After making pledges following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, companies such as Google have cut back on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and hiring. Following Floyd’s murder in 2020, companies set pledges to prioritize DEI. Between June and August 2020, there was a 55% increase in corporate DEI roles, and leading corporations pledged $12.3 billion to fight racism. Google, in particular, aimed to improve the representation of underrepresented groups in leadership by 30% by 2025 and address representation issues in hiring, retention, and promotions. Over the last year, however,
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.’s debut single “Juicy”, Warner Music Group (WMG) has collaborated with The Sandbox, a leading decentralized gaming virtual world. Together, they are bringing the iconic hip-hop artist to life in today’s virtual world through the Metaverse experience “Breakin’ B.I.G.” as a nod to the beloved side-scrolling games of the 1990s. Breakin’ B.I.G. Notorious B.I.G. released his debut album “Ready to Die” 30 years ago, which featured the song Juicy, selling 6 million copies and is widely regarded as one of the greatest
Many of us have kickstarted 2024 with goals for the new year. These goals range from learning more about our finances and getting fit to prioritizing our wellbeing or simply reading more. We have compiled a list of some Black-owned apps that may help you on your way! Prioritize Your Wellbeing – Exhale Black founder Katara McCarty launched her app, Exhale, in 2020 after struggling to find an app suited to Black women’s wellbeing. Exhale is the first emotional wellbeing app for Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC). The app coaches users through
US Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, a nurse and American politician who represented Texas in the US House of Representatives for 30 years, has died. Johnson’s son, Dawrence Kirk Johnson, posted his mother’s death on Facebook, stating, “I am heartbroken to share the news that my mother, Eddie Bernice Johnson, has passed away.” “While we mourn the loss of an extraordinary woman, we celebrate her life and legacy. She will be deeply missed.” Eddie Bernice Johnson Johnson was born in Waca, Texas, and grew up in the segregated South. She studied nursing at
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
This year’s top stories reflect the challenges, opportunities, and dynamic changes in the tech industry and broader society. Unsurprisingly, many of these years’ top stories concern the boom in generative AI, from developing the “BlackGPT” to concerns around the historical and present-day harms and philosophies underpinning AI developments. We’ve also shared stories of Black innovation, Latine entrepreneurship, workplace wins and challenges, collective triumph, and personal tragedy. Here are the ten stories that resonated with you, our POCIT readers, the most this year. 10. Cash App’s Appeal in the Black Community
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
Orka, a Chicago-based health tech firm, is redefining the hearing aid industry with its innovative Orka hearing aid. Founded in 2018 by Ben Sun, Chauncey Lu, Linkai Li, and Xinke Liu, Orka aims not only to enhance hearing but also to make hearing aids as user-friendly and desirable as AirPods. Birthed from personal experience During a family visit to China in 2017, Ben Sun, CEO, observed his grandmother struggling with her hearing. He told Forbes that after spending $1000 on hearing aids for her, she stopped using them after a
This article was originally published by Carla C. Whyte on Medium. I transitioned from classroom teaching to a remote role in Customer Success in approximately three months. My role was ‘no-code’, meaning I did not need to learn to code in order to be considered for it. I’m naming that my role was ‘no-code’ because there is still some confusion for many people not yet in “tech”, that “tech” is a role. By itself, “tech” is not a role — it is an industry. Much like other industries — healthcare, automotive,
