IDEAA today formally announced their history, their mission and their future. If you don’t know, IDEAA — which stands for International Developer Education and Advocacy Alliance — is a new organization formed by the folks behind the yearly Big Android BBQ that has taken place since 2010.
After the success and growth of those events, they wanted to expand their presence to reach all the goals and visions set forth by everyone involved.
“After the tremendous success of our events in 2014 we believed the best way to support developers and our strong partnerships was to transition to this new organization,” says Aaron Kasten, president of IDEAA. “IDEAA will give us a chance to expand our goals and continue to provide unique quality events that are equal parts education, entertainment, and altruism.”
With this alliance comes the possibility of creating a wide range of events not tailored just to Android developers, but developers of all kinds. We’re not sure what, exactly, they have in mind for the entirety of 2015 and beyond, but we do know about their first event.
It starts April 4th of this year with the Big Android Meat and Greet over in Washington DC that we already told you about. That event features a free “Code Kitchen” that runs from mid-morning through mid-afternoon with free lunch served. The Code Kitchen is a networking opportunity and workshop for developers to get together and help each other understand Android more deeply.
Those who have an itch to party can drop an optional $75 to get on a cruise boat afterward and check out the Cherry Blossoms festival where you’ll see the sweet berries in full bloom. All of it is capped off with what’s sure to be an awesome fireworks show. Good old-fashioned Texas barbecue will be served before getting on the boat, of course, so you won’t have to worry about your stomach. Oh, and food and drink on an open bar is included with the price of your ticket, so go nuts.
It sounds like an awesome time and we can’t wait to hear more about what IDEAA has planned for the future. For now, if you want to attend the Big Android Meat & Greet in DC you’ll need to head to EventBrite and order your ticket (whether you’re going for the free portion or otherwise). Be sure to handle that and make sure you can make your way to Washington DC April 4th to partake in the festivities.