On this week's program, host Phil Tower speaks with Andria Romkema,  Lead Organizer, Tech WeekGR. Andria is also the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at The Right Place.
WHAT IS TECH WEEK? Andria explained Tech Week as an "unconference”; It is participant-driven. That means the events, discussions, demos, and showcases are led by the people who live and work in our community. Tech Week is an opportunity to connect with like-minded people—from the region and across the country—face-to-face, to exchange ideas, network, pick up new information, and ultimately help move the conversation forward.The Right Place organizes Tech Week Grand Rapids. It works alongside other community leaders to create Tech Week, which aims to establish Greater Grand Rapids as a leading destination for tech and innovation. The Grand Rapids region is perfectly positioned for innovation in many industries - especially tech.
Online: Tech Week Grand Rapids 

In part two of the program, Phil welcomes  Megan Rydecki,  Director of The Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University. The Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies is dedicated to raising a community of ethical, effective leaders for the twenty-first century.” It's an election year, and the news cycle is already cranked up to MAX!   So, how do you educate yourself on the candidates and the issues without being sent down a rabbit hole through the active and targeted misinformation and disinformation campaigns so prevalent online? To help navigate around that cesspool of misinformation and disinformation circling ahead of the November presidential election, The People’s Guide was unveiled last month, put together by a partnership between WGVU, the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, the Padnos/Sarosik Center for Discourse
Along with tools to help people register to vote and learn more about what is on the upcoming ballot, the site also has guides on spotting misinformation, media bias, and the importance of consuming news from multiple outlets.

Online:  The People’s Guide

Online: The Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies


ISSUES ADDRESSED: election integrity, disinformation and misinformation campaigns, trust in elections, deep fakes, artificial intelligence news, social media, and disinformation.