OctogatosConf: A Free Two-Day Celebration of LatinX Voices in Tech

GitHub’s LatinX employee resource group, the Octogatos, is hosting a free, two-day conference on September 24–25, 2020. OctogatosConf is a live-streamed, single-track event designed to amplify and empower LatinX voices in the technology industry. The broadcast will feature interactive talks from industry experts delivered in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, complete with live captioning and translation.

Session topics span software development, security, technical project management, open source, and professional development. The full schedule and free registration are available on the OctogatosConf website. You can also add the event to your calendar. Tune in on September 24 and 25 via the GitHub Twitch channel.

The conference boasts a diverse lineup of speakers covering topics from quantum computing and machine learning to civic tech and community building. The keynote will be delivered by Mica Alaniz, a Senior Software Engineer at the Democratic National Committee. In her role, she develops tools for voter education and empowerment, and supports grassroots organizing, fundraising, and data needs for Democratic campaigns nationwide. Alaniz also teaches tech workshops for under-represented individuals on topics like Git, app development, and leadership in remote workplaces, and is a co-organizer for PromptConf Chicago and a mentor at Write/Speak/Code and Code2040.

Other confirmed speakers include:

  • Julián Duque: A developer and educator from Colombia who organizes JSConf and NodeConf Colombia, and is a Node.js Contributor Emeritus.
  • Roberta Arcoverde: A software developer at Stack Overflow from Recife, Brazil. She is the Tech Lead for the Stack Overflow for Teams team and holds an MSc in Informatics from PUC Rio.
  • Felipe de Morais: A software engineer recognized by the Python Software Foundation and recipient of the Q2 2019 Community Service Award for his contributions to the Brazilian Python community.
  • Layshi Curbelo: Founder and producer of the Command Z Podcast, with experience as a creative director in startups and as a producer and experience designer for museums and shelters for domestic violence survivors.

More to Come

This is just a preview of the full roster. For the complete list of speakers and panelists, visit the OctogatosConf site and check the full lineup. The event is free and open to all who wish to join the celebration of LatinX heritage and technology.