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By Supervisor Lisa Gauthier and Olatunde Sobomehin
Artificial Intelligence is no longer something on the horizon. It is here, shaping the way we learn, work, and connect. Our children’s classrooms, our family’s hospitals, and our nation’s policies are all being influenced by this new technology, and the choices we make with it. The question before us is this: how can all of our communities be included in shaping this new AI future?
As community leaders living in East Palo Alto — a San Mateo County Supervisor and the CEO of StreetCode Academy — we have worked together for the last 10 years to address this question through StreetCode’s work. We believe that when technology is introduced in ways that honor culture, strengthen community, and create true belonging, it becomes a bridge of opportunity for everyone. This has informed StreetCode to create a community-centered approach to technology education for the last decade, promoting what we’ve called “radically informal STEM learning”: an inclusive approach to technology that designs opportunities that are not just technically available, but also culturally resonant and transformative.
This summer, we worked together on the inaugural Tech Tournament, an event to expose students to the possibilities of AI and technology through the game of basketball. At Cañada College, StreetCode Academy partnered with Shoe Palace and 14 other industry leaders, including Plug & Play, Equinix, EA, and the NBA Foundation, to host a free, hands-on celebration where basketball met coding, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. The event featured special guest appearances by Bay Area legends Jidenna, DJ D-Sharp, Mistah F.A.B., and P-Lo. Hundreds of community members attended, not only to cheer on celebrities and tech executives on the same court, but to see technology come alive in their own hands.
At the Tech Tournament, young people and their families were able to prototype ideas using AI tools, meet technology designers, and experience cutting-edge basketball tech applications; all in a space of joy and belonging that said through its design: you belong in the future of tech.
We both have a deeply personal understanding of the need for this type of educational opportunity. Lisa, a lifelong East Palo Alto resident, former Mayor and Councilmember, and now San Mateo County District 4 Supervisor, has dedicated her career to expanding educational and workforce opportunities for communities too often left out of the conversation. Olatunde, the CEO and co-founder of StreetCode Academy, has dedicated his life to building access points for these same populations to experience technology as leaders and innovators. We both recognize that, in today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, the need for our shared work is more urgent than ever.
According to San Mateo County data, teens dominate the use of AI-driven social media, and at the same time, more than 25% of youth ages 12–17 report needing help with emotional or mental health issues in the past year.
Young people’s families are stretched thin, while community adults and elders are often left without spaces to learn and engage with new technology tools. Mistah F.A.B., a special guest at the Tech Tournament, described this gap as “technology apartheid” — a divide where some have access and others are left out, and Frederick Alexander, StreetCode co-founder and visionary behind the Tech Tournament said, “The purpose of the Tech Tournament is to create real change by giving young people –- especially those left out — a front-row seat to innovation, integrating tech careers with hoop dreams.” That same vision is being echoed at the state level by leaders like Assemblymember Marc Berman, who has championed expanding computer science education in California schools. His work underscores the idea that tech education should not be a privilege for a few, but a pathway open to every student in every community.
What started as a community-centered approach to tech education in San Mateo County has become a powerful formula for success, and now StreetCode is ready to share it with the world. Beginning Super Bowl week, as the nation’s eyes are back on our region, StreetCode will launch its national Tech Tournament Tour, sharing this locally-born model with cities across the country. What happens here sets the tone for the world, and we want our message of tech adoption to be one of unity, empowerment, and opportunity for all.
This is why National Coding Week, taking place September 16-22, matters. Coding and AI are not just opportunities for new skill building; they open doors to connection and the building of communities rooted in trust and belonging. This week is a call to pursue innovation as more than economic growth, but as a tool for social good and stronger communities. Let’s invest in the events and experiences that build real bridges ensuring that every voice, especially those too often marginalized, shape our shared AI future.
Lisa Gauthier is the San Mateo County Supervisor for District 4 and a lifelong East Palo Alto resident. Olatunde Sobomehin is the CEO and co-founder of StreetCode Academy, a nonprofit bringing tech education to underserved communities.
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