A Google Technical Program Manager, Terysa Ridgeway, is launching Alilo the Explorer, an educational toy robot that teaches children how to code. Meet Terysa Ridgeway Ridgeway has been a Tech Program Manager at Google for almost two years. She is also the author of The Terysa Solves It book series that introduces young girls to Computer Science. The child of two teachers, Ridgeway’s fascination with technology began early. One day, her mother brought home a computer, and Ridgeway was intrigued by the data processor that allowed the keyboard’s letters to
Black 10-year-old Ava Simmons has partnered with retailers across the US and Canada to launch her Team Genius Squad STEM toy line. Team Genius Squad Team Genius Squad is a movement and an aspiring brand created by 10-year-old Ava, also known as the STEM Princess. Their mission is to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) awareness, encouraging individuals to believe in themselves, to identify their uniqueness, and to pursue their goals. They design STEM-inspired products such as Experiment Lab Kits, Jewelry, Lip Gloss, Puzzles and Apparel whilst developing fun
Black-owned ed-tech company Nomadd Group has launched Project CASPER, an accelerated program implementing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs in underrepresented schools and communities. Nomadd Group Nomadd is a community development and STEM-accredited EdTech company that provides programs and services to uplift disinvested communities. Founded by Kevin Horton, Nomadd’s vision is to create economic mobility for communities that lack access to information, technology and resources. It focuses on re-skilling workers, developing the workforce, and promoting entrepreneurship while reforming the education system. They aim to help implement STEM programs to
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-owned education-focused foundation, HEPH, has been awarded a $1.2 million grant to support its commitment to learners. The grant, which has been provided by the How We Learn Fund, was awarded to founders Steve and Sheila Conner to help advance the development of STEM-related studies for Black and brown children starting with the Chicagoland area. What is the HEPH Foundation? Founded by Steve and Sheila Conner, the HEPH Foundation is named after Hephaestus, the Greek god that made tools for the gods. The educational foundation’s mission is to transform disengaged
Following the box-office success of Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Disney is donating $1 million to nonprofits providing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and arts education for young people from historically underrepresented communities. The organizations benefiting from this funding include Girls Who Code, Ghetto Film School, The Hidden Genius Project, and DonorsChoose in the US. Through this initiative, Disney hopes Black youth will feel more empowered and inspired to pursue careers in the science and technology sectors. “From its historic casting to advanced technology to culturally relevant storytelling, Black
How do we bridge the gap between art and science? STEM From Dance, a New York City-based youth organization, is fusing opposite sides of the spectrum to help tackle the lack of diversity within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce in a way that has never been done before. The organization, founded in 2021 by Yamilée Toussaint Beach, is bringing together art and science – two sectors considered a juxtaposition – and bringing them together to promote the idea that artistic expression and STEM can work together to
American actress Sonequa Martin-Green has teamed up with snack brand Frito-Lay Variety Packs and STEM Next’s Million Girls Moonshot to provide young girls with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning opportunities. The partnership, which will come under the Back-to-School Blast Off program, aims to encourage the next generation of women to pursue careers in STEM. Through the initiative, families can enjoy STEM activities created by NASA scientists using everyday household items, such as designing a heat shield or building a moon lander. “Representation matters, and sometimes, all it takes to
New research by The Plug has revealed nearly 12% of Fortune 500 companies have at least one Black board member who is an alumnus of an HBCU college. The figures released earlier this week highlight the significant role HBCU colleges play in reducing the racial wealth gap and providing more opportunities for Black scholars to excel in their chosen careers. Despite HBCUs making up 3% of colleges and universities in the U.S., it continues to outperform non-HBCU institutions when retaining and graduating first-generation, low-income students. According to the National Science Foundation, almost 18% of Black
Black-owned tech platform, ColorStack, has announced the launch of its second annual Stacked Up Summit. The summit aims to equip Black and Latinx computer science students with the tools they need to pursue a career in tech successfully. The annual summit, which will take place from August 17th to August 19th this year, will feature a range of talks, panels, and networking events with professionals and recruiters from big tech companies like Netflix, Meta, and LinkedIn. In addition, the event, which caters explicitly to Black and Latinx computer science students, will include
