Seeking Community Partners for our Equitable AI Workshops!
Community Partnership Overview
Program Overview
Our programs focus on building technical knowledge, confidence, and real-world skills so that students who have historically been excluded from the tech industry can participate fully in shaping its future. Our partnership opportunity is part of Phase 2 of Project Alpaca’s Equitable AI Initiative, a program designed to expand access to artificial intelligence education in under-resourced communities. In Phase 1, Project Alpaca mentees participate in a series of live training sessions on the current AI landscape, led by experts and tech professionals working in the industry. This training includes hands-on practice with emerging tools and discussions about the social and ethical implications of this technology.
In Phase 2, students apply what they have learned by designing and leading free, public AI workshops hosted in collaboration with partner schools and community organizations across New York City. Each in-person workshop, approximately 1-5 to 2 hours long, will be facilitated by 2 student leaders, and address a need for information in a specific community.
A workshop may introduce participants to practical AI tools such as ChatGPT and image-generation platforms, while also addressing important topics including algorithmic bias, job automation, online safety, and the changing workforce. The content will be customized for each workshop and in consultation with the partner organization, in order to adequately address the needs of that community.
These workshops are entirely free to participants and are led by students who come from the same communities the program aims to serve, helping ensure that the material is accessible, relevant, and welcoming.
Role of Partner Organizations / Schools
Partner institutions play an essential role in making these workshops possible. Community organizations and schools collaborate with Project Alpaca to:
Host one workshop on their campus or in their community space
Help identify students or community members who would benefit from attending
Coordinate scheduling, space, and basic logistics
Assist with outreach and promotion within their network
Project Alpaca will provide trained student facilitators, workshop curriculum, promotional materials, and full program coordination.
Benefits to Partners and Participants
Through this partnership, organizations can offer their students and community members access to timely, high-quality education about artificial intelligence at no cost. Workshops are designed to reduce fear and misinformation about AI while giving participants practical skills they can use immediately in school, work, or everyday life.
For Project Alpaca students, the program provides leadership experience in teaching, public speaking, and community outreach. For partner institutions, it creates new opportunities for engagement, strengthens connections with local students, and supports workforce readiness in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
Our Goal
By working together, we aim to build a more equitable tech future by ensuring that students and communities who have historically had the least access to emerging technologies have the opportunity to learn, lead, and shape how those technologies are used.