Newark Brothers Launch Initiative to Bridge AI Access Gap
In an effort to prevent underserved communities from being left behind in the artificial intelligence revolution, brothers Monk and Ifiok Inyang have launched 1st Street Partnerships. Growing up in Newark as children of Nigerian immigrants, the brothers witnessed firsthand the challenges posed by limited resources and lack of technology access.
The Inyang brothers believe AI has the potential to break barriers for populations that have long lacked resources and opportunities. Making its use more accessible, inclusive, and practical could upskill the workforce, drive economic mobility, and close digital divides. Since generative AI emerged in late 2022, almost every industry has been working to understand its power and capabilities.
Training Programs Focus on Entrepreneurs and Underserved Groups
Launched in 2023, 1st Street Partnerships designs training programs on generative AI adoption to empower entrepreneurs of color. Using a framework called ‘Anchored Intelligence,’ the model focuses on easing fears about AI and demonstrating how it can make work more efficient and human-centered. Monk Inyang, CEO of 1st Street Partnerships, stated, ‘It allows you to punch above your weight dramatically. It allows me to punch above my weight as I’m building my own business.’
The company has developed partnerships with Morgan State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), and Kevin Hart’s Gran Coramino brand. At Morgan State, they helped equip students in the fashion design and merchandising program with AI skills. With NJIT, they worked on an online self-paced AI credential course.
With Gran Coramino, 1st Street Partnerships will offer business advice and AI training to grant winners. The Gran Coramino Fund has awarded funding to over 100 individuals across 10 industries since launching two years ago.
Monk Inyang emphasized the importance of community-based learning, stating, ‘When you’re doing it live with other people and you’re being encouraged to share the things that you’re seeing… it really clicks in those situations.’ The company has also pitched its services to other organizations, including Lyft and Harlem’s Fashion Row.
Addressing AI Anxiety
The AI boom has fueled anxiety across industries, with employees fearing job displacement and ethical usage issues. A December 2023 survey found 71% of U.S.-based workers are concerned about AI, with 75% worrying it will make their jobs obsolete. Monk Inyang believes many people still have misconceptions about AI, but his company’s approach is to ‘literally just bring it to folks, showing them what it looks like, showing them how it takes away from the amount of time that you spend on these other things.’
For the Inyang brothers, 1st Street Partnerships is part of their ongoing efforts to empower their community. They previously formed a nonprofit in Newark called the Brick City Alumni Group to connect high school students with college graduates.
The brothers’ backgrounds span corporate strategy, finance, and public service. Ifiok Inyang is currently chief of staff for services technology at Mastercard, while Monk Inyang has served on the Montclair Board of Education since 2022.
Through 1st Street Partnerships, the brothers aim to make AI accessible to those who need it most, believing it can be a powerful tool for creating positive change in their community.
