Blab AI
El Paso Launches Regional AI Summit to Strengthen Education and Workforce
On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) College of Education became the epicenter of a city‑wide conversation about the future of work and learning. The “Built Here Summit: The Future of AI, Education and Work in El Paso” convened more than 100 leaders from education, industry, government, and community organizations on the UTEP campus, each eager to chart a coordinated AI framework that would equip students and workers for the evolving economy.
At the heart of the summit was the culmination of the El Paso Computes initiative, a partnership forged in 2025 between the City of El Paso, UTEP, and the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD). Over 22 months, the program has trained 721 regional educators in computer science and AI principles, equipped 500 students with advanced computing skills through summer camps, touched 131 schools, embedded AI skills and certification pathways into teacher‑preparation curricula, and reached more than 25,000 K‑12 students.
City officials framed the grant that financed El Paso Computes as an investment in the community’s people and economic future. Mayor Renard Johnson emphasized that the partnership “shows that El Pasoans can come together to make sure our community is prepared to compete, lead and create the jobs of the future.”
Dean Clifton Tanabe, Ph.D., of the UTEP College of Education underscored that AI should serve people, not replace them. “We are not waiting for the technology to shape El Paso’s future but rather bringing together diverse leaders to ensure it is our students and workers who will be shaping the jobs, platforms, and work of the future,” Tanabe said.
The summit’s opening fireside chat paired Tanabe with Kerri Briggs, executive director of Educate Texas at the Communities Foundation of Texas. Their dialogue spotlighted the need for a new type of collaboration that unites education and business leaders, entrepreneurs, government representatives, students, and community leaders to advance people‑centered AI policies and practices.
Three panels followed. The “Making AI Work for Every Student” panel gathered educators and district leaders who explored how teachers, superintendents, college students, and education nonprofits are integrating AI into schools. Panelists stressed that critical thinking and other foundational soft skills remain essential.
Next, the “Preparing El Paso’s Workforce for the Age of AI” panel featured employers and workforce leaders from Microsoft, Workforce Solutions Borderplex, and others. They discussed how AI is being leveraged to address backlogs, automate administrative tasks, and identify new audiences, while also touching on regulatory practices that protect workers and prevent displacement.
Catherine Tabor, president of the Computer Science Teachers Association, remarked, “AI is a tool for educators and students to use; it cannot teach. Educators are still needed in the classroom to introduce students to the pursuit of knowledge and a love of learning.”
Leila Melendez, CEO of Workforce Solutions Borderplex, added, “We’re seeing more and more local businesses lean into AI, but that doesn’t equate to a loss in jobs. Businesses still need employees, and an employee proficient in AI can help our region lead the way.”
The summit’s emphasis on people‑centered AI aligns with the broader goals of the El Paso Computes initiative, which aims to create a sustainable talent pipeline for technology, cybersecurity, healthcare innovation and other high‑growth industries.
According to the City of El Paso, the grant that funded El Paso Computes was part of a larger effort to expand computer science and AI education across the region. The initiative has also integrated computer science training into existing bachelor’s degree programs at UTEP and organized city‑wide cybersecurity competitions for students.
Dean Tanabe closed the summit with a statement that the event represented a regional commitment to ensuring every student and worker has the opportunity to prosper in an AI‑enabled future. He said the collaboration among educators, employers, workforce leaders and policymakers is helping position El Paso as a model for how communities can embrace innovation while advancing equity and economic opportunity.
The summit’s outcomes will inform the next phase of collaboration among education, industry, government and community leaders, underscoring El Paso’s ongoing efforts to build AI capacity, strengthen workforce development and support the city’s economic growth.
The summit was reported by UTEP Marketing and Communications staff on August 11, 2026, and was covered by local media outlets and the City of El Paso website.
At the heart of the summit was the culmination of the El Paso Computes initiative, a partnership forged in 2025 between the City of El Paso, UTEP, and the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD). Over 22 months, the program has trained 721 regional educators in computer science and AI principles, equipped 500 students with advanced computing skills through summer camps, touched 131 schools, embedded AI skills and certification pathways into teacher‑preparation curricula, and reached more than 25,000 K‑12 students.
City officials framed the grant that financed El Paso Computes as an investment in the community’s people and economic future. Mayor Renard Johnson emphasized that the partnership “shows that El Pasoans can come together to make sure our community is prepared to compete, lead and create the jobs of the future.”
Dean Clifton Tanabe, Ph.D., of the UTEP College of Education underscored that AI should serve people, not replace them. “We are not waiting for the technology to shape El Paso’s future but rather bringing together diverse leaders to ensure it is our students and workers who will be shaping the jobs, platforms, and work of the future,” Tanabe said.
The summit’s opening fireside chat paired Tanabe with Kerri Briggs, executive director of Educate Texas at the Communities Foundation of Texas. Their dialogue spotlighted the need for a new type of collaboration that unites education and business leaders, entrepreneurs, government representatives, students, and community leaders to advance people‑centered AI policies and practices.
Three panels followed. The “Making AI Work for Every Student” panel gathered educators and district leaders who explored how teachers, superintendents, college students, and education nonprofits are integrating AI into schools. Panelists stressed that critical thinking and other foundational soft skills remain essential.
Next, the “Preparing El Paso’s Workforce for the Age of AI” panel featured employers and workforce leaders from Microsoft, Workforce Solutions Borderplex, and others. They discussed how AI is being leveraged to address backlogs, automate administrative tasks, and identify new audiences, while also touching on regulatory practices that protect workers and prevent displacement.
Catherine Tabor, president of the Computer Science Teachers Association, remarked, “AI is a tool for educators and students to use; it cannot teach. Educators are still needed in the classroom to introduce students to the pursuit of knowledge and a love of learning.”
Leila Melendez, CEO of Workforce Solutions Borderplex, added, “We’re seeing more and more local businesses lean into AI, but that doesn’t equate to a loss in jobs. Businesses still need employees, and an employee proficient in AI can help our region lead the way.”
The summit’s emphasis on people‑centered AI aligns with the broader goals of the El Paso Computes initiative, which aims to create a sustainable talent pipeline for technology, cybersecurity, healthcare innovation and other high‑growth industries.
According to the City of El Paso, the grant that funded El Paso Computes was part of a larger effort to expand computer science and AI education across the region. The initiative has also integrated computer science training into existing bachelor’s degree programs at UTEP and organized city‑wide cybersecurity competitions for students.
Dean Tanabe closed the summit with a statement that the event represented a regional commitment to ensuring every student and worker has the opportunity to prosper in an AI‑enabled future. He said the collaboration among educators, employers, workforce leaders and policymakers is helping position El Paso as a model for how communities can embrace innovation while advancing equity and economic opportunity.
The summit’s outcomes will inform the next phase of collaboration among education, industry, government and community leaders, underscoring El Paso’s ongoing efforts to build AI capacity, strengthen workforce development and support the city’s economic growth.
The summit was reported by UTEP Marketing and Communications staff on August 11, 2026, and was covered by local media outlets and the City of El Paso website.
