When Nadiyah Johnson first started studying computer science, she was often the only Black woman in her classrooms. Now, as a professor, entrepreneur, and community advocate, she is determined to open the doors of the technology industry wider for the next generation.
As founder of the Milky Way Tech Hub, Johnson is putting that vision into action with Wisconsin Tech Month, a statewide celebration of technology and innovation that brings together Black and Brown communities across generations.
Founded in 2021 in partnership with Latinos in Tech, the initiative was formally recognized through a proclamation from Gov. Tony Evers. Now in its sixth year, Wisconsin Tech Month features more than 100 events across Milwaukee Tech Week, DEV Week, Women in Tech Week, and Midwest Tech Week.
From Politics to Computer Science
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Johnson began her undergraduate studies in international politics at Marquette University. Her father, a senior software engineer, opened her eyes to the growing world of possibilities in tech. With him as her first role model, Johnson pivoted and became a computer science major. This decision came with its own challenges. Switching to CS meant a lot more math classes than Johnson anticipated. As the only Black person or woman in the room, she often doubted whether she belonged in the field. But doubt didn’t stop her. It fueled her.
“Persevering in the space is one of the best decisions that I made because the amount of doors that open from the field of technology, it’s just been incredible,” Johnson shared in an exclusive interview with UrbanGeekz.
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Building More Inclusive Solutions
While studying for her master’s degree in computational science, Johnson began to see tech’s problem-solving potential. At the time, she was the primary caregiver of her grandmother, who struggled with her mobility and fell often. Falls are especially dangerous for older adults, who can take a long time to heal. Yet the tools in the medical field lagged; there were few accurate tests to measure a person’s balance. Armed with the knowledge from her studies and an intimate understanding of her grandmother’s needs, Johnson set out to build a solution.
Using a piezoresistive sensor and machine learning models, Johnson created a novel balance detection system. Piezoresistive sensors measure changes in electrical resistance when pressure or force is applied. By embedding them into shoe insoles or floor mats, the flexible sensors track dynamic force distribution across the feet. They capture metrics like peak pressure values, pressure-time integrals, and weight-shifting asymmetry. Machine learning models then analyze the data and use clinical balance metrics to spot instability before a fall occurs. This approach could help other caregivers plan the right level of support for at-risk people.
Her innovation quickly drew attention. Other academics joined her to validate her work and publish the research in the Journal of Internet Technology. She was even invited to present at an international conference in Japan. There, she saw for the first time how a small system that she created at home could have a wider impact.
“The more that we see Black and Brown people represented in this space, the more the technology industry has the ability to solve for the problems that we are facing,” Johnson said. “People living closer to the problem build better solutions.”
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From the Lab to the Classroom
Her work with the sensor propelled Johnson into medical tech. She spent several years at GE HealthCare, a global medical technology company, serving as a staff technical product manager in data and analytics. There she led teams building large-scale big data and business intelligence solutions.
Her work in technology also ran alongside a career in academia. After her master’s, Johnson pursued a Ph.D. at Marquette University; her doctoral research focused on artificial intelligence and mobile health. She shared her knowledge as a visiting instructor and later as a professor in Marquette’s computer science department, serving as both teacher and role model.
Jet Constellations and the Milky Way Tech Hub
In 2017, Johnson stepped into entrepreneurship when she founded Jet Constellations, a software development company that provides custom technology solutions in the medical, financial, and socially responsible industries. Six months in, Johnson felt there was still more she could do for the city she was raised in.
Milwaukee has long been ranked as one of the most racially segregated cities in the U.S. since 2013, with deeply entrenched economic disparities. A 2025 landmark study by Data You Can Use revealed that the median household income for non-Hispanic White families in Wisconsin is $64,927. Hispanic households, in comparison, have a median income of $46,266, while Black households have a median of just $31,351.
Milwaukee’s 53206 ZIP code in particular has historically been known as one of the most incarcerated and economically distressed communities in the country. The latest census reveals that 88% of residents in the neighborhood are African American. Only 7.4% of residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, while unemployment is widespread. 53206 has also been impacted by policing policies such as the “war on drugs,” which drove a rapid increase in the mass incarceration of Black men. In Milwaukee County as a whole, more than half of African American men in their 30s have served time in a correctional facility, according to a landmark 2013 report. Incarceration destabilizes families and limits future employment prospects, and so the cycle of unemployment continues. Local median household incomes have steadily declined.
As a Milwaukee native, Johnson personally knew that her city was full of brilliant people who needed access to the same technology education that changed her life. By offering resources, education, programming, and networking opportunities, the Milky Way Tech Hub uses technology to help close the racial wealth gap.
Community Programming
Today, Milky Way Tech Hub has a network of over 10,000 people. The hub supports three pillars: STEM education/workforce, entrepreneurship, and community, with corporate partnerships fueling programs. A partnership with EveryoneOn provides free digital literacy training and device distribution to community members to bridge the digital divide. For high school students, it runs an after-school AI-ready program that introduces teenagers to digital literacy and artificial intelligence in collaboration with Employ Milwaukee and UNCOM. Milky Way Tech Hub also runs its own startup accelerator, an intensive curriculum geared toward early-stage and Series A tech founders. It also partners with local institutions like Marquette University to support startup growth and innovation. One of their biggest programs is Wisconsin Tech Month. Founded in 2021 in partnership with Latinos in Tech, the initiative unites leaders, entrepreneurs, developers, and community members across Wisconsin through a month-long series of events every October.
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Wisconsin Tech Month: Connected through Innovation
In its sixth year, Wisconsin Tech Month is bigger than ever. With over 100 events, Johnson and her team strategically divided up the month into weekly segments. Last week, they kicked off the program with Milwaukee Tech Week, which focused on policy, advocacy, and ecosystem builders. This week is DEV Week, with a dedicated focus on technical skills. The week features hackathons and technical workshops, giving space for the developer community building software and the startup tech companies to connect. Women in Tech Week amplifies women in leading roles doing impactful work in the community. Finally, Midwest Tech Week gives neighboring tech hubs (such as Chicago and Michigan) a platform to showcase their work and connect the region.
The theme, “connected through innovation,” was actually selected by the community. In July, Milky Way Tech Hub had a sneak peek event where they invited community members and participants to shape the program’s direction. This year’s theme underlines the importance of collaboration in tech. After all, great solutions are seldom built in silos. “In every ecosystem, a mentor is looking for a mentee, a founder is looking for their co-founder, a venture capitalist is looking for their next investment. And what we’re hoping to create…is this platform where individuals can find each other,” Johnson explained.
People gathered around a table at Wisconsin Tech Month
Policy, Civic Engagement and Community Impact
For Johnson, technology and innovation are incomplete without a focus on policy and regulation. With Milky Way Tech Hub, she has taken an active role in grassroots organizing. For example, over the last couple of years, the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) has been under scrutiny for routinely using facial recognition technology (FRT) without public knowledge. The issue exploded into public view in April 2025, when MPD acknowledged using the technology. It also announced plans to expand its capabilities by partnering with a biometric firm, Biometrica. The backlash was immediate, and a coalition of community groups began organizing. 11 of Milwaukee’s 15 city alders signed a joint letter heavily criticizing the expansion of AI surveillance.
The tension culminated earlier this year at a packed, highly contentious Fire and Police Commission meeting. For nearly three hours, Johnson and other Milwaukee residents and activists testified against the Biometrica deal. The very next day, MPD formally backed out of the agreement and banned the use of FRT until it could draft a strict, transparent policy alongside the commission and city leaders. This victory showed how local community tech hubs can empower people to speak up and to be heard.
This commitment to advocacy also shows up in Wisconsin Tech Month’s programming. One major highlight for Johnson was the State Capitol Visit led by policy director Bianca Shaw. The event invited sixth graders to the Wisconsin State Capitol to learn about legislative agendas, how to drive policy change, and how to build civic engagement early on.
Building the Future Together
Johnson is building something bigger than a month of events. She is building a Wisconsin where no one is left out of the tech conversation. Through cultivating skills, confidence, and civic power, she is transforming communities across the state and proving that the people closest to a problem can lead the way in solving it. Johnson wants everyday people to have a say in how technology develops and, most importantly, in what technology they allow in their backyard.
Wisconsin Tech Month is an open invitation to take a seat at that table. Whether you are a student, a founder, a mentor, or simply curious, there is a place for you. Explore the program for the rest of the month at witechmonth.com
