Queens Borough President to host third annual tech and career expo in Astoria Saturday

The office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is set to host its third annual Queens Tech & Career Expo this Saturday, Jan. 25.

The event will take place at the Museum of the Moving Image, located at 36-01 35th St. in Astoria, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The expo will feature over 45 career and technology vendors and a dynamic lineup of activities. Designed to empower Queens residents from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, the event focuses on providing opportunities for those interested in pursuing careers in New York’s thriving tech industry.

Some of the day-long events include a free job skills assessment led by artificial intelligence firm Skyhive and JobsFirstNYC, a fireside chat on the gaming industry’s impact in Queens led by Borough President Richards and Hot 97 host and video game influencer Gerard “HipHopGamer” Williams, and a gaming competition hosted by “HipHop Gamer,” with prizes for participants.

Additionally, attendees can experience hands-on coding workshops led by All Star Code, which prepares young men from underserved communities for tech careers, and free professional mentoring opportunities led by Cornell Tech and We Rule.

The borough president, Nigerian-American tech entrepreneur Chinedu Echeruo, and Bronx-born gaming industry leader Albert Dankwa will deliver keynote addresses.

Richards said in a statement that the tech expo is part of a multi-pronged initiative to address the demographic and gender disparities in the city’s tech industry workforce.

“The key to creating a cutting-edge economy here in Queens can be summed up in one word — opportunity. But for too long, communities of color across our borough have been denied the opportunity to participate in our city’s growing technology and innovation spheres,” said Richards. “Through the annual Queens Tech & Career Expo and countless other initiatives, my administration is putting an end to that practice. When all our families are afforded an opportunity to fuel our shared future, we all succeed. I look forward to seeing many of you in Astoria on Jan. 25.”

Over the past three years, Richards and Deputy Borough President Ebony Young have enacted multiple initiatives to turn Queens into a bustling tech hub.

Later this year, Richards will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Global Tech & Innovation Center (GTIC) in Long Island City. Developed in partnership with tech firm Pursuit, the GTIC was first announced during the Borough President’s 2024 State of the Borough address. Once operational, the center will serve as a hub for programming, investment, and the growth of the city’s start-ups. Richards has committed over $4.6 million in capital funding to bring the project to fruition.

In July 2023, Richards and Young traveled to Lagos, Nigeria—widely regarded as the “Silicon Valley of Africa”—to engage with government officials and tech innovators. Their visit aimed to gather insights and best practices to support the development of a Black tech hub in New York City.