MIAMI GARDENS — Award-winning journalist and social activist Jeff Johnson will put the spotlight on technology during the South Florida Youth Summit #HACKTOTHEFUTURE Town Hall & Tech Shops this week at Florida Memorial University.

Johnson, a former commentator on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, will lead a series of discussions Friday and Saturday, Sept. 5 and 6, at FMU, South Florida’s only HBCU, 15800 NW 42nd Ave., Miami Gardens. The free event will feature highly-engaging workshops and Technology Entertainment Dessign (TED) style talks from local industry professionals committed to encouraging middle and high school students to focus on the area of technology.

“Technology continues to be a driving force in developing new business opportunities and providing entrepreneurs with the ability to be self-sustainable,” Johnson said. “By hosting a town hall of this caliber, we are giving youth the advantage of interacting with successful tech leaders and getting hands-on experience in this evolving space.”

To further promote the importance and sustainability of the tech industry, middle and high school students will participate in tech shops to create a smart phone app, develop a website and establish a business plan for a start-up tech company all led by Code Fever, a Miami-based company whose goal is to introduce coding to African American students. The event will culminate with a challenge to youth to present a business concept for a tech-based company to a panel of professionals to receive funding to further their business concept.

“Through the South Florida Youth Summit, we continue to expose middle and high school students to unique opportunities that provide a different outlook on career choices,” said Benjamin Evans, chair of South Florida Youth Summit. “Our goal is to develop well-rounded youth who are equipped with the tools needed to become successful leaders in our community.”

#HACKTOTHEFUTURE is a component of the South Florida Youth Summit, an ongoing initiative to unite students throughout the tri-county area for exposure to trainings and workshops targeted to science, technology, engineering and math. The initiative was developed by L.E.A.D. Nation, a community-based nonprofit organization focused on inspiring youth to become leaders in their community.