On screen, Storm Reid has an impressive work portfolio that includes “A Wrinkle in Time,” “When They See Us,” and “12 Years a Slave.” And even when she’s not playing a role on screen as the Hollywood actress is still bringing attention to prominent social issues. “I’m all about the equity work and being civically engaged to facilitate the integrity of life within a community, whether you’re doing that politically or non-politically. I choose to do it non-politically,” Reid shared in an interview with Pop Sugar in 2020. Now, Storm Reid’s newest front is re-visiting the sneaker scene as the newest face of New Balance to revitalize the confidence of young women on their journey toward self-confidence. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Storm Reid (@stormreid) “New Balance and I share the belief that women should have the confidence to pursue all of their interests,” Storm Reid says in a press release. “I’m thrilled that the brand has chosen to support me as a perfectly...

The daunting reality many women face navigating the music industry is one of concern. Prevalent issues such as misogyny, harassment, and sexual violence are some of the evils preventing women from thriving in the industry. It was to Selena B. Hunter’s dismay when she realized her musically inclined daughter, Nia Hunter, desired to have a career in the very industry that was dysfunctional. Rather than dismiss the idea and shield her daughter from entertainment, she decided to create a safe space for all women. “I had to figure out a way that her father and I could be comfortable with her being in this industry,” Selena told AfroTech. “The only way was with me stepping up and supporting her by building an infrastructure around her where I felt comfortable as a parent first because she’s a woman as well.” In a pursuit to not only keep her daughter’s vision alive, and even beyond that, Hathor Entertainment was born in Los Angeles, CA. The mother-daughter duo debuted the record label on...

Google is continuing its ongoing commitment to minority groups with its latest announcement of grant-based programs — worth upwards of $25 million — to financially-back works of nonprofits and social enterprises dedicated to empowering women. According to an announcement, Google has unveiled its 2021 Impact Challenge for Women and Girls on International Women’s Day, an initiative that is working to create economic prosperity for women and girls through charitable initiatives and mentorship opportunities. Being that gender inequity has become one of the most pressing matters in our society today, Google wants this collective force of grant programs to help address systemic barriers that pose a threat to women pursuing entrepreneurial ventures and financial independence. “When women and girls have the resources and opportunities to turn their potential into power, it changes the trajectory of their lives and strengthens entire communities,” Jacquelline Fuller — President of Google.org...

Global software company BMC has announced expansion plans for its current sponsorship of the BreakLine Technology Education program. BMC has been named a founding sponsor of BreakLine Apex to focus on helping veterans, women, and people of color establish careers in the tech industry. According to a news release , BreakLine Apex is a new education-focused program that leads recruitment, coaching, and mentorship of talented people of color, with a special focus on Black and Latinx candidates being considered for various technical and business roles in top tech companies worldwide. “BMC and BreakLine have successfully partnered together since 2017 to create pathways to opportunity for people from all backgrounds and experiences, and to increase diversity in tech,” said Bethany Coates, CEO of BreakLine, in a statement . “Over the course of our collaboration, BMC has hired many veterans from BreakLine, across a range of roles, from sales to communications, and they’ve already hired a...

Most voice assistants are gendered. From Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Microsoft’s Cortana, virtual assistants generally default to female voices. Now, a new report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization highlights why that’s such a problem. The report — “I’d blush If I could: Closing Gender Divides in Digital Skills Through Education” — examined gender bias coded in tech describing the problem as “pervasive in the technology sector and apparent in digital skills education.” Critiques of female virtual assistants have often noted how using a female voice perpetuates the idea that women are meant to be docile servants — or even digital slaves. After all, voice assistants often take a myriad of abuse without the ability to ever snap back. It may seem trivial, but researchers honed in on one disturbing aspect: voice assistants’ responses to sexual harassment. For example, when Siri is told, “You’re a slut,” one of the responses includes, “I’d blush...

Today, The Wing and Time’s Up announced their official partnership, as reported by Fast Company . The two organizations joining forces makes a lot of sense, because both aim to center women in their own ways. With the new partnership, the two organizations will work on supporting each other. That includes hosting events and programming together and The Wing will provide regular meeting space to Time’s Up. In addition, Fast Company reported that The Wing is giving Time’s Up a “charitable gift of stock.” Women have continued to face systemic issues in the workplace, such as the notorious pay gap. There’s also other issues, though, like how widespread sexual harassment is in for women in the workplace. These factors can make work feel unsafe and limit women’s ability to thrive, but organizations like The Wing and Time’s Up are setting out to confront them. The Wing co-founder and CEO Audrey Gelman said, according to Fast Company, “Both Time’s Up and The Wing believe that all women,...