Refine and strengthen the central cultural and professional anchor at AfroTech in its second year.
Timeline: The Yard @ - Cloned
The Past: 2023–24
AfroTech - Houston, Texas
Each year has built on the last:
- In 2023, initial panels and engagements set the foundation for future presence with a small Howard delegation funded by HU administration and Microsoft.
- 2024 saw Howard's first official HBCU presence in partnership as "The Yard @ AfroTech" with Blavity, with 500+ attendees engaged, and major sponsorship leads captured.
The Present: 2025
AfroTech - Houston, Texas
Today, AfroTech is the flagship expression of The Yard @ initiative. Our goal is to promote entrepneurship, professional development, and technology to meet key objectives. "The Yard @" initiative develops Howard University's presence in cultural events beyond AfroTech.
Objectives
Refine Flagship Activation
- Position "The Yard @" as the central hub across all five days.
- Support seamless integration from student-focused experiences into ongoing professional and partner-focused content throughout all five days.
- Secure 15+ value-aligned partner agreements pre-event.
Strengthen Strategic Relationships
- Deepen connections across student, alumni, and professional audiences.
- Create long-term pipelines for talent engagement and partnerships.
- Increase alumni/professional connections by 30% over 2024.
Showcase HBCU Investment
- Highlight the full HBCU lifecycle impact from student development to professional innovation.
- Engage 250+ students through mentorship, workshops, and networking.
Deliver High-Impact, Measurable Programming
- Design two-day student-focused experiences emphasizing access and mentorship.
- Extend programming across all five days for professional development and innovation showcases.
- Collect feedback from 500+ participants.
Elevate HU Thought Leadership Position
- Showcase Howard’s research, innovation, and cultural leadership through panels, strategic content, and branded storytelling.
Strengthen Institutional Integration
- Incorporate outcomes into Howard’s strategic roadmap.
- Reinforce cross-campus learning and establish a foundation for future activations.
Expo Hall
- • Serve as the physical and cultural heart of the event.
- • Highlight cross-campus collaborations, student and alumni showcases, and immersive partner activations.
AfroTech U Stage
- • Feature mentorship sessions and resume labs for students during Days 1–2; could also happen at "The Yard"
- • Deliver professional panels, research talks, and thought leadership content throughout all five days.
Offsite
- • AfroTech HBCU Reception - sponsored by Blavity
- • Facilitate alumni and partner receptions to build relationship depth.
- • Host exclusive networking opportunities to nurture long-term investment conversations.
The Future: 2026 and Beyond
AfroTech - Houston, Texas; Art Basel - Miami, Florida; Warner Music Festival in Accra, Ghana
We have been inspired to see the broader initiative vision beyond AfroTech:
- Ongoing relationship with Blavity.
- New developed installations nationally and globally.
- KOFA - Art Basel conversations.
Refine Flagship Activation
Strengthen Strategic Relationships
Deepen and expand long-term connections across audiences.
Showcase HBCU Investment
Case demonstrate the value and impact of investing in HBCUs.
Deliver High-Impact, Measurable Programming
Provide engaging, visible, and data-driven experiences.
Elevate Howard Thought Leadership Position
Howard as a leading voice in research and innovation.
Strengthen Institutional Integration
Embed AfroTech outcomes into university-wide strategy and learning.