Sometimes the institutions technologists create really do reflect the less than ideal social and economic history that technological progress has been embedded in. If someone calls you out on that, think about how you can grow something different, don't just get defensive.

There are lots of creative ways to address the problem, and a conference dedicated to technological evangelism and celebration is a particularly great place to do it. Maybe the sponsors could purchase attendance for some interested high schoolers that maybe don't have the funding for the best IT/CS class.