National African American AI Consortium (NAAAIC)
About
The National African American AI Consortium (NAAAIC) is a coalition of technologists, policymakers, and community leaders dedicated to ensuring the African American community is at the forefront of the Artificial Intelligence revolution. NAAAIC serves as a central hub for research, ethical governance, and the deployment of AI tools that foster economic empowerment and social justice.
Mission
To bridge the digital divide by promoting Black excellence in AI, eliminating racial bias in automated systems, and advocating for policies that protect the data sovereignty of African American communities.
Vision
To cultivate an equitable AI ecosystem where Black innovation drives global technological progress and algorithmic systems are rooted in justice and transparency.
Training & Education
National African American AI Consortium (NAAAIC) provides technical and ethical instruction designed to position Black professionals and community leaders at the forefront of the AI era.
Core Programs
- AI Ethics & Bias Mitigation: Workshops on identifying racial bias and promoting fairness in automated systems.
- Generative AI Mastery: Applied training in prompt engineering and culturally-competent content creation.
- HBCU Tech Pipeline: Strategic career-readiness and certification programs for the next generation of Black engineers.
- Data Sovereignty: Seminars on digital rights, privacy, and the framework for “Algorithmic Reparations.”
Schedule
2025
Jan 6, 2025 | 10:00 AM EST: NAAAIC Annual Strategy Kickoff. Internal leadership session to set the “AI Civil Rights” agenda for the year.
Feb 13, 2025 | 2:00 PM EST: AI Ethics Webinar. A Black History Month special session on identifying bias in training data.
May 19, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST: Consortium Spring Summit. Technical workshop series on generative AI for community non-profits.
June 19, 2025 | 11:00 AM EST: Juneteenth “Data Sovereignty” Forum. Virtual panel on protecting Black digital identity.
Oct 16, 2025 | 6:00 PM EST: NAAAIC Annual Recognition Gala. Announcement of the year’s top research contributors.
2026
Jan 5, 2026 | 10:00 AM EST: NAAAIC 2026 Program Launch. Official kickoff meeting for all consortium entities and partners.
Feb 12, 2026 | 1:00 PM EST: Black History in AI Series. Technical deep-dive into the history of Black computer scientists.
April 1, 2026 | 11:59 PM EST: Vanguard Awards Nomination Deadline. Final day for public submissions for the NAAAIC 100.
April 22, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST: Innovation Day Workshop. (Held during Black Is Tech week) focused on MLOps and ethical deployment.
May 1, 2026 | 12:00 PM EST: NAAAIC 100 Recipients Announcement. Public reveal of the 2026 AI Leaders list.
June 19, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST: Juneteenth AI Hackathon. All-day intensive building tools for social justice and equity.
Oct 15, 2026 | 6:00 PM EST: NAAAIC Vanguard Awards Gala. The flagship ceremony celebrating the year’s 100 recipients.
Recognition
NAAAIC provides formal recognition to individuals and organizations making significant contributions to the African American AI community. Our awards program highlights leadership, technical achievement, and advocacy in the field of artificial intelligence.
- Technical Achievement: Excellence in AI research, development, and engineering.
- Advocacy & Ethics: Leadership in promoting algorithmic fairness and civil rights.
- Community Impact: Successful implementation of AI literacy and training programs.
- Youth Innovation: Recognition of students and early-career professionals in tech.
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