Every year, on the second Monday in October, the US commemorates Indigenous Peoples’ Day to honor and celebrate Indigenous communities’ rich cultures, traditions, and contributions. Here, we shine a spotlight on some remarkable Indigenous leaders who are pushing the boundaries of tech and inspiring the next generation. 1. Robin Máxkii: Tech Creative And Storyteller Robin Máxkii is a tech creative, filmmaker, writer, and student advocate renowned for her efforts to broaden Indigenous participation in tech and education. Máxkii was raised in Houston, Texas, after living in the Stockbridge-Munsee community in
A recent panel discussion hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs and the TaxPayers’ Alliance in the UK shed light on a stark lack of diversity in the industry. The panel, consisting of six white men, four of whom were named Matthew, ignited online conversations about the whiteness and maleness of journalism. Tech journalist Dominic-Madori Davis remarked, “If it is easier to find four men named Matthew than at least one woman in your network, you gotta diversify asap.” This sentiment was echoed by Theo Priestley, an author and technology
A recent analysis by Bloomberg News has revealed that people of color accounted for 94% of new hires at the US’ largest public companies in the year after the Black Lives Matter protests. The proportion of managerial and executive roles held by people of color increased by about two percentage points – more than double the average increases in previous years. However, white people remained overrepresented in the top, highly-paid positions. A major shift The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) requires companies with 100 or more employees to report
A Latina-founded nonprofit, AIandYou, has launched a campaign to prepare young people of color and women against possible AI-generated misinformation leading up to the 2024 presidential election. AIandYou AIandYou was founded in 2019 to educate marginalized communities about artificial intelligence (AI) to help end users understand how AI impacts their daily lives. The nonprofit encourages communities to understand AI’s potential and pitfalls, providing online resources in easy-to-understand languages. Founder and CEO Susan Gonzales has years of experience in tech and policy and serves on the National AI Advisory Committee, advising
The CSforDetroit Steering Committee has launched its CSforDetroit initiative – a multi-year initiative to provide year-round computer science learning opportunities for Detroit K-12 students. The CSforDetroit Steering Committee is a collective of stakeholders in K-12 Computer Science (CS) education assembled to help school communities create a transformative learning experience in CS classrooms. The Kapor Foundation which works at the intersection of racial justice and technology, and a coalition of stakeholders and organizations will lead the initiative. Other partners include Google.org, Song Foundation, and the CSforALL’s Accelerator Program. Their goal together is to
Toni Townes-Whitley officially became CEO of Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) yesterday, making her one of two Black women currently running a Fortune 500 company. SAIC provides engineering, digital, artificial intelligence and mission solutions across the defence, space, civilian and intelligence markets. In May, the company announced Townes-Whitley would take over from Nazzic Keene, who decided to retire Townes-Whitley joined SAIC on June 12 to ensure a seamless transition as CEO-elect. Keene has become Special Executive Advisor to Townes-Whitley and the company until February 2024. Toni Townes-Whitley – The CEO
October marks Black History Month in the UK, an occasion to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Black people to British society. Black people from African and Caribbean communities have been integral to British history and society for centuries. The UK Black History Month 2023 theme is “Saluting our Sisters”, highlighting Black women’s crucial role in shaping history, inspiring change and building communities. CIO reported that just 0.7% of Black women in the UK work in the IT industry, compared to 1.8% across the UK’s entire workforce. They also found
Corner is a new social media app that turns your memories into recommendations you can share with friends with a personalized social map. The brainchild of Eliza Wu and Jake Xia, Corner aims to move away from the negativity and complaints of traditional review platforms and focus on sharing memorable experiences. Meet the co-founders Wu has an impressive background with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Southern California and worked as an Investment Intern during her time there. She became an investment associate at JPMorgan for two years before
BLCK VC, a nonprofit for Black investors, has appointed two-time founder and investor Robert Gordon IV as its CEO. BLCK VC BLCK VC is a nonprofit organization that equips Black investors with the access, education, and community they need to accelerate their venture capital (VC) careers. Typically, Black entrepreneurs receive less than 2% of overall dollars each year in VC funding. Additionally, by the end of 2022, adverse market conditions led to a 36% drop in overall VC dollars, but Black entrepreneurs saw a 45% decrease in the financing. BLCK
A federal court has temporarily blocked Fearless Fund’s grant program for Black women entrepreneurs amid an ongoing lawsuit by the American Alliance for Equal Rights. The decision reverses last week’s ruling by US District Judge Thomas V. Thrash, ultimately denying the conservative group’s allegation that the program was racially discriminatory. The Lawsuit Against Fearless Fund Fearless Fund invests in women of color-led businesses seeking pre-seed, seed level or series A financing. The American Alliance for Equal Rights, founded by Edward Blum, brought a lawsuit against Fearless Fund in August 2023.
