Tech-Girl Monthly: September/October 2020

International Day of the Girl

Tech-Girls was founded in 2012 and our initial newsletter went out on October 11, the first International Day of the Girl. Here's an excerpt from that newsletter:

"The UN set this date aside to recognize that empowerment of and investment in girls is critical for economic growth, the eradication of poverty, meaningful participation of girls in decisions that affect them and breaking the cycle of discrimination and violence. Some of us celebrated Day of the "Tech" Girl because we know that one very important way to empower girls to imagine and achieve new futures for themselves is by showing them the power of computing. At the UN event on October 11, Archbiship Desmond Tutu said, 'You have started something that is going to make this a better world. We are on the winning side.' This year an idea has been planted - that the investment in and empowerment of girls is critical to all of us. Now it's up to us to care for and nourish this idea into reality."

It's pretty amazing to look back and see how those seeds have sprouted. Especially, in the midst of a pandemic, I think we need to remember and celebrate how far we've come with the programs at Tech-Girls that have been cared for and nourished by our volunteers and participants!

This year, the theme for the International Day of the Girl is "My Voice, Our Equal Future". I love how the theme has shifted over time and is now focused not on imagining what girls need, but encouraging us to be inspired by what girls already know is "the change they want, the solutions- big and small- they are leading and demanding across the globe". In 2011, I heard this quote from Eve Ensler “if teenage girls wake up, if teenage girls take it back, this whole world will change overnight because they have more energy, more brilliance, more gut-filled, open-hearted wisdom.” They are waking up and we need to listen, learn, and empower them!

Dr. Anna-Marie Imafidon MBE is a British computing, mathematics and language child prodigy. At 11 years old, she was the youngest girl ever to pass A-level subjects in primary school. At 20, she earned her Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Oxford. That same year she co-founded STEMettes, an initiative to inspire and promote the next generation for young women in the STEM fields.

Donna Auguste, PhD was born in Texas in 1958 and developed an interest in engineering at an early age. She earned a B.S. in electrical engineering and computer science from UC Berkeley, her graduate degree from Carnegie-Mellon University, and her Ph.D. in Technology, Media and Society at ATLAS Institute of the University of Colorado Boulder, College of Engineering and Applied Science. Auguste held several patents for her contributions to the Newton personal digital assistant (PDA)–this is considered an early version of Apple’s iPhone and iPad.

Kai Frazier is a historian and educator who launched Kai XR to develop kid-friendly VR field trips and e-learning tools that allow children to explore the world from home. Using technology to provide more inclusive experiences for underserved communities, KAI XR improves kids’ tech skills by enabling them to create their VR adventures.

Kimberly Bryant was first introduced to computer programming during her freshman year in college. She immediately gravitated towards computing as an Electrical Engineering major and noticed disparities in the field as few of her classmates shared her cultural background. Bryant notes that a lack of access to exposure for Black and African-American communities in STEM is what leads to these disparities. She set out to change that. Bryant started Black Girls Code in 2011 with funds from her 401(K). She founded Black Girls Code after her daughter expressed an interest in learning computer programming, and none of the available courses in the Bay area were well-suited for her.

Jewel Burks is a maker. She strives to make the tech industry diverse and accessible to all people–regardless of gender, race, nationality, age, and socio-economic level. She launched a cutting-edge computer vision app called Partpic, which allows users to use a smartphone to take a picture of a mechanical part you need to replace. Then, the app allows you to order those parts. Burks didn’t have a background in computer vision, but she saw the need for such an app and taught herself how to create it!

Activities & Events

Live & Local

October 10 - Retold Virtual Experience, a digital conference celebrating the transformational impact of UVA women. More info.

October - Dukes Inspiring Girls Into Technology Across Limits (DIGITAL) is open to middle and high school girls interested in technology. More info.

November 14 (October 25 deadline) - Virtual High School Visitation is hosted by SWE @ UVA and is designed for young women in high school who want to connect with UVA engineers to learn more about what it's like to study and work in engineering. Apply now.

Computers4Kids combines mentoring and technology to prepare youth for brighter futures. Participation is free and open to all students in 6th-12th grades who are eligible for free or reduced lunches at school. More info.

KidsCollege @ PVCC After School Academies. More info.

STEAM Discovery Academy has both in person and virtual programming. More info.