In Fort Myers, nearly 300 people gathered at Clemente Park, located in front of the Williams Academy Black History Museum, for the “Youth Innovation Night: Unleash your Super Powers” event. The event was organized by the Lee County Black History Society in collaboration with the Edison Awards and the Lewis Latimer Fellowship Program.
Among the attendees were a robotics CEO and an astronaut, adding to the prestige of the event. The national fellowship program aims to provide access and mentorship to exceptional Black innovators, and on this night, the panelists included the voice behind Miles Morales in Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse. Some students even showed up in superhero costumes to match the theme of the event.
The robotics team from Dunbar High School showcased their work at the event, including a robot that was featured. The Lewis Latimer Fellowship Program pays tribute to Lewis Latimer, one of Thomas Edison’s collaborators who played a key role in refining Edison’s vision of the lightbulb. The event was filled with inspiration, innovation, and celebration of Black excellence in the field of technology and innovation.