Groupon will establish a $350,000 fund to support Black students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Groupon is an American global e-commerce marketplace that connects subscribers with local merchants by offering activities, travel, goods, and services in 13 countries. The fund is part of an agreement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) following an investigation surrounding Groupon’s hiring practices in 2016. The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Groupon faced a complaint lodged by Adrian Stratton, who alleged Groupon did not hire him for a vice president position because he
Heather Dowdy is Netflix’s Director of Product Accessibility, with a unique and inspiring story. Growing up on Chicago’s South Side as a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), Dowdy’s life at the intersection of race, disability, gender, and socioeconomic status uniquely positioned her for her role at Netflix. Her journey showcases the power of resilience and innovation in overcoming systemic barriers, particularly in the tech industry. Early Life For Dowdy From a young age, Dowdy was immersed in hearing and Deaf cultures, navigating two worlds and recognizing the need for access
Renowned Haitian rapper and investor Wyclef Jean has partnered with Caribbean International Commerce (CICH) to establish a technology and infrastructure hub in Nigeria. The initiative is set to catalyze economic empowerment, sustainability, and technological innovation in the North of Nigeria. The Partnership This partnership aims to create a symphony of innovation, combining state-of-the-art music and movie studios with a commitment to eco-friendly practices and equitable wealth distribution in commodity markets. After securing over 4,000 hectares in Plateau State for the development of this hub, Jean and CICH aim to have
Black Tech Saturdays is an initiative amplifying Black representation in technology, originated from the vision of Detroit-based couple Johnnie and Alexa Turnage. Inspired by the tech ecosystem in Baltimore and guided by the equitech framework, the Turnages expanded their mission to cultivate wealth and community for Black tech professionals. This movement is not just about fostering professional connections; it embodies the pursuit of “Black joy” – the freedom to pursue dreams with creativity and impact. The Detroit-Baltimore Connection With a background in grassroots organizing and influenced by Dug Song, co-chair of
In 2023, the tech industry witnessed both advancements and persistent challenges concerning the experiences of Black and Brown individuals. Some companies are making strides in diversity and inclusion efforts, incorporating initiatives such as mentorship programs and targeted hiring practices. However, the sector has grappled with the complex intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) issues and ongoing legal battles against affirmative action. Concerns regarding biased algorithms and AI systems perpetuating discrimination have prompted discussions about the ethical use of technology in hiring and workplace practices. However, no matter how good or bad
Implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace could widen the racial wealth gap between Black and white households in the US by $43 billion, research has suggested. McKinsey & Co. stated that generative AI (gen AI) has initiated a seismic shift in work and value creation. When this happens, and a new technology appears, it can create or exacerbate divides, including the racial wealth gap. They explored how many gen AI may affect Black communities and Black workers. A Divide In Black And White Households The research found that new
Breakr, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) alumni-founded music platform, has raised an additional $1.9 million. Breakr is reshaping influencer collaboration through its SaaS platform designed explicitly for record labels, artists, and brands. By enabling creator-to-creator relationships at scale, labels and brands can move at the speed of culture, and creators can get paid fairly for making it happen. The Three-Sided Marketplace Breakr’s unique selling point is that it effectively treats the basic concept of connecting creators to build influencer campaigns as a programmatic opportunity. The company recently came
The University of Washington’s recent study on Stable Diffusion, a popular AI image generator, reveals concerning biases in its algorithm. The research, led by doctoral student Sourojit Ghosh and assistant professor Aylin Caliskan, was presented at the 2023 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing and published on the pre-print server arXiv. The Three Key Issues The report picked up on three key issues and concerns surrounding Stable Diffusion, including gender and racial stereotypes, geographic stereotyping, and the sexualization of women of color. Gender and Racial Stereotypes The AI
The nation’s leading science and education organizations have partnered to launch the Action Collaborative on Transforming Trajectories for Women of Color in Tech, paving the pathway in tech education and careers. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine launched the action collaboratively alongside 35 other institutions representing higher education, national laboratories, and government. Action Collaborative The action collaborative is guided by the findings and recommendations from the 2022 consensus report Transforming Trajectories for Women of Color in Tech. Using an intersectional approach, the collaborative aims to transform the pathways in tech
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Raises Alarm Over Disproportionate Layoffs Of Black Tech Workers In Letter
Congresswoman Barbara Lee has written a letter to the US Department of Labor addressing the disproportionate layoffs of Black tech employees. African American Lee and several other Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members wrote the letter to Julie Su, the acting secretary of the US Department of Labor. Black Tech Employee Layoffs According to the letter, since the beginning of 2023, more than 240,000 tech workers have experienced layoffs, which is a more than 50% increase from 2022. Lee found that minorities and women make up most of the year’s tech layoffs. “We write to express
