ATLANTA, GA [November 3, 2015] - Kingonomics, the definitive advocacy and learning platform for the disruption of poverty in underserved American communities and beyond via access to innovation, entrepreneurship and investment is creating its first "Kingonomics Innovation Corridor" on Atlanta's Historic Westside. The corridor's geographical boundaries include Northside Drive to Fulton Industrial and Campbellton Road to Bankhead Highway.

Today, the Westside is characterized by the urban ills common to many American inner cities. Poverty, homelessness, teen pregnancy, vacant housing, lack of viable opportunity and rampant unemployment prevent individuals and families from achieving a decent quality of life and self-sufficiency. Financial education, access to capital and high growth skills are major issues. Gentrification and displacement of the community's residents and small businesses are imminent given the development of the new Falcon's Stadium and planned expansion efforts of Georgia Tech.

On November 20-21, 2015, Kingonomics will introduce its proposed solutions for combatting this community's ills by curating and producing a series of interactive and engaging events for Westside influencers, future innovators, aspiring entrepreneurs and highschoolers interested in learning to code, hack, start a business and create something from nothing. Primarily sponsored by Equifax, the two-day event will feature the following experiences for highschoolers and adults:

Friday, November 20th

• #StartupHigh. A quick and fast exposure to entrepreneurs, coders and investors of color at an Atlanta Public Schools high school in conjunction with its' College and Career Motivation Week

• @TechSquare Tours. Expert lead tours of Technology Square at Georgia Tech.

• Influencer Ecosystem Mapping Session.

• Startup Lounge. Startup entrepreneurship focused conversations. 

• Drone Zone. Meet the future of innovative, robotic hardware that will impact nearly every area of our lives.

• Idea Hackathon. An interactive, intense and competitive group based approach to the ideation and design thinking to highschoolers. In essence, we'll teach these young people to think, create and build like a billionaire.

Hackathon participants will complete the day by pitching for over $5,000 in cash and prizes, including an autographed Super SoakerTM by inventor and scientist Lonnie Johnson, VIP passes to a private screening of the new Star Wars Movie hosted by Dr. Paul Judge, the opportunity to join a FIRST Robotics Team and summer internship opportunities at some of Atlanta's hottest startups.

"On October 30th, 2015, the United Sates Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved equity and debt crowdfunding for retail investors nationwide. This is one of the most significant changes in U.S. securities law in 80 years," says Rodney Sampson, Founder of Kingonomics, Chairman of Opportunity Hub and Head of Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives, TechSquare Labs. "By educating and introducing the Westside community and underserved communities like it across the nation to innovative solutions like crowdfunding, coding & commercialization, they'll have the tools to close the wage and wealth gap and rebuild their communities.  

Over 50 vetted innovators, entrepreneurs and investors will speak, present or facilitate during the multi-faceted event. DJ's will be on hand to add a spark of excitement and relevance to today's generation. Sampson has assembled a prominent team of co-chairs from the Westside and Metro Atlanta to ensure the success of the event. They include Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington, Jr., Council President Ceasar Mitchell, Councilman Andre Bivens, Dr. Paul Judge and Allan Nance (Founders, TechSquare Labs), Sylvia Russell (wife of the late entrepreneurial icon - Herman J. Russell), Greg Alexander (Owner, Cascade Fun Center), Greg Clay (Cofounder, Lieneur), Alice Bussey (Cofounder, Bussey's Flowers), Mack Wilbourn (Founder, Mack II), Frank Hernandez (VP, Arthur M. Blank Foundation) and Michael Sterling (Executive Director, Atlanta Workforce Development Agency and more.

About Kingonomics

Based on the best selling book inspired by the economic ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as interpreted through the lens of serial entrepreneur, investor, author and consecrated bishop, Rodney Sampson, Kingonomics is the definitive social impact platform providing access to expert knowledge and expert practitioners in innovation, entrepreneurship and investment. The definitive mission of Kingonomics is to facilitate an economic and institutional platform designed to address poverty and the wealth gap via the efficient use of existing and new knowledge and best practices for innovation, entrepreneurship and investment. This is accomplished by creating an efficient ecosystem of interconnected experts, firms, research centers, universities, thought leaders, economists, incubators, entrepreneurs, investors and advisors that are presented via Kingonomics large scale conferences, intensive trainings, learning programs, courses, curriculum and certification.