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Diversity & Inclusion

Snap and Zoom’s mass layoffs have impacted workers in various roles across the company, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) teams at both tech companies. Snap’s Layoffs Snap, the maker of Snapchat and Bitmoji, has laid off around 500 employees this month. The layoffs were most often conducted over brief video calls. According to Business Insider, engineers, content moderation teams, and a small number of people doing trust and safety work were impacted. This included several people working on a team within HR that helped with internal employee analytics, including surveys

10Pearls, a global, purpose-driven digital technology partner, is launching a “Women in Tech” program for Latin American women in Costa Rica on February 10th. Founded by brothers Imran and Zeeshan Aftab, 10Pearls partners with clients to imagine, design, build, and deliver innovative mobile and digital products. The company has a diverse clientele that includes Global 1000 enterprises and high-growth startups and has offices in the US, Costa Rice, Colombia, the UK, Pakistan, and Peru. Women in Tech Program The Women in Tech launch event in Costa Rice will consist of a series of

Black-owned StatusPRO has reached a historic milestone with a $20 million Series A funding round from Google Ventures (GV), making it one of the largest Series A of any VR gaming company. StatusPRO StatusPRO was founded by Andrew “Hawk” Hawkins and Troy Jones, who each had a unique journey that propelled them into the tech space as Black co-founders of a budding startup. Leaning on their experiences as former athletes, the duo wanted to help others better understand what it takes to compete at the highest levels from an athlete’s first point of view. Their vision manifested

Black-owned tech accelerator Plug In Ventures has secured a new $1 million grant from the California Office of Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA). Plug In is the space for Black and Brown entrepreneurs and VCs to reimagine the innovation economy across the US and beyond. Founded by Derek Smith in 2014, the accelerator investing mentors and expands early-stage entrepreneurs. Since 2019, companies in his firm’s ecosystem have raised over $22 million in VC dollars from climate, sustainability, the creator economy, and athletic apparel. The Funding Plug In Ventures will receive $250,000 annually from CalOSBA over

Target has pulled a Black History Month magnetic learning activity book that misidentified civil rights leaders from its shelves. A Black history teacher pointed out the errors in a now-viral TikTok.  Las Vegas teacher Tierra Espy went to TikTok to announce she bought the Civil Rights Magnetic Learning Activity Kit for her children during Black History Month. The magnetic activity book featured 26 magnets and informational cards featuring illustrations of Black leaders and slogans from the civil rights movement. However, Espy pointed out on TikTok that the book mixes up

Xbox has announced a partnership with Gameheads, a video game design program, to showcase Black-created games in recognition of Black History Month. Black-Created Games Dametra Johnson-Marletti, Corporate Vice President of Gaming Consumer Sales at Microsoft, announced the collaboration. She stated that video games have the potential to be a platform to preserve shared history and honor the stories of people of color in an engaging way that can disarm defenses and build empathy and understanding. “Gamers from underrepresented communities will not only feel like their voices are heard, but have a greater opportunity

Black-owned Diabetes Digital has launched its innovative virtual nutrition counseling service, expanding access to 23 states. Meet The Founders Jessica Jones and Wendy Lopez founded Diabetes Digital as an online platform for virtual nutrition counseling dedicated to diabetes and prediabetes. CEO Jones and COO Lopez are nationally recognized Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. The pair also co-founded Food Heaven – an online platform and podcast offering resources on cooking, intuitive eating, and body respect. The Diabetes Digital team comprises Registered Dietitians and Certified Diabetes Educators, bringing extensive expertise to users. “Diabetes Digital

Colorintech and Meta have launched the Spectrum AI Accelerator tailored to harness the potential of diverse UK technology founders. Colorintech is an award-winning nonprofit working towards a more transparent and inclusive tech economy. It is known for its student programs and working with governments, universities, VCs, and technology companies to help close the wealth and opportunity gap for underrepresented individuals. The AI Roadshow The program is a “Roadshow” where the duo will cover three core areas across different stakeholders in the community to make them positively impacted by AI. The Roadshow is a visionary

Fearless Fund has urged a US appeals court to allow its grant program to resume, which awards funding to businesses run by Black women. The Fearless Fund Story To Date The American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) attacked Fearless Fund in August 2023 after it claimed the fund’s grant was racially discriminatory. The AAER, founded by Edward Blum, who was behind the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling, accused the grant program of violating Section 1081 of the Civil Rights Act of 1886. The US District, Thomas V. Thrash, initially ruled that Fearless Fund

This year’s Black History Month theme, African Americans and the Arts, invites us to delve into a rich cultural heritage. This month, we will be celebrating the diverse artistic contributions of African Americans across multiple domains and spotlighting the intersection of Black arts and technology. The Origins Of Black History Month Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) and announced Negro History Week in 1925. Woodson had hoped to raise awareness of African Americans’ contributions to civilization, and the event

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