Recap: Technology + Culture — A Future That’s Already Here
From L-R: Moderator Miquon Brinkley and Panelists: Rashid Zakat, Shakerra Grays and Wale Olaleye
On October 16, CultureWorks hosted the latest Third Thursdays gathering: Technology + Culture. What unfolded wasn’t another surface-level hype session about AI — it was a grounded, layered conversation about how technology is already shaping the creative sector, and how Philadelphia’s cultural community can meet this moment on its own terms.
Panelists Wale Olaleye, Shakerra Grays, and Rashid Zakat, moderated by Miquon Brinkley, held the space with rare clarity. Together, they peeled back the glossy veneer of AI to talk about what actually matters: access, agency, creativity, and power.
AI Isn’t Coming. It’s (Been) Here.
Across industries, AI has moved past prediction and into practice. Panelists shared how it’s showing up in classrooms, production studios, and creative workflows — both as a tool of possibility and a mirror reflecting cultural blind spots.
Wale Olaleye spoke to the practical impact of AI on education and software development.
Shakerra Grays highlighted how digital strategy and accessibility are shifting across arts institutions.
Rashid Zakat reminded the room that storytelling, at its best, is human — and that technology must deepen, not flatten, our narratives.
The audience carried these threads into a thoughtful Q&A, asking not just what’s next, but what’s worth protecting.
Tools, Not Silver Bullets
We left attendees with tangible resources to keep the conversation alive. If you missed the event, here’s your quick list:
Panel Resources
Spotlight: FOSH — A Philly-Built Tool for Cultural Visibility
One standout resource came from a member of our audience: FOSH, a homegrown platform designed to get more people out to live local events. It’s free for artists, organizations, and audiences.
CultureWorks events are already listed: View here
FOSH is working to ensure Philly’s creative spaces aren’t playing to empty rooms.
This kind of infrastructure — local, open, and purpose-built — is what makes a city’s cultural ecosystem thrive.
SPARK Innovation Academy — Empowering Nonprofit Professionals
Another key opportunity highlighted during the event comes from the Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT) in the City of Philadelphia: the launch of the SPARK Innovation Academy, designed to bridge the technical divide across nonprofit and other industries.
The academy offers courses, workshops, and learning pods. Its first course, Transformative Technology for Nonprofits, is a 9-week program in partnership with Thomas Jefferson University. This pilot cohort will focus on empowering Philadelphia’s nonprofit sector with training in AI, data visualization, digital collaboration, and more.
Application deadline: November 14, 2025
Scholarships: 20 full scholarships available
Participants will explore:
Data Visualization & Mapping – From Excel to advanced tools for graphs and charts.
Value Propositions & Business Models – Collaborative flow charts and causal loop tools with Miro.
Storytelling Design & Communicating Success – Using visual, audio, and AI tools for content creation.
AI & “The Next New Thing” – Real-world nonprofit use cases.
Visit www.phila.gov/SPARK to see the full curriculum and apply.
Innovation Weekend — Exclusive Discount for CultureWorks Community
For those looking to keep exploring the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and culture, Innovation Weekend is just around the corner:
November 13: 1PHL Meetup | 6:00 PM
November 14: Future Forward Summit | 10:00 AM
November 15: Weekend Workshop | 10:30 AM
Use code: IW50CULTUREWORKS for 50% off the Summit. The Meetup and Workshop are free.
What We’re Still Sitting With
How can AI deepen — not dilute — creative practice?
Who gets to shape the story of this technological wave?
What happens if we stop treating tech as neutral?
The future isn’t waiting. It’s already here. What matters is how we choose to shape it — together.
Third Thursdays is CultureWorks’ monthly gathering series exploring ideas that move the cultural sector forward. Join us next month as we keep building the conversations and infrastructure this city deserves.
