This Juneteenth, we want to celebrate some Black startups that have set out to uplift and support the Black community. What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned that slavery had been abolished – two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The first Juneteenth was observed in 1866 and has been celebrated by Black Americans ever since. It is often referred to as the country’s second independence day and became an official
The Indianapolis African Quality of Life Initiative (IAAQLI) has pledged to give $300,000 in grant support for Black people in tech. As a result of this funding, tech companies such as TechPoint, InnoPower, and Sagamore Institute are now seeking companies in Indiana to provide apprenticeships in tech to low-income Black adults. The IAAQLI is funded by a $100 Million Lilly Endowment, Inc. grant to build collaborations and partnerships to elevate the quality of life of African Americans in Indianapolis. According to Building Indiana Business, the two-year pilot apprenticeship program is
This week, US east coast cities such as New York were hit with hazardous smog and smoke caused by Canadian wildfires, as the cities dealt with some of the worst air quality seen in recent history. Since Friday, over 400 wildfires have blazed through Canada, with 200 still considered out of control, said the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire. Environmental justice activists have told CNN the air is only exacerbating health risks in vulnerable Black and brown communities. Studies have shown Black, Hispanic and Asian Americans are exposed to more pollution
Comcast NBCUniversal has given a $2 million grant to The Hidden Genius Project to help advance their commitment to advancing digital equity. The Hidden Genius Project, launched by Brandon Nicholson, is committed to eradicating the obstacles against young Black boys by providing them with training and mentorship. The grant marks the extension of Comcast’s seven-year partnership with The Hidden Genius Project, which has helped them expand their programmatic, volunteer, and outreach work across communities. “Our continued partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal will equip us to engage even more Black youth with the skills, experiences,
To offer an in-depth, data-backed look into the unique Black experience in the tech industry, the Info-Tech Research Group has published The State of Black Professionals in Tech report. “Diversity in tech is not a new topic, and it’s not a secret that technology organizations struggle to attract and retain Black employees,” Allison Straker and Ugbad Farah, Info-Tech research directors and leads on the report, said in a statement. “Current events have once again brought diversity to the forefront for many organizations. The pandemic, along with preparations for a recession and
Student-focused platform America On Tech (AOT) has been awarded a one-time grant from Michael Jordan and Jordan Brands’s $100 million Black Community Commitment (BCC) to help expand their work across cities. To celebrate Michael Jordan’s 60th birthday, the Jordan Brand awarded $2.3M to 48 organizations, to help create racial equity. America On Tech happened to be one of those, the platform founded in 2014 by Jessica Santana has spent years working to help Black and brown students elevate their careers. “Creating more equitable futures for Black people starts with an
To commemorate Black History Month, we have been spotlighting the pioneers in tech who have paved the way for up-and-coming Black technologists. From completely revolutionizing the technology world to creating the everyday tech items we can’t live without today. As a collective, this group has helped inspire a whole generation of Black professionals in tech. So, let’s meet them. Marie Van Brittan Brown How safe would you feel if home security systems didn’t exist? Well, thanks to Marie Van Brittan Brown, that isn’t something you have to worry about. Marrie Brown is
Tech powerhouse Google has shared how it is working towards racial equity to celebrate Black History month. From prioritizing product inclusion to partnering with Black businesses and highlighting Black history – Google has spent the past few years highlighting the culture and the work of Black innovators. Showcasing Black creators Last year, Google partnered with three non-profit organizations to launch the Image Equity Fellowship. The project supported 20 Black and brown artists through their artistic journeys. The tech giant helped them receive unrestricted funding, mentorship support, and workshops to help them
For the tech industry to achieve true diversity, more children need to see people like themselves in the sector. For many youngsters, media representation has a long-lasting impact on how they see and understand the world of today – which is why representation is so important. According to a report by Common Sense, approximately 65% of parents say that the media significantly impacts their children’s professional aspirations. To manifest a world where more Black people are entering high-paying careers, tech leaders have decided to use the gift of writing to encourage
Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN) has officially opened nominations for its tech industry awards ceremony. Financial services provider BMO will host this year’s event to celebrate the influential and innovative work of Black professionals in the industry. Despite this initiative being the first of its kind, this isn’t the first time BPTN has opened doors for Black professionals. Earlier this year, founder, Lekan Olawoye announced the launch of the Obsidi platform, a conduit to opportunities for black professionals. “We know that Black professionals and Black-led organizations are crushing it both in
