the Code2040 Summit. Besides the catchy title, what interested me about this book was the fact that I was going to learn more about the corporate tech system that I'm going into and perhaps by being aware, I can make a difference. Finding this book again at that moment feels like it served a bigger purpose for me.
For a long time now, I have been having a hard time getting back to the grind of coding, primarily because of how fast things are moving with AI and how easy it is to lose sight of what makes coding fun - using creativity to solve problems. I also realized more people on my project team were relying more on predictive algorithms and less on each other to build, and come up with creative solutions. The way we use these tools matters more than we may think.
An important theme in this year’s summit was about raising more awareness on how we can shape technology to work for us, instead of against us, and drive more social justice. Arriving in Detroit for the summit and having the chance to read that book just for a moment, opened my perspective about important issues that I feel are still being overlooked like data tracking, data rights and data privacy. It allowed me to drive more discussions with my other fellows. I tried to put more energy on being present, so I can learn from others and others could learn from me.
Code2040 2024-2025 Fellow Jenny Martinez responds to interview questions with Code2040 CEO Mimi Fox Melton.
The summit agenda included workshops and individual sessions that focused on advocacy, racial equity in tech, future innovations in Artificial Intelligence, and more. We had panelists that included Detroit's finest community leaders and activists such as Monica Lewis (Entrepreneur and Human Rights Activist), Tawana Petty (Social Justice Organizer, Poet & Author), and Eric C. Williams (Lawyer & Entrepreneur). Being in the presence of these highly respected community leaders made me feel like I could be in their seat one day too, and talk about the many ways I contributed to my community. At the end of the summit, I realized we can’t afford to lose sight of who we are. Our distinctions, uniqueness are important to society and in technology to drive and strive for positive change and combat biases. Although a lot of us are accustomed to more tech-focused, bootcamp style working sessions, getting the chance to decompress from our daily lives, get to know one another, talk about our own journeys, and celebrate personal wins and accomplishments felt like a once in a lifetime moment.
Code2040's commitment to invest back into local community businesses, artists, and organizations in Detroit really stood out to me. We had authentic locally sourced meals, embraced local creators that spotlighted Detroit's diversity, culture and history. There is so much depth to the city that goes unnoticed. I'm glad I got to learn and experience the real D-Town!
My biggest takeaway from this experience is that with change, comes opportunity. So, let's recognize and talk more about what’s been happening and not avoid it. Let's acknowledge that artificial intelligence can’t exist without us. Let’s get real about the raids, deportations, discrimination, and injustices happening in our front door so we can get creative and fight back! Let’s come together so that we are stronger, and let's recognize that our neighbors fight is our fight as well regardless of our color. Let’s lend a hand when we need to and put our foot down when we have to, because if we don’t, we are not doing our communities any service. I encourage every fellow to be the baddest technologists the world has ever seen!