Florida A&M University (FAMU) will expand its academic offerings with the addition of new graduate degrees in aerospace engineering beginning in fall 2025. This move, as reported by the Tallahassee Democrat, includes a master’s and a PhD program through the FAMU’s joint college with Florida State University (FSU). The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, situated in Innovation Park, is the only shared engineering school in the nation. Currently, it offers an Aerodynamics Certificate through an online graduate certificate program. The introduction of the aerospace engineering graduate
In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, it’s essential to recognize and honor the incredible contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women in the tech industry. Their stories of resilience, creativity, and leadership inspire and underscore the vital role of diversity in fostering technological advancement. During this special month, we have highlighted the achievements of some of these trailblazers, celebrated their contributions, and explored how they are paving the way for future generations. Reshma Saujani – Girls Who Code And Moms First Reshma Saujani is a leading activist and the
Black-led venture capital firm Harlem Capital is raising a $150 million fund, according to documents filed with the SEC. Harlem Capital, founded in 2015 by Henri Pierre-Jacques and Jarrid Tingle, aims to change the face of entrepreneurship by investing in 1,000 diverse founders. Harlem Capital’s Funds To Date The new fund, if raised, will be the firm’s third and most significant to date after raising $134 million in 2021 and $40 million in 2019. Its second fund focused on early-stage post-product companies from all sectors but a particular focus on consumer and enterprise tech.
El Salvador, the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, has mined nearly 474 Bitcoins worth approximately $29 million using geothermal energy from the Tecapa volcano, according to Nasdaq. Harnessing Volcanic Power for Bitcoin Mining Since September 2021, El Salvador has been leveraging the geothermal power of the Tecapa volcano to fuel its Bitcoin mining operations. This initiative, a collaboration with prominent mining firms like Foundry USA, Antpool, ViaBTC, F2Pool, and Binance Pool, taps into the 102 megawatts generated by the state-owned geothermal power plant. Of this, 1.5 megawatts are
Latino Business Action Network recently launched a Startup Accelerator program to empower Latinx tech entrepreneurs through mentorship, networking and educational resources. Latinos are the most prolific creators of new companies in the U.S., with over 5 million Latino-owned businesses currently operating, according to a recent Latino Business Action Network (LBAN) report. Despite this impressive number, Latino entrepreneurs face significant barriers to accessing venture capital. Aimed At Tech Entrepreneurs The accelerator program, supported by JPMorgan Chase, will focus on 40 Latino majority-owned, venture-backed tech companies specializing in fields such as AI, Agtech, health tech, fintech, and biotech.
Viola Davis, journalist Joy Reid, and radio host Charlamagne Tha God are among the partners that have teamed up with The Grio founder David A. Wilson and tech leader Brandon John-Freso to launch ALTR. ATLR pronounced ‘alter’, is a personal development app tailored to the Black community. A Collaborative Vision for Empowerment ATLR aims to provide short-form audiobooks by Black luminaries and authors. It is currently open for early access sign-ups and is scheduled for an official launch in late 2024. The development of ALTR is in collaboration with JuVee Productions, founded by Davis
Break Through Tech AI, the largest program of its kind in the U.S., aims to support college students from underrepresented backgrounds into top tech careers. Specifically, the program helps underrepresented groups, including lower-income, Latina and Black women and nonbinary students, gain the skills they need to get jobs in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Expanding Access to Elite Tech Opportunities Hosted and supported by institutions such as MIT, UCLA, and Cornell Tech, Break Through Tech AI is free and focuses on students from public institutions and historically Black colleges.
Seven organizations focused on diversity in tech have announced the formation of the Diversity Data Alliance to address funding disparities faced by underrepresented groups. The alliance comprises All Raise, Diversity VC, BLCK VC, StartOut, 2Gether-International, Vets in Tech, and Somos VC. Standardizing Data for a Unified Approach The Diversity Data Alliance has agreed upon a set of standardized demographic data points to be collected across each member organization. This initiative, which began in the spring of 2023 and saw its implementation in 2024, focuses on capturing demographic information, such as race, gender identity, sexual orientation, educational attainment,
NBA legend Charles Barkley has pledged a $1 million donation to St. Mary’s Academy, where two high school students, Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Johnson, claimed to have solved a mathematical mystery. The duo’s work, unveiled at the American Mathematical Society’s Annual Southeastern Conference, presented a new proof of Pythagoras’ theorem that many mathematicians thought impossible. Jackson and Johnson have submitted their discoveries for final peer review and publication. NBA Legend Charles Barkley’s Donation After learning about their achievement during a segment on CBS’ “60 Minutes” featuring St. Mary’s Academy, Barkley was deeply moved
Irving L. Peddrew III, the first African American admitted to Virginia Tech, has passed away at the age of 88. Breaking Barriers in Education In 1954, Irving Peddrew made history as the first Black student admitted to Virginia Tech, a historically white, four-year public institution in the former states of the Confederacy. Despite the milestone, Peddrew faced a level of adversity, including being forced to live and eat off campus due to segregation. He found a home with a Black couple, Janie and William Hoge, who supported him during his
