Through a partnership with Microsoft, Black Tech Street has taken the latest step to rebuild Black Wall Street in Tulsa’s historic Greenwood neighbourhood.

News of the alliance between Black Tech Street and Microsoft comes on the same day the Biden-Harris administration unveiled the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy (NCWES) to address immediate and long-term cyber workforce needs in the U.S. The alliance was listed as part of the NCWES.

And as the multinational tech giant looks to help close an estimated gap of 1.6 million cyber professionals in North America alone, the partnership with Black Tech Street could create more than 1,000 jobs in the cybersecurity workforce by 2030.

“Since its inception, Black Tech Street’s focus has been on securing transformative partnerships capable of addressing deeply rooted economic inequities stemming from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre at scale. Our partnership with Microsoft is a perfect example of such an opportunity and reflects the very essence of both our organizations,” Tyrance Billingsley II, Black Tech Street founder and executive director, said in a statement.

“We are grateful for Microsoft’s support and engagement that is game-changing for Greenwood and sends a clear message that Black Wall Street will continue to be a national leader of Black innovation in the 21st century,” Billingsley II added.

The new alliance with Microsoft means that the organization will join the tech giant’s TechSpark Fellow program in Oklahoma. This incubator provides funding, programming, hands-on mentorship, computer science education and digital training.

With Microsoft’s support, Black Tech Street will also lead a nationwide initiative to connect employers looking to hire Black cybersecurity talent in Tulsa. The initiative looks to boost local and remote jobs and forge relationships with pre-and post-secondary students to inspire them to enter tech fields.

Moreover, Tulsa Community College (TCC) was recently accepted into Microsoft’s Cybersecurity Scholarship Program. The program provides cash scholarships to Black students who also receive training at TCC’s Cyber Skills Center.

The organization also plans to pilot studies in cyber research and experiential learning in partnership with the University of Tulsa, which has an NSA-affiliated Cyber Corps program and a suite of successful cyber alliances with high schools and community colleges.

Lastly, coming in 2024 is the first Black Tech Street Cyber Summit. The summit will gather the foremost cyber experts from corporations, academia, and government. Tulsa Innovation Labs, a philanthropic organization, is a local partner.

“Microsoft believes digital inclusion is core to ensuring everyone on the planet benefits from advances in technology, and that programming and opportunities must be created for those with the potential to be left behind,” Ann Johnson, corporate vice president for security business development at Microsoft, said in a statement. “We are pleased to work with Black Tech Street, local government leaders, and community organizations to help build and further reinforce Greenwood and Tulsa as centers for technology vision, leadership, and entrepreneurship.”