Out in Tech Houston | Monthly Mixer – Welcoming AfroTech Conf. Attendees

Out in Tech Houston provides an inclusive networking space for LGBTQ+ people and allies working in tech.

About this event

Join our relaxed, social-mixer event, hosted on the second Thursday of every month.

This is the first year we are hosting our monthly mixer at The Ion, and we hope to have many more! Parking and getting there is tricky, so we’ve provided detailed information below.

Welcoming AfroTech Conference Attendees

Our November mixer coincides with the AfroTech Conference, so we are welcoming attendees into our space.

The AfroTech Conference is a premier event bringing together tech professionals, innovators, and entrepreneurs for networking, inspiration, and collaboration.

Special Guests

Quadeer Porter, MHA, Founder and Executive Director of Brothers Building a Better Nation (BBABN) in Newark, NJ. As a queer identifying male, Quadeer is passionate about the transformative power of tech in nonprofit work, advocating for BIPOC youth empowerment through mentorship and mental health support.

Storm Dosunmu, Founder of Abo.Social, a unique social gathering designed to bring tech professionals together for an exceptional dining experience.

Come meet Quadeer and Storm, and hear firsthand about their impactful work in tech and the community.

About Out in Tech

We are a non-profit that unites the LGBTQ+ tech community around the world. We do this by creating opportunities for our 40,000 members worldwide to advance their careers, grow their networks, and leverage tech for social change. We envision a tech industry where LGBTQ+ people are empowered, well-represented, and have full agency, from intern to CEO.

We’re looking forward to meeting you! RSVP and save the date in your calendars for an evening you cannot miss.

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Out in Tech is the world’s largest non-profit community of LGBTQ+ tech leaders. Connect with 20k LGBTQ+ tech professionals in our Slack channel.

Each local chapter (and many virtual ones) provides opportunities for folks to engage with us and each other. Our events educate and inspire with panels, career events, and more. If you have felt inspired and supported by these events, please consider supporting our work by making a donation to Out in Tech.

Note: Out in Tech’s Code of Conduct applies to all our spaces, online and IRL. Photographs may be taken at this event. Please notify someone at check-in if you prefer not to be photographed.

Need to reach out to OIT staff? Email houston@outintech.com (we promise we check it)

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Getting to The Ion

Second Draught is located on the first floor of The Ion. Getting to the building can be a bit tricky, so we’ve laid out some important details to keep in mind as you plan your arrival.

You can also visit https://iondistrict.com/visit/getting-here/ for more information.

Uber/Lyft/Rideshare
Enter 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 into the destination address field in your rideshare app. However, you won’t be dropped off and enter the building on Main Street. Instead, you’ll enter the building at the east entrance, on Fannin Street.

This is because the Metro light rail Red line runs along Main Street, and for safety, most rideshare apps direct the driver to drop passengers off on the other side of the building on Fannin Street. (See the map below.)

Driving and Parking
There are several parking options at The Ion.

Red parking lot: This is a surface lot and is the best option because parking is free for the first 3 hours. (And the event is only scheduled for 1.5, so you’re in the clear.)

Enter 4203 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77004 into your GPS for directions to the Red parking lot.

There are no parking attendants, and the system does not issue physical tickets or receipts for parking. Simply drive in; the gate will open automatically, or prompt payment upon exit. The system captures images of vehicles upon entry and exit to manage access and payments. Please note that only debit and credit card payments are accepted.

Yellow parking lot: This is also a surface lot and adheres to the same policies as the Red parking lot. However, we were advised that they often fill up quickly because they also offer valet service. Valet service is only $5 (not bad), and if you wish to park in the Yellow parking lot, enter 4200 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77004 into your GPS.

Pink parking lot (The Ion District Parking Garage): This is covered parking in a deck with elevators. This is not advised because parking is only free for 2 hours and it’s a bit of a walk from the main Ion building. If you must have covered parking and don’t mind walking, enter 4111 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77004 into your GPS.

Green parking lot: This is the surface parking lot for Greentown Labs, one block away from The Ion. Please do not park in this lot, even if the gates are open.

Public Transit
Take the Red Line Metrorail light rail and get off at the Wheeler station, located one block south at 4590 Main Street, Houston TX 77002. Trains run every 6 minutes.