At 14 years old, Naya Ellis of New Orleans has turned her passion for science into a potentially life-saving invention: a stroke-detecting watch called WingItt. Inspired by her personal family experiences and participation in STEM NOLA, Ellis’ invention has earned her the title of champion in the National STEM Challenge. Developing WingItt: A Life-Saving Technology Ellis’s journey began in the STEM NOLA program, which provides an eight-month-long science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fellowship to high-potential, low-income high school students of color. Initially interested in developing a seizure-detecting device, she shifted her
Dr. Kimberly Clay, founder of Play Like A Girl, is using her passion for STEM and sports to teach young women how to become executive leaders in the corporate field. Play Like A Girl is a charitable organization fighting to help every girl – no matter their background – reach their full potential in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) industry. Since 2019, Play Like a Girl has partnered with the NFL to infuse the sports discipline with the skillset needed to excel in STEM. Play Like A Girl is
Black Girls In Tech (BGIT) has partnered with Motorway, the UK’s fastest-growing used car marketplace, to promote tech diversity and inclusivity. BGIT is a community for Black women to share their experiences and resources for thriving in the white, male-dominated tech industry. Co-founders Karen Emelu and Valerie Oyiki previously told POCIT that BGIT began as a group chat. Today, BGIT is an international organization providing a community, resources, and opportunities to Black women in tech. Bootcamp to Hiring Pipeline Motorway will be sponsoring BGIT’s first cohort of their free frontend development bootcamp. The bootcamp will run from
Despite the cybersecurity sector being one of the fastest growing in tech, reports have revealed that only 9% of cybersecurity experts are Black, meaning a lot needs to be done to diversify the industry. According to Forbes, Cybersecurity Ventures has forecasted that approximately 3.5 million cybersecurity jobs will need to be filled by 2025. As a result, more initiatives have been launched to help close the racial cybersecurity gap – here are a few. CyberVista Arlington-based cybersecurity platform, CyberVista, has launched a free training platform for Black women and girls. The two courses –
Black Girls In Tech are all about making big moves, and the launch of their brand-new cyber academy further proves that. What Are Black Girls In Tech? Black Girls In Tech is a UK-based company that aims to increase women’s representation within the tech industry. According to reports, women comprise approximately 26% of the tech workforce. Unfortunately, they are more prone to leave the industry due to gendered biases and a lack of work-life balance, which is why communities like Black Girls in Tech are essential. Black Girls In Tech,
