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
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
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
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 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
“DEI must DIE,” Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, boldly declared in a Twitter/X post on December 15. “The point was to end discrimination, not replace it with different discrimination.” The South African Tesla and Twitter/X owner doubled down the following day, adding, “‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’ are propaganda words for racism, sexism and other -isms. This is just as morally wrong as any other racism and sexism.” Who benefits from DEI? Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives aim to rectify historical and ongoing discrimination by providing equal access and opportunities
The Rector Cares Foundation has launched Nkuzi STEM, a pioneering program creating pathways for young people across Nigeria aged 15-20 to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). “The lack of diversity in technology not only limits the industry’s potential but also perpetuates inequality,” said Rector Cares Foundations founder Onyedikachi Erete. “Nkuzi STEM seeks to break down those barriers and create a tech landscape that reflects the richness of our society.” Improving lives for Nigerians The Rector Cares Foundation, a non-governmental organization focused on empowering communities in Nigeria with
Mother-daughter duo Claudia and London Walker are set to release “The ABCs of Cybersecurity,” an adventure book and mobile game to equip children with the tools needed to navigate the digital world. Meet Claudia Walker Claudia Walker is an educator who paved the way to ensure financial literacy is accessible to children. Before Walker entered the education field, she worked on Wall Street as a financial analyst. Walk then shared her experiences with students about the money capital and attending a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) after noticing many weren’t
NBA team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, has partnered with Black-owned educational tech company Rhymes with Reason to help 250 students in Cleveland build their literacy and vocabulary skills through popular music. By the age of three, children with professional parents get vocabulary exposure that is two times larger than working-class children. As working-class children comprise the majority of American kids, the word gap persists through primary education, creating a reality where 65% of all students read below the level in 4th grade. Rhymes With Reason was designed to change this narrative
Code Black Indy (CBI) has plans to expand its programs as it receives a $30,000 economic mobility graant from the Bank of America. What Is Cody Black Indy? CBI seeks to reintegrate the “The Village” principle back into the community. The non-profit serves Hoosiers who are underrepresented in the tech field, like people of color, women, individuals with disabilities, and those from low-income backgrounds. Through collaborations such as hands-on training, mentorship, and job placement support, they seek to redefine how one learns through applying technical skills. After working in corporate
