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There is no right or wrong pathway to fulfilling your dreams. With so many options, from traditional education to finding resources on apps like YouTube and TikTok, people have several ways they can tap into how they begin or pivot into the working path of their dreams. Within this ecosystem are also groups providing traditional education alternatives like accelerators and development programs that allow people from diverse backgrounds to have a leg up in industries. NPower exists within this ecosystem and is doing its part to ensure those who want access to tech have it. According to the company website, NPower’s mission is to “create pathways to economic prosperity by launching digital careers for military veterans and young adults from underserved communities.” However, there are nuanced hurdles that women experience, leading the company to launch Command Shift. The goal is to increase the number of women entering the tech industry by focusing on three key areas: attract and...
A Black dollar is a powerful tool. From the popularity of fashion items in culture to the work to overcome systemic barriers, the Black community works in various ways to build, accumulate, and maintain wealth. But in the words of Langston Hughes, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” Black people have not always had the luxury or ease of access to the tools and resources necessary to build wealth. Because of the historical and present systems that impact the ability to build wealth, there is a lack of trust in traditional banking systems. This lack of confidence has caused many Black people to be considered “unbanked,” ultimately leading to a significant disparity in financial equity. The folks at Wells Fargo have taken particular notice of this disparity. As a part of its Banking Inclusion Initiative, the bank partnered with Black-led fintech startup MoCaFi to help alleviate the financial barriers for BIPOC community members. AfroTech had the opportunity to speak with the CEO...
Comcast RISE is staying true to its acronym of “representation, investment, strength, and empowerment.” Congratulations to the TechTown alumni in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park who were each awarded a $10,000 grant from the #ComcastRISE Investment Fund! 👏 View the full list of #Detroit grantees and learn more about the program: https://t.co/SawuLMQdqP pic.twitter.com/kjoq4BPmxE — TechTown Detroit (@techtowndetroit) July 29, 2022
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are the buzzwords for many organizations. Companies across every industry are creating strategies and programs to ensure that current and future team members have a safe and equitable work environment. But, what happens when the majority thinks DEI initiatives hurt them?
With April being National Minority Health Month, it is time to highlight the advancement and need for continued resources that support the health of historically underrepresented communities. The onset of COVID-19 highlighted some of the resounding disparities in the availability of healthcare for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities. Additionally, there is a historic rationale to justify the distrust of the health community and its ability to serve BIPOC individuals properly. In light of this, people have not been as open to treatment and suggested solutions related to the recent pandemic. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) uses National Minority Health Month to help re-establish trust in BIPOC communities. A part of reestablishing this trust is ensuring equitable access to resources. To speak on this topic, AfroTech had the opportunity to sit and talk with Dr. Desmond Banks, Senior Policy Advisor, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to discuss...
In a recent move by MacKenzie Scott, the culture is one step closer to health equity and diversifying the health fields for people who look like us. According to ESSENCE, Scott donated $12 million to National Medical Fellowships (NMF), the organization helping to create health equity by providing scholarships for medical students who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). “NMF is deeply grateful that MacKenzie Scott has recognized the impactful work we have been doing for more than 75 years to advance health equity by providing scholarships to students underrepresented in medicine,” says NMF Board of Directors Chair and alumna Sandra B. Nichols, MD, FAAFP, MHCDS, MS. “This gift sends a message to these students who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. It tells them they are needed, welcomed, and will be supported as they work to attain their degrees so they may transform the health care system into one that serves all communities equally.”
Women in tech now have an added boost thanks to the PRSA Foundation and Mission North. In a press release announcement, it was revealed that the two organizations have teamed up to launch a new program called “The Future Is.” Billed as a program for Black, indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) -identified females interested in the tech industry, “The Future Is” will offer a $15,000 scholarship, a $5,000 stipend and a paid one-month internship with Mission North to a BIPOC female-identifying student interested in tech communications, science communications or digital marketing and design. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for women in tech, that’s for sure. “The PR workforce has been long-tasked to become more diverse, and this is a time for organizations to go above and beyond in supporting students of color through financial resources, education and internships who are hoping to enter the industry,” said Aerial Ellis, Ed.D., president of The PRSA Foundation’s Board of Trustees, in...
Foot Locker is on a mission to advance health, wealth, and upward mobility within Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities. The Foot Locker Foundation has teamed up with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to fund nonprofit community organizations empowering youth in BIPOC neighborhoods, according to a press release. The funding will come in the form of grants and will focus on continuing the athletic wear company’s mission to provide economic opportunity and racial equity for all.
The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) of the State University of New York (SUNY) has joined forces with influential partners and brands in the fashion and creative industries to help tackle the systemic issues that the Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) community face in their respective spaces. On Dec. 8, FIT launched the Social Justice Center (SJC), a f irst-of-its-kind higher education initiative for BIPOC p re-college youth, college students, and creative industry professionals, according to a press release provided to AfroTech. Behind the SJC’s launch are its founding partners PVH Corp., Capri Holdings Limited, and Tapestry, Inc., which each have pledged $1 million for FIT’s mission to increase opportunity and accelerate social equity within the creative industries for the BIPOC community. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tapestry, Inc. (@tapestry) Leading brands including Ralph Lauren, Prada, Saks, Target, and G-III Apparel Group have also committed...
The Toronto Raptors are creating a promising future for emerging BIPOC artists under their Welcome Toronto Creators program. In partnership with Drake’s OVO, the program supports three emerging artists between the ages of 16 and 29 who exemplify “the multicultural DNA of the city of Toronto,” according to the Raptors’ website. Finalists will have an opportunity to receive mentorship and networking opportunities with the Raptors’ resources. In addition to these perks, the chosen artists will be designated to one “Welcome Toronto” game and their art and journey will be featured during the NBA broadcast and across the Raptors’ social media platforms.