A conference targeting Latinos in the field of information technology is headed to Washington, D.C., and organizers say that the event is relevant now more than ever.

The Latinos in Tech Innovation and Social Media (LATISM) 2015 conference will take place from Oct. 28 to 30 at the JW Marriott. This is the convention’s seventh year.

Ana Roca Castro, founder of the event, looks forward to the annual gathering as a chance to forge relationships and encourage mentoring of Latinos in IT. Nowhere is that more obvious than in some of the three-day conference’s exhibits that focus on education.

This year, visitors will see the first-ever Latino Youth Summit to kick off the conference. The summit will allow sixth through 12th graders from around the U.S. to show off their award-winning projects from the STEAM fields, or science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.

“The goal of LATISM is to empower the Latino community in the areas of education, health, business, and civic engagement through tech innovation and social media,” Roca Castro told Technical.ly.

Beyond reaching out to Latino youths in the STEAM fields, the conference also welcomes teachers and school administrators who want to know more about utilizing technology in the classroom, said Roca Castro.

The conference will also allow entrepreneurs to network and learn from others who have succeeded in these technological fields.

The event also gives professionals the chance to meet with potential investors to fund their innovations.

According to a May press release from LATISM, this year’s theme is “Igniting Latinos to Drive the Innovation Economy.”

Because the tech world is always changing, it’s crucial for companies to find qualified staff to handle their evolving needs. For instance, Forbes recently reported that four out of every five small businesses in the U.S. will rely on cloud computing due to its efficiency, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness, and this demand may help create more jobs in the field.

With the changing demographics in the United States, this opens up more doors for Hispanic Americans to enter the IT field, as well.

The conference will also feature an intersection of health and social media by exploring how this technology can reach Latinos.

As for looking at policy and technology, Roca Castro said that the track will focus on “how to give a voice to the voiceless.” Those interested in the topic can take part in the event’s one-day Top Influencers Retreat to learn about advocacy and lobbying.

Also available at the conference, even for those who don’t have a ticket, is access to the 36-hour “hackathon.” This event will focus on sharing ideas and inspiration and allow participants to solve an issue affecting the Hispanic community through code.

Tickets and information are available at conference.latism.org.