Terysa Ridgeway, a Tech Program Manager at Google and author of the “Terysa Solves It” book series has launched a new YouTube series aimed at introducing young children to the world of coding. Ridgeway actively engages in educational programs focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). She recently authored a children’s book, “Think Like A Computer,” and created a toy robot, Alilo the Explorer, designed to teach coding to children as young as three. Ridgeway’s new YouTube series continues her commitment to making coding accessible and fun for the
Dr. Leeja Carter has developed a smart refrigerator device that provides free healthy food items to schools and hospitals. Dr. Carter is the CEO and founder of Coalition for Food and Health Equity (CFHE), which she launched after the pandemic when she recognized an increase in the number of people without food. Dr. Carter now has several programs, including The Ujamaa Cafe and Ujamaa Well, which offer food and wellness innovation with access programs addressing food and health access. The Ujamaa Cafe Fridge Program The Ujamaa Cafe has now expanded
17-year-old Emmanuela Ilok from Nigeria has been awarded full scholarships to study software engineering at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, including Stanford, MIT, Yale, UPenn, Princeton, and Columbia. Academic Excellence and International Recognition Ilok’s journey to securing these scholarships began with her performance in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) in Nigeria, where she was recognized as the top performer by the British Council, according to Punchng. Ilok’s mind led her to develop software that employs Machine Learning algorithms to detect breast cancer in women, achieving
In an initiative to empower Black creatives, Apple has partnered with the Propel Center to launch an arts and entertainment industry accelerator program. This program provides 50 students from 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) opportunities to enhance their creative skills and explore new career pathways. Program Overview: Empowering Future Creatives The accelerator program, which is part of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI), commenced on June 10 at Tennessee State University and will conclude at Clark Atlanta University. “Creativity is central to everything we do at Apple,
Pretty Lux Co, the first Black-owned and woman-owned candle-making studio in Middle Georgia, is igniting a love for science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) through the art of making luxury products. Pretty Lux Co. Pretty Lux Co. was founded in July 2023 by Anikitia Abram to offer candles, skin, and hair products that are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and created with minimal ingredients. Abram told Macon that the idea of Pretty Lux Co. was sparked by a personal journey of seeking solace and understanding during moments of anxiety. This search led
Howard University’s College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) has received a $5 million gift from Autodesk Inc., the global leader in software for the Design and Make industries. According to their press release, this marks the largest unrestricted philanthropic donation in the college’s history. A $5M Gift From Autodesk The new funding will support the College of Engineering and Architecture Design and Make Lab, which will provide software, state-of-the-art equipment, and educators who will empower future engineers. “We are immensely grateful for Autodesk’s gift to Howard’s College of Engineering and
Pinterest has announced the Hidden Healing Fund, an initiative with diverse cultural healing practices to empower young people’s mental health. The Hidden Healing Fund Led by Pinterest and supported by SHOWTIME/MTV, the Hidden Healing Fund will pilot an initial investment of $1 million in community organizations that employ culturally led approaches to addressing youth mental health challenges. Brands committed to improving mental health have been invited to combine their resources to help bridge gaps in accessibility and aid solutions beyond traditional models of care. The initiative was inspired by an
Meta’s ad algorithms show racial bias by disproportionately steering Black users towards more expensive for-profit colleges, a recent study found. Researchers from Princeton and the University of Southern California have developed “Auditing for Racial Discrimination in the Delivery of Education Ads,” a third-party auditing report to evaluate racial bias in education ads, focusing on platforms like Meta. Algorithm Education Bias This method allows external parties to assess and demonstrate the presence or absence of bias in social media algorithms, an area previously unexplored in education. Prior audits revealed discriminatory practices
AiDigiTales has launched its newest initiative, the “AI for Kids” podcast, to introduce the world of AI to children. AI for Kids is a series of fun, informative, and interactive episodes aimed at children from pre-K to middle grade. This initiative represents AiDigiTales’ ongoing commitment to making AI education accessible and engaging for young minds everywhere. Engaging And Educational Content For Young Minds “AI for Kids” will be released biweekly on Tuesdays, each episode designed to simplify complex AI concepts for a young audience. The podcast aims to make AI
Florida A&M University (FAMU) will expand its academic offerings with the addition of new graduate degrees in aerospace engineering beginning in fall 2025. This move, as reported by the Tallahassee Democrat, includes a master’s and a PhD program through the FAMU’s joint college with Florida State University (FSU). The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, situated in Innovation Park, is the only shared engineering school in the nation. Currently, it offers an Aerodynamics Certificate through an online graduate certificate program. The introduction of the aerospace engineering graduate
