Stephanie Espy’s Post

As the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) grows in importance, increasing attention is rightly being paid to the makeup of our growing AI workforce. Break Through Tech, an innovative partnership between Cornell Tech, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and UCLA is focused on providing greater opportunities to lower-income, Black, and Latina women in this rapidly growing, high-paying field. Learn more below:

The tech industry needs to be more inclusive. We can help make a difference in the industry this Black Business Month by listening and learning from other people’s lived experiences, and ensuring everyone has a voice that is heard. These are just a few Black-led organizations doing exceptional work in tech. Learn more about what they’re doing and give them a follow. Black Boys Code strives to make the world of computer programming accessible for Black youth through engaging workshops, after-school programs, exciting summer camps, and other initiatives. They currently have 12 chapters across Canada and are expanding into the United States to reach even more youth. Black Women Talk Tech is a collective of Black women tech founders whose mission is to help Black women dream big and build the next billion-dollar tech or scalable company. They offer a variety of programming, including virtual and in-person events, a membership platform, and investor matchmaking. SMASH was one of the first STEM education programs in the United States aimed at preparing students of color for Computer Science college studies. Since launching in 2024, they’ve been empowering their students through intensive education, culturally relevant coursework, and access to resources, aiming to cultivate success in college and careers. #BlackBusinessMonth #TechForGood #STEM

Empowering the Next Generation of Black STEM Leaders 🤸♀️ We're excited to share an incredible opportunity from the Wade Institute of Technology (WIT) that can help close the representation gap in STEM fields.   The Problem: A recent 2024 Black Students and STEM Report revealed a disheartening truth: Black students possess the aptitude for STEM careers but often lack the interest, likely due to underrepresentation. This lack of diversity not only limits innovation but also perpetuates wage disparities. WIT's Solution: The Wade Institute of Technology, a Palo Alto-based engineering college, is committed to increasing Black representation in STEM. Their Wade Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to students pursuing STEM master's degrees. Scholarship Benefits: Covers tuition, housing, fees, and more (up to $50,000). Supports students who have earned a STEM undergraduate degree. Application details can be found - https://lnkd.in/eZed7pw5 #STEMScholarship

The Black Talent & Leadership in STEM roundtable, sponsored by Marks & Clerk, will spark some interesting discussion and important takeaways at #CamTechWeek #BlackTalent #STEM #DiversityandInclusion

We're proud to honor the enduring legacy and inspiring journey of resilience and excellence of the many trailblazers during #BlackHistoryMonth. As Dr. Mae C. Jemison, the first Black woman in space, once said, "Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It's your place in the world. It's your life." These powerful words remind us of the importance of diversity in all its forms. Despite the progress made, Black representation in STEM is still less than ten percent. At Micron, we understand the importance of diversity and inclusion in STEM. As the semiconductor industry faces an anticipated talent shortfall, we recognize we must do more to shift the narrative. Our investment in leading-edge memory manufacturing is expected to create 67,000 U.S. jobs in the next two decades, thanks to the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act. And we are keenly focused on closing the gap in representation in STEM by inspiring a new generation of talented engineers, prioritizing innovation, creating better access for underrepresented communities, and investing in more opportunities for all. This month, let's amplify voices, dismantle barriers, and champion diversity. Learn more about our commitment to increasing access to STEM education and careers in this special blog post by Micron's Executive Vice President of Global Operations and Executive Sponsor for the Black Employee Network, Manish Bhatia: https://bit.ly/4ba5eC6 #BlackHistoryMonth #DiversityandInclusion #STEM #Inspiration #Innovation

Selah Bah like many other Black girls have historically been underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, facing barriers such as lack of access to resources and opportunities, discrimination, and stereotypes. However, there is a growing movement to encourage and support black girls in pursuing STEM pathways. P-TECH's replication in 15 states in the United States and 28 countries around the world is important in this movement to encourage underrepresented students in pursuing STEM pathways. https://lnkd.in/e5A59DFr #weareptech #skillsbuild #skillsfirst #skills2030 MDRC P-TECH 9-14 Evaluation New findings in this report indicate that the P-TECH model increased students' postsecondary degree completion, particularly for male students, and boosted internship and dual enrollment rates, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://lnkd.in/g6-DEfQB www.ptech.org

Have you ever paused to think about how important 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 is in a career ? Trust is essential in STEM and every field. Whether you’re a researcher, a software developer, or an engineer trust is at the heart of what you do. Every breakthrough and discovery relies on one key principle called 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 . Imagine this: you’re working on a project and you’ve invested time, energy, and passion into it. Now, think about how you’d feel if someone questioned the honesty of your work or the accuracy of your work. It’s a tough situation, right? How do you ensure that trust is a part of your work? Here’s what you should do: 💡𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: When you share your work, others need to know they can rely on you. Trust forms the foundation of collaboration, and when you build it, you’re setting up stronger teams and projects with real, lasting impact. 💡𝐁𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 : Mistakes happen to everyone. When you own up to yours, you create a space where everyone can learn and grow. Transparency is key to building respect and mutual support among your peers and mentors. 💡𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲: People entrust you with their data and personal information, and it’s on you to protect it. Privacy is foundational in our digital age, so remember that safeguarding it is non-negotiable. 💡𝐃𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: Thorough research is your responsibility. Being diligent protects not only your work but everyone involved, ensuring no one is misinformed or unintentionally impacted. 💡𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝: Ethics evolve as technology advances, so keep learning about the best practices and principles. When you stay current, you make sure your work aligns with what’s best for everyone. 🚨 Are you a Black Woman in STEM? Apply to join Black Sisters in STEM waitlist for scholarships and support! 🔗Join Sister Nation today and unlock your potential! https://buff.ly/4867Bog #heyblacksis#blacksistersinSTEM#blackwomeninSTEM#trust

Black Children Are Highly Interested In STEM Careers—They Just Lack Early Access, According To New Data Black children are interested in careers in STEM, but access gaps make it a bit harder for their dreams to become a reality. Or at least that the gist of a recently released report from tech skills platform YouScience® and Black Girls Do STEM, a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to further Black STEM representation. 2024 Black Students and STEM Report focuses on what we have long-known: there are significant career exposure gap exists due to underrepresentation in STEM careers, not a lack of interest from Black children. Click to read the article: https://lnkd.in/ev9FWcMT ZVVT activities in 2024. For more info see in the comments the links: 1. May 17: Plannen doe je zo! Basistraining Time Management. 👇️ 2. May 24: IT event Unlocking Hidden Talents. Earlybird tickets en Student tickets available👇️ 3. May 31: Introduction session: Cybersecurity and the career opportunities 👇️ 4. June 8: Introduction workshop Robotics 👇️ 5. June 19: LinkedIn Kickstart: De Fundamenten voor Jouw Professionele Succes 👇️ 👉If you like this post, please share. 🚀 #stichtingzvvt #zwartevrouwenvoortechnologie #zwartevrouwen #vrouwenindeict #ict #zvvt #tech #techjobs #werkendevrouwen #technology #stem #blackchildren #newdata

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝? It’s a mindset shift that encourages you to view challenges differently. Think of it like collecting rain in a bucket—each setback, instead of being a setback alone, becomes a resource you can draw from to grow and learn. Just like each drop of rain fills a bucket, every challenge or obstacle you face adds to your pool of resilience, skills, and knowledge, giving you something to lean on and learn from in the future. We find ourselves in an age where technology advances at lightning speed. However, if you take a moment to observe your surroundings closely, you'll notice that technology operates in a remarkably similar fashion, continually evolving and enhancing our capacity to adapt and thrive. As we face new complexities and challenges, technology helps us harness them, turning obstacles into opportunities. Tools like AI, data analytics, and automation allow researchers, students, and professionals to make sense of massive amounts of data, streamline experiments, and innovate more efficiently. Just as the bucket method encourages resilience, technology enables us to look at the roadblocks in #STEM and other fields as chances to learn and advance. Every setback can drive new insights, and each challenge is an opportunity to innovate. With technology as a powerful ally, #STEM professionals can push boundaries and make meaningful progress. This beautiful illustration is from one of my favorites Wisdom Made Easy 🚨 Are you a Black Woman in STEM? Apply to join Black Sisters in STEM waitlist for tailored resources, scholarships, and a supportive community to help you reach new heights. 🔗Join Sister Nation today and unlock your potential! https://buff.ly/4867Bog #heyblacksis #blacksistersinstem #blackwomeninstem #bucketmethod

In this episode of The Organisational Inclusionist, Grace M. is joined by Leon M Burns to discuss the current EDI backlash in the United States and Leon's great work increasing representation within STEM in the U.S.   Leon Burns is the President and CEO of Open Technology Group (OTG) and leads the delivery of innovative IT services to US Federal Government clients, ensuring secure, efficient operations through reliable technology solutions and value-added services.   Leon's strategic use of data migration early in his career left an enduring impact. This innovation facilitated the creation of automated data platforms, revolutionising project tracking and forecasting IT infrastructure deficiencies for government projects. Notably, Leon's pioneering methodology extended to constructing data modules for customer intelligence analytics, enhancing personnel retention, and bolstering OTG's bottom line.   Beyond the boardroom, Leon actively breaks down social barriers, sponsoring 11 STEM programmes for marginalised youth and creating a $100K scholarship for his alma mater, Hampton University, titled “DEIB in Black Tech." The scholarship is for Business majors who minored in Management Information systems, encouraging students to pursue careers in business analytics.   A devoted community member, Leon co-chairs an annual lung cancer run in memory of his father, Leon Burns Jr., raising over $173K to date. His multimedia efforts, including a YouTube series, Black Mental Health Matters, demonstrate his commitment to reducing stigmas in mental health. Leon Burns is not just a corporate leader; he is a force advancing corporate success through sound business principles and a profound commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).   As always, we thank you for listening, liking, and following. Your support enables us to continue the conversation. https://lnkd.in/ezTgNvyT #LeonBurns #OTG #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #STEM #BlackTech #MentalHealth #CommunityLeadership #DataInnovation #YouthPrograms #Scholarships #CorporateLeadership