PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH THINKER MAKERS SOCIETY
Artificial Intelligence is no longer abstract—it’s here, rapidly reshaping how we create, work, and connect. In Pennsylvania alone, new investments in AI are fueling innovation across industries, from education and media to healthcare and beyond.
At the same time, we’re living with a tension: our daily lives are deeply intertwined with tools like social media, long powered by the tech sector, yet many of us are only beginning to reckon with the implications of AI’s next wave.
This month’s Third Thursday brings together technologists, creatives, and educators to unpack these dynamics—highlighting the opportunities, the blind spots, and the human stories behind the algorithms.
Bios
ABOUT THE MODERATOR:
Miquon Brinkley is a Philadelphia-based full stack web developer, creative entrepreneur, and U.S. Army veteran building digital platforms that connect art, culture, and technology.As founder of Thinker Makers Society, he fosters ecosystems that support artists, collectors, and creatives alike. His work has been featured by outlets including The Philadelphia Citizen, FOX 29, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and he continues to push the boundaries of how creative communities can use technology to thrive.
About the Panelists
Wale Olaleye is a Philadelphia-based innovator, software engineer, and entrepreneur. Trained as an Electrical Engineer, he has spent 20+ years building enterprise-level software for a variety of institutions. Wale is the Founder of Rails Fever, where he helps SaaS companies running on Rails stabilize, modernize, and scale their apps without needing a full technical team. As a fractional CTO, he partners with founders to manage infrastructure, prevent emergencies, and guide long-term technical strategy.
Beyond consulting, Wale is deeply involved in the Philly developer community—writing, speaking, and hosting meetups, workshops, and hackathons that explore the intersection of AI, software, web security, and human creativity. He also explores the intersection of AI and education, with a keen interest in how AI is affecting learning outcomes for K–12 students, the responsible use of AI in classrooms, and how institutions, parents, and teachers can collaborate to shape the future of AI in education.
Rashid Zakat (he/his) combines film, music, photography, and creative space-making in work that engages with Black social and spiritual life. His short films, documentaries, and music videos feature original content and archival material, including images of migration, worship, uprising, dance, and popular culture. Embracing collaborative filmmaking practices, Zakat says he is “committed to video as a mode of honoring people and histories and as form of accessing liberation.” His ongoing project Revival! draws from personal and community archives of Black popular culture, dance, and music; religious traditions; and a variety of folk practices. Zakat’s work has been shown in Philadelphia at the BlackStar Film Festival, The Fabric Workshop and Museum, and The Barnes Foundation, among others. He has received an Independence Public Media Foundation Filmmaker Grant, a Velocity Fund grant, and a Pennsylvania Humanities Council grant. He earned a BA in film and media arts from Temple University.
Shakerra Grays is a Philadelphia-based communications and digital strategy leader who believes technology is a powerful tool for connection, creativity, and community impact. With more than a decade of experience, Shakerra has led transformative digital initiatives for several private companies and arts organizations including The Philadelphia Museum of Art and Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation. She is currently Digital Marketing Director for Ensemble Arts Philly and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Shakerra’s work reflects her lifelong passion for harnessing the power of technology to provide limitless access to the arts.