WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.230 align:middle line:90% 00:00:03.230 --> 00:00:05.750 align:middle line:90% Welcome back to LiveWorx 2020. 00:00:05.750 --> 00:00:07.880 align:middle line:84% My name is Andia Winslow, and I'm your host 00:00:07.880 --> 00:00:09.860 align:middle line:90% for today's livestream event. 00:00:09.860 --> 00:00:12.450 align:middle line:84% This is our fifth session of the day. 00:00:12.450 --> 00:00:15.410 align:middle line:84% But if you weren't able to catch any of our previous sessions 00:00:15.410 --> 00:00:17.630 align:middle line:84% this morning, hey, we've got you covered. 00:00:17.630 --> 00:00:20.390 align:middle line:84% Those sessions, plus over 100 additional sessions 00:00:20.390 --> 00:00:23.750 align:middle line:84% of incredible content, are ready for replay on the LiveWorx 00:00:23.750 --> 00:00:25.460 align:middle line:90% on-demand catalog. 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:28.350 align:middle line:84% This online library's available through June 19th, 00:00:28.350 --> 00:00:30.110 align:middle line:90% so be sure to check it out. 00:00:30.110 --> 00:00:32.060 align:middle line:84% Oh, and keep an eye out for an upcoming email 00:00:32.060 --> 00:00:35.690 align:middle line:84% to gain access to our content archive for an entire year. 00:00:35.690 --> 00:00:36.590 align:middle line:90% All right. 00:00:36.590 --> 00:00:39.350 align:middle line:84% Let's get into our next session, Finding Opportunity 00:00:39.350 --> 00:00:41.930 align:middle line:90% in Times of Uncertainty. 00:00:41.930 --> 00:00:46.130 align:middle line:84% Kimberly Bryant is the founder and CEO of Black Girls Code. 00:00:46.130 --> 00:00:48.380 align:middle line:84% This incredible nonprofit organization 00:00:48.380 --> 00:00:51.440 align:middle line:84% was founded to create pathways to professions in computer 00:00:51.440 --> 00:00:54.200 align:middle line:84% science for her daughter Kai and girls like her who 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:57.270 align:middle line:84% have been historically marginalized in STEM careers, 00:00:57.270 --> 00:00:59.930 align:middle line:84% particularly in the field of technology. 00:00:59.930 --> 00:01:01.520 align:middle line:84% With the advent of the coronavirus 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:05.030 align:middle line:84% pandemic, and on the eve of its 10th year in operation, 00:01:05.030 --> 00:01:06.860 align:middle line:84% Bryant will share the Black Girls Code 00:01:06.860 --> 00:01:10.340 align:middle line:84% story, from its founding to its current transformational 00:01:10.340 --> 00:01:13.520 align:middle line:84% moment, as well as contemporary and historical case 00:01:13.520 --> 00:01:15.530 align:middle line:84% studies of resilience and leadership 00:01:15.530 --> 00:01:18.830 align:middle line:84% by women and people of color in times of crisis. 00:01:18.830 --> 00:01:21.290 align:middle line:84% Bryant will ask how we can all navigate and learn 00:01:21.290 --> 00:01:24.420 align:middle line:84% from today's challenges to find new opportunities, 00:01:24.420 --> 00:01:26.240 align:middle line:84% new ways of thinking, and new ways 00:01:26.240 --> 00:01:28.130 align:middle line:90% to create a hopeful future. 00:01:28.130 --> 00:01:30.650 align:middle line:84% Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor 00:01:30.650 --> 00:01:34.600 align:middle line:90% to introduce Kimberly Bryant. 00:01:34.600 --> 00:01:37.930 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Andia, for that amazing introduction. 00:01:37.930 --> 00:01:39.970 align:middle line:90% I really appreciate that. 00:01:39.970 --> 00:01:40.930 align:middle line:90% Hello, everyone. 00:01:40.930 --> 00:01:44.220 align:middle line:84% It's such an honor to be able to share a little bit with you 00:01:44.220 --> 00:01:44.720 align:middle line:90% today. 00:01:44.720 --> 00:01:48.130 align:middle line:84% So thank you for tuning in for my presentation. 00:01:48.130 --> 00:01:51.310 align:middle line:84% Despite the current challenges of this global pandemic, 00:01:51.310 --> 00:01:55.840 align:middle line:84% I see people rising each day to connect, to learn, 00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:57.430 align:middle line:90% and to serve. 00:01:57.430 --> 00:02:00.310 align:middle line:84% So even if we're all quarantining and maintaining 00:02:00.310 --> 00:02:03.370 align:middle line:84% our physical distance, connecting with others 00:02:03.370 --> 00:02:06.080 align:middle line:90% has never been more important. 00:02:06.080 --> 00:02:07.720 align:middle line:84% And if there was ever a better time 00:02:07.720 --> 00:02:12.400 align:middle line:84% to prioritize learning and growth, this is it. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:15.250 align:middle line:84% Now more than ever we need the best, the brightest, 00:02:15.250 --> 00:02:18.490 align:middle line:84% and the most creative minds to help us imagine our best 00:02:18.490 --> 00:02:20.270 align:middle line:90% possible future. 00:02:20.270 --> 00:02:23.530 align:middle line:84% And so with that, I'm really glad to connect with all of you 00:02:23.530 --> 00:02:28.600 align:middle line:84% today and share some thoughts on how we can all find possibility 00:02:28.600 --> 00:02:31.840 align:middle line:84% and opportunity, even during such a great time 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:33.310 align:middle line:90% of uncertainty. 00:02:33.310 --> 00:02:35.950 align:middle line:84% The organization I founded, Black Girls Code, 00:02:35.950 --> 00:02:40.120 align:middle line:84% was born with a purpose for creating a more equitable 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:41.410 align:middle line:90% digital landscape. 00:02:41.410 --> 00:02:44.560 align:middle line:84% You could say that we're a digital native. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:47.140 align:middle line:84% So it's a little bit of irony there 00:02:47.140 --> 00:02:50.710 align:middle line:84% when we think that now, even we as an organization, 00:02:50.710 --> 00:02:56.950 align:middle line:84% are forced to rely on tech more than we ever had to before. 00:02:56.950 --> 00:03:01.180 align:middle line:84% As a CEO, I'm really striving to help my team thrive given 00:03:01.180 --> 00:03:04.660 align:middle line:90% these almost unimaginable odds. 00:03:04.660 --> 00:03:06.190 align:middle line:90% I'm learning a lot. 00:03:06.190 --> 00:03:09.640 align:middle line:84% And I want to share just a few examples of what 00:03:09.640 --> 00:03:14.860 align:middle line:84% we and a few other organizations and leaders who I both admire 00:03:14.860 --> 00:03:18.400 align:middle line:84% and really respect, both past and present, 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:23.830 align:middle line:84% have done to turn this crisis into an opportunity. 00:03:23.830 --> 00:03:27.130 align:middle line:84% So let me begin by sharing just a little bit of my own story, 00:03:27.130 --> 00:03:30.880 align:middle line:84% beginning with the changes that we've made here at Black Girls 00:03:30.880 --> 00:03:35.050 align:middle line:90% Code in response to COVID-19. 00:03:35.050 --> 00:03:36.700 align:middle line:84% Black Girls Code as an organization 00:03:36.700 --> 00:03:41.170 align:middle line:84% was founded here in the Bay Area in 2011. 00:03:41.170 --> 00:03:45.340 align:middle line:84% We're a nonprofit that has over 15 chapters across the US 00:03:45.340 --> 00:03:48.490 align:middle line:84% and in Johannesburg, South Africa. 00:03:48.490 --> 00:03:51.220 align:middle line:84% We have workshops and events, enrichments 00:03:51.220 --> 00:03:54.130 align:middle line:84% that we host throughout the year that are really 00:03:54.130 --> 00:03:57.460 align:middle line:84% led by an army of volunteers who are distributed 00:03:57.460 --> 00:03:59.360 align:middle line:90% across the world. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:02.350 align:middle line:84% And we have staff operating in two offices, this one 00:04:02.350 --> 00:04:05.980 align:middle line:84% here in Oakland and New York City. 00:04:05.980 --> 00:04:09.460 align:middle line:84% By the first week of march, as we talked amongst ourselves 00:04:09.460 --> 00:04:13.540 align:middle line:84% as our senior leaders, we really kind of figured out 00:04:13.540 --> 00:04:17.110 align:middle line:84% that it was going to be abundantly clear that BGC 00:04:17.110 --> 00:04:22.000 align:middle line:84% would need to create a new plan for 2020. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:25.210 align:middle line:90% We turn 10 years old next year. 00:04:25.210 --> 00:04:27.190 align:middle line:84% And over the past nine years, we've 00:04:27.190 --> 00:04:30.460 align:middle line:84% reached over 20,000 students in these chapters that are 00:04:30.460 --> 00:04:33.320 align:middle line:90% distributed around the world. 00:04:33.320 --> 00:04:38.470 align:middle line:84% And to be honest, we've done all of that previous work 00:04:38.470 --> 00:04:40.810 align:middle line:84% via in-person workshops and events 00:04:40.810 --> 00:04:44.260 align:middle line:84% that are held from January through December, 00:04:44.260 --> 00:04:50.050 align:middle line:84% and in classrooms filled with upwards of 100 students 00:04:50.050 --> 00:04:52.300 align:middle line:90% each weekend. 00:04:52.300 --> 00:04:55.240 align:middle line:84% Gathering these girls from underrepresented communities 00:04:55.240 --> 00:04:59.140 align:middle line:84% together to learn about computer science and programming 00:04:59.140 --> 00:05:04.780 align:middle line:90% is the cornerstone of our work. 00:05:04.780 --> 00:05:08.410 align:middle line:84% Black women represent about 3% of graduates 00:05:08.410 --> 00:05:11.770 align:middle line:84% from undergraduate universities with a bachelor's degree 00:05:11.770 --> 00:05:14.230 align:middle line:90% in computer science. 00:05:14.230 --> 00:05:20.560 align:middle line:84% Black women also represent less than 2% of the workforce 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:24.040 align:middle line:90% and most tech enabled companies. 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:27.430 align:middle line:84% As early stage entrepreneurs within the same industry, 00:05:27.430 --> 00:05:31.420 align:middle line:84% black women receive less than 0.2% 00:05:31.420 --> 00:05:35.590 align:middle line:84% of all early stage venture capital funding. 00:05:35.590 --> 00:05:39.130 align:middle line:84% So as a founder and I look at these stark realities, 00:05:39.130 --> 00:05:44.410 align:middle line:84% I realize that a major element of the BGC magic 00:05:44.410 --> 00:05:47.500 align:middle line:84% is in creating safe spaces that are dominated 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:51.040 align:middle line:84% by young black women who are mastering these STEM 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:53.350 align:middle line:90% principles together. 00:05:53.350 --> 00:05:57.100 align:middle line:84% We really strive to expose them to tech leaders and mentors 00:05:57.100 --> 00:06:00.190 align:middle line:84% who look like them and maybe have similar backgrounds 00:06:00.190 --> 00:06:03.100 align:middle line:84% and experiences as them and who provide them 00:06:03.100 --> 00:06:07.030 align:middle line:84% not just skills in technology but who can give them 00:06:07.030 --> 00:06:11.970 align:middle line:84% a new perspective that they can and, even more importantly, 00:06:11.970 --> 00:06:16.930 align:middle line:84% that they should see themselves as tech and innovation 00:06:16.930 --> 00:06:20.410 align:middle line:90% leaders for the future. 00:06:20.410 --> 00:06:23.560 align:middle line:84% As educators, our first priority at BGC 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:27.770 align:middle line:84% has always been the health and safety of our communities. 00:06:27.770 --> 00:06:33.160 align:middle line:84% But 2020 reminded us just how critical that core commitment 00:06:33.160 --> 00:06:34.530 align:middle line:90% is. 00:06:34.530 --> 00:06:37.890 align:middle line:84% I have to admit that myself, like many others, 00:06:37.890 --> 00:06:41.850 align:middle line:84% I was really optimistic that things would get back to normal 00:06:41.850 --> 00:06:45.900 align:middle line:84% by the summer, or even perhaps even the early spring. 00:06:45.900 --> 00:06:49.260 align:middle line:84% But now my team and I are faced with the grim reality 00:06:49.260 --> 00:06:51.190 align:middle line:90% that that's not going to happen. 00:06:51.190 --> 00:06:55.380 align:middle line:84% In fact, we realize that normal is probably not 00:06:55.380 --> 00:06:57.210 align:middle line:90% ever coming back. 00:06:57.210 --> 00:06:59.520 align:middle line:84% And even as we learn new ways to keep 00:06:59.520 --> 00:07:02.430 align:middle line:84% our teams, and our students, and our community 00:07:02.430 --> 00:07:06.810 align:middle line:84% safe from COVID-19, we realize that we're also 00:07:06.810 --> 00:07:10.200 align:middle line:84% in the midst of building a new world. 00:07:10.200 --> 00:07:13.380 align:middle line:84% Facing this new reality, we've realized one thing 00:07:13.380 --> 00:07:15.040 align:middle line:90% very quickly. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:19.500 align:middle line:84% BGC had to go virtual and possibly 00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:24.570 align:middle line:84% for the foreseeable future, especially for now. 00:07:24.570 --> 00:07:26.940 align:middle line:90% I have an incredible team. 00:07:26.940 --> 00:07:28.830 align:middle line:84% When we began our transition right 00:07:28.830 --> 00:07:30.900 align:middle line:84% around the middle of March, we really 00:07:30.900 --> 00:07:35.070 align:middle line:84% first started by finding ways to stay connected and engage 00:07:35.070 --> 00:07:36.330 align:middle line:90% with each other. 00:07:36.330 --> 00:07:39.330 align:middle line:84% And we utilized some new and some familiar tools 00:07:39.330 --> 00:07:43.620 align:middle line:84% like Slack, Zoom, Google, and many, many other tech 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:45.060 align:middle line:90% applications. 00:07:45.060 --> 00:07:48.630 align:middle line:84% Staying connected to each other, although we were miles apart, 00:07:48.630 --> 00:07:51.300 align:middle line:84% really brought our team closer together. 00:07:51.300 --> 00:07:55.560 align:middle line:84% And it prepared us to weather the storm of uncertainty 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:57.570 align:middle line:84% about where our programs would eventually 00:07:57.570 --> 00:08:00.550 align:middle line:90% land in the coming weeks. 00:08:00.550 --> 00:08:03.270 align:middle line:84% Now, in the beginning, we initially 00:08:03.270 --> 00:08:07.110 align:middle line:84% postponed all of our planned in-person workshops 00:08:07.110 --> 00:08:10.050 align:middle line:84% to the late spring and early summer. 00:08:10.050 --> 00:08:13.620 align:middle line:84% But as the weeks pass and the world literally 00:08:13.620 --> 00:08:17.250 align:middle line:84% sheltered in place around us, we realized 00:08:17.250 --> 00:08:20.040 align:middle line:84% that we were going to need a different plan 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:22.680 align:middle line:90% to meet the needs of our girls. 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:26.220 align:middle line:84% Our in-person workshops weren't coming back anytime soon, 00:08:26.220 --> 00:08:30.630 align:middle line:84% and no one wanted to talk to us about when that time may be. 00:08:30.630 --> 00:08:33.360 align:middle line:84% Our students and our parents were asking for help, 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:34.890 align:middle line:84% and they were asking for guidance 00:08:34.890 --> 00:08:40.860 align:middle line:84% on how to keep our girls active, engaged, and learning. 00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:44.670 align:middle line:84% So we did one very important thing at BGC. 00:08:44.670 --> 00:08:47.280 align:middle line:84% We took a step back and we reassessed 00:08:47.280 --> 00:08:53.250 align:middle line:84% what we knew we did really, really well. 00:08:53.250 --> 00:08:56.370 align:middle line:84% We know how to teach our girls tech skills 00:08:56.370 --> 00:08:59.700 align:middle line:84% and to provide them with enrichment opportunities that 00:08:59.700 --> 00:09:04.290 align:middle line:84% support their self-confidence and also their self-awareness. 00:09:04.290 --> 00:09:08.250 align:middle line:84% We were also very blessed to have numerous partners who 00:09:08.250 --> 00:09:11.700 align:middle line:84% were both savvy with tech tools and also willing 00:09:11.700 --> 00:09:14.580 align:middle line:84% to jump in and help us develop curriculum and share 00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:17.550 align:middle line:84% their resources and knowledge with us. 00:09:17.550 --> 00:09:20.610 align:middle line:84% And so we dived headfirst and we launched 00:09:20.610 --> 00:09:24.270 align:middle line:84% our very first virtual event, which was called Tech; Me. 00:09:24.270 --> 00:09:27.390 align:middle line:84% And it's a virtual learning series that teaches everything 00:09:27.390 --> 00:09:32.940 align:middle line:84% from computer coding to virtual reality, the whole gamut 00:09:32.940 --> 00:09:34.380 align:middle line:90% of tech skills. 00:09:34.380 --> 00:09:36.340 align:middle line:84% We started this at the end of April 00:09:36.340 --> 00:09:40.800 align:middle line:84% and we watched in awe as literally thousands 00:09:40.800 --> 00:09:43.950 align:middle line:84% of registrants signed up in a matter of minutes. 00:09:43.950 --> 00:09:46.500 align:middle line:90% 00:09:46.500 --> 00:09:48.630 align:middle line:84% Since that very first session in April, 00:09:48.630 --> 00:09:52.620 align:middle line:84% our virtual offerings continue to grow in both frequency as 00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:54.060 align:middle line:90% well as variety. 00:09:54.060 --> 00:09:57.540 align:middle line:84% And we've taught hundreds and hundreds of students 00:09:57.540 --> 00:10:00.870 align:middle line:84% how to build games, how to build websites. 00:10:00.870 --> 00:10:04.860 align:middle line:84% We've collaborated with partners such as Microsoft and Tinkercad 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:06.540 align:middle line:90% to teach coding. 00:10:06.540 --> 00:10:09.630 align:middle line:84% We've brought together virtual panels of STEM professionals 00:10:09.630 --> 00:10:13.110 align:middle line:84% from all over the country to chat about their journeys 00:10:13.110 --> 00:10:14.280 align:middle line:90% in tech. 00:10:14.280 --> 00:10:17.070 align:middle line:84% And we've even given students behind-the-scenes look 00:10:17.070 --> 00:10:20.670 align:middle line:84% at how innovative new companies such as Fitz Frames 00:10:20.670 --> 00:10:25.410 align:middle line:84% uses 3D modeling and production to make eyeglasses for kids. 00:10:25.410 --> 00:10:28.560 align:middle line:84% This is just a small sampling of the type of experiences 00:10:28.560 --> 00:10:31.530 align:middle line:84% our team have delivered with this new virtual delivery 00:10:31.530 --> 00:10:32.940 align:middle line:90% model. 00:10:32.940 --> 00:10:37.380 align:middle line:84% I am amazed at how this list of opportunities 00:10:37.380 --> 00:10:39.280 align:middle line:90% continues to grow. 00:10:39.280 --> 00:10:41.510 align:middle line:90% And it's really exciting. 00:10:41.510 --> 00:10:45.150 align:middle line:84% Now, that's where things stand currently with BGC. 00:10:45.150 --> 00:10:47.130 align:middle line:84% All of the events that we had originally 00:10:47.130 --> 00:10:50.490 align:middle line:84% planned to do in person have been transitioned 00:10:50.490 --> 00:10:53.340 align:middle line:84% to either virtual programs and, in some cases, 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:58.350 align:middle line:84% optimistically, eventually maybe a hybrid virtual and in-person 00:10:58.350 --> 00:10:59.610 align:middle line:90% model. 00:10:59.610 --> 00:11:04.060 align:middle line:84% And this may be our reality for the foreseeable future. 00:11:04.060 --> 00:11:09.490 align:middle line:84% But BGC, we consider ourselves extremely lucky. 00:11:09.490 --> 00:11:12.870 align:middle line:84% BGC was built as a bridge to opportunity 00:11:12.870 --> 00:11:16.590 align:middle line:84% in this digital era of transformation. 00:11:16.590 --> 00:11:19.710 align:middle line:84% Many of our staff members, and our volunteers even, 00:11:19.710 --> 00:11:21.090 align:middle line:90% our millennials and-- 00:11:21.090 --> 00:11:23.220 align:middle line:90% they're digital natives. 00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:26.490 align:middle line:84% They're a generation who thrives in innovative environments 00:11:26.490 --> 00:11:31.290 align:middle line:84% and who are both resilient and extremely adaptive. 00:11:31.290 --> 00:11:33.720 align:middle line:84% And yet even those like myself who 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:38.100 align:middle line:84% were born into an era where a Mac, but not to mention 00:11:38.100 --> 00:11:41.790 align:middle line:84% the internet, didn't even exist, I 00:11:41.790 --> 00:11:44.580 align:middle line:84% realized that we experienced this age 00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:47.280 align:middle line:90% of rapid transformation. 00:11:47.280 --> 00:11:50.580 align:middle line:84% And in this next industrial revolution, 00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:54.150 align:middle line:84% utilizing the tools which innovation and technology 00:11:54.150 --> 00:11:58.050 align:middle line:84% provides is paramount to an organization 00:11:58.050 --> 00:12:01.080 align:middle line:84% to be successful, but even more so, 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:04.180 align:middle line:90% for an organization to survive. 00:12:04.180 --> 00:12:07.830 align:middle line:84% In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if the changes we made 00:12:07.830 --> 00:12:11.460 align:middle line:84% to really thrive during a pandemic 00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:15.870 align:middle line:84% are not just what we needed to scale our impact. 00:12:15.870 --> 00:12:18.310 align:middle line:84% We now have a chance to widen our net 00:12:18.310 --> 00:12:23.280 align:middle line:84% to even broaden our reach, to reach both girls and boys, 00:12:23.280 --> 00:12:26.850 align:middle line:84% and even more communities that we may not have reached 00:12:26.850 --> 00:12:30.120 align:middle line:90% with our in-person workshops. 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:33.870 align:middle line:84% This new virtual reality really allows us and even 00:12:33.870 --> 00:12:38.430 align:middle line:84% forces us to expand our reach globally and create 00:12:38.430 --> 00:12:43.800 align:middle line:84% even greater connectedness within our communities. 00:12:43.800 --> 00:12:46.550 align:middle line:84% We had a recent version, a session of our Tech; 00:12:46.550 --> 00:12:48.920 align:middle line:84% Me virtual series that was really 00:12:48.920 --> 00:12:53.390 align:middle line:84% focused on teaching game design from students across the US. 00:12:53.390 --> 00:12:55.880 align:middle line:84% Now, we didn't market it beyond the US, 00:12:55.880 --> 00:12:59.750 align:middle line:84% but I was really surprised when I tuned in 00:12:59.750 --> 00:13:01.970 align:middle line:84% and saw not only that we have students 00:13:01.970 --> 00:13:04.520 align:middle line:90% from all across the states. 00:13:04.520 --> 00:13:06.620 align:middle line:84% There were kids from the Netherlands. 00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:08.810 align:middle line:90% There were kids from Jamaica. 00:13:08.810 --> 00:13:12.480 align:middle line:84% There were kids from South Africa, Trinidad, the UK, 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:13.850 align:middle line:90% Canada. 00:13:13.850 --> 00:13:19.730 align:middle line:84% We reached over 500 students from around the world that day 00:13:19.730 --> 00:13:21.135 align:middle line:90% on a single feed. 00:13:21.135 --> 00:13:23.720 align:middle line:90% 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:26.720 align:middle line:84% I was stunned and I was really surprised. 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:30.440 align:middle line:84% And it opened my eyes up to the new opportunities 00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:34.610 align:middle line:84% to expand our reach and connect our communities globally 00:13:34.610 --> 00:13:37.880 align:middle line:84% in ways that I hadn't even imagined 00:13:37.880 --> 00:13:43.430 align:middle line:84% before when I was looking for a solution to the pandemic. 00:13:43.430 --> 00:13:46.010 align:middle line:84% Now I'm even more confident in our ability 00:13:46.010 --> 00:13:49.850 align:middle line:84% as an organization to adapt in our ability to thrive, 00:13:49.850 --> 00:13:54.410 align:middle line:84% to widen our net, and to deepen our impact in this new world 00:13:54.410 --> 00:13:57.470 align:middle line:90% that awaits us. 00:13:57.470 --> 00:13:59.900 align:middle line:84% At times I think that perhaps I'm 00:13:59.900 --> 00:14:05.720 align:middle line:84% overly confident, because BGC has always, always been 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:09.650 align:middle line:90% born to face uphill battles. 00:14:09.650 --> 00:14:12.480 align:middle line:84% 20 years ago, I would have never imagined, 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:14.450 align:middle line:84% and I certainly perhaps wouldn't have 00:14:14.450 --> 00:14:18.620 align:middle line:84% asked, to create a nonprofit organization with chapters 00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:20.540 align:middle line:90% around the world. 00:14:20.540 --> 00:14:24.800 align:middle line:90% Starting a nonprofit is hard. 00:14:24.800 --> 00:14:27.080 align:middle line:84% Starting a nonprofit to literally change 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:31.010 align:middle line:84% the face of a major industry that had only just begun 00:14:31.010 --> 00:14:34.320 align:middle line:84% to think about diversity as a problem when we started 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:36.980 align:middle line:90% is even more so. 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:40.490 align:middle line:84% Seven years ago, I like to think of myself as really 00:14:40.490 --> 00:14:45.560 align:middle line:84% just a nerdy mom who was raising a really geeky daughter who 00:14:45.560 --> 00:14:49.310 align:middle line:84% was 12 at the time and was really interested in anything 00:14:49.310 --> 00:14:53.150 align:middle line:84% tech related, and especially computer gaming. 00:14:53.150 --> 00:14:57.680 align:middle line:84% I never expected my daughter, Kai, to follow in my footsteps. 00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:59.390 align:middle line:84% Really, she told me she didn't want 00:14:59.390 --> 00:15:02.970 align:middle line:84% to be like me, so it was somewhat 00:15:02.970 --> 00:15:06.560 align:middle line:84% a surprise, an internal joke to me as a mom, now 00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:09.050 align:middle line:84% that she is both a computer scientist 00:15:09.050 --> 00:15:12.210 align:middle line:90% and an engineer herself. 00:15:12.210 --> 00:15:17.120 align:middle line:84% When the seed for this idea, for this organization was planted, 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:20.480 align:middle line:84% it was because I recognized that, although my daughter, 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:26.330 align:middle line:84% Kai, had unparalleled access to technology, years ago 00:15:26.330 --> 00:15:29.120 align:middle line:84% she was still just really a consumer of it 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:32.040 align:middle line:90% and not a creator. 00:15:32.040 --> 00:15:34.520 align:middle line:84% We live right here in the heart of Silicon Valley. 00:15:34.520 --> 00:15:38.960 align:middle line:84% And we're surrounded by this growing and thriving tech 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:40.290 align:middle line:90% industry. 00:15:40.290 --> 00:15:44.300 align:middle line:84% And yet, even with that, there were very few opportunities 00:15:44.300 --> 00:15:46.940 align:middle line:84% for Kai to learn these tech skills 00:15:46.940 --> 00:15:50.210 align:middle line:84% for the future in environments with other girls that 00:15:50.210 --> 00:15:52.070 align:middle line:90% were like her. 00:15:52.070 --> 00:15:55.850 align:middle line:84% I knew that if I really wanted Kai to truly find her tribe, 00:15:55.850 --> 00:15:59.210 align:middle line:84% I was going to have to clear the pathway myself 00:15:59.210 --> 00:16:01.520 align:middle line:90% and to support her journey. 00:16:01.520 --> 00:16:04.670 align:middle line:84% And so that's exactly what I did. 00:16:04.670 --> 00:16:08.540 align:middle line:84% Since BGC began our journey seven years ago 00:16:08.540 --> 00:16:13.010 align:middle line:84% as a small, small grassroots organization in a tiny basement 00:16:13.010 --> 00:16:15.950 align:middle line:84% in San Francisco, Bayview- Hunters Point, 00:16:15.950 --> 00:16:18.530 align:middle line:84% not too far from where I'm sitting today, 00:16:18.530 --> 00:16:22.220 align:middle line:84% we only had about eight girls who were sharing six computers. 00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:27.260 align:middle line:84% Since that time, BGC has grown into a literal movement. 00:16:27.260 --> 00:16:30.830 align:middle line:84% We've reached, as I mentioned before, over 20,000 students 00:16:30.830 --> 00:16:34.130 align:middle line:84% today with our 15 chapters across the US 00:16:34.130 --> 00:16:36.140 align:middle line:90% and in South Africa. 00:16:36.140 --> 00:16:39.020 align:middle line:84% And we love to say that our hefty goal, 00:16:39.020 --> 00:16:41.750 align:middle line:84% our big, hairy, audacious vision is 00:16:41.750 --> 00:16:45.830 align:middle line:84% to teach one million girls to code by the year 2040 00:16:45.830 --> 00:16:50.150 align:middle line:84% and become the girl scouts of technology. 00:16:50.150 --> 00:16:53.480 align:middle line:84% To do this, I really had to harness those skills 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:57.260 align:middle line:84% that I learned as an engineer despite an issue in the world 00:16:57.260 --> 00:17:01.250 align:middle line:84% and then figure out how to solve it. 00:17:01.250 --> 00:17:04.700 align:middle line:84% A friend of mine and a thought leader, Nilofer Merchant, 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:07.339 align:middle line:84% says that harnessing this skill set 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:11.089 align:middle line:84% is really tapping into your onlyness 00:17:11.089 --> 00:17:14.339 align:middle line:90% to become an agent of change. 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:17.660 align:middle line:84% Nilofer describes onlyness as this unique trait 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:19.970 align:middle line:90% that we all possess. 00:17:19.970 --> 00:17:22.760 align:middle line:90% So I'm not special. 00:17:22.760 --> 00:17:25.670 align:middle line:90% Neither of us are. 00:17:25.670 --> 00:17:29.880 align:middle line:84% But we do all have this unique individual super power, 00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:31.430 align:middle line:90% if you will. 00:17:31.430 --> 00:17:34.790 align:middle line:84% This super power that you and you alone possess 00:17:34.790 --> 00:17:37.520 align:middle line:84% allows you to identify opportunities 00:17:37.520 --> 00:17:42.440 align:middle line:84% in times of crisis or need and to use your unique talents, 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:46.700 align:middle line:84% your knowledge, and your gifts to create solutions and ideas 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:50.930 align:middle line:84% to problems from that distinct spot in the world 00:17:50.930 --> 00:17:54.520 align:middle line:90% that only you stand in. 00:17:54.520 --> 00:17:58.220 align:middle line:84% It's that piece of us, that onlyness that helps 00:17:58.220 --> 00:18:00.880 align:middle line:90% us to actually find our tribe. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:04.040 align:middle line:84% And in finding our tribe, we become 00:18:04.040 --> 00:18:07.430 align:middle line:90% the truest of change agents. 00:18:07.430 --> 00:18:11.960 align:middle line:84% And that is all of the story of Black Girls Code. 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:14.870 align:middle line:84% After nearly a decade of operation, 00:18:14.870 --> 00:18:18.080 align:middle line:84% we've learned a lot about what works for our students 00:18:18.080 --> 00:18:22.130 align:middle line:84% and how to stay relevant as the pace of technological change 00:18:22.130 --> 00:18:24.290 align:middle line:90% consistently grows. 00:18:24.290 --> 00:18:27.710 align:middle line:84% For us, it really starts with cultural efficacy 00:18:27.710 --> 00:18:32.120 align:middle line:84% and prioritizing the development of both the confident mindset 00:18:32.120 --> 00:18:36.710 align:middle line:84% in our students and as they consistently upskill and grow 00:18:36.710 --> 00:18:39.380 align:middle line:90% their skills and talents. 00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:43.010 align:middle line:84% We integrate these relevant cultural practices 00:18:43.010 --> 00:18:48.160 align:middle line:84% into the heart of every programmatic design decision. 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:52.340 align:middle line:84% BGC's program team chooses technology projects, not just 00:18:52.340 --> 00:18:54.770 align:middle line:90% for their pedagogical value. 00:18:54.770 --> 00:18:57.220 align:middle line:84% But frequently, those projects focus 00:18:57.220 --> 00:19:02.590 align:middle line:84% on how the students experience life and express themselves 00:19:02.590 --> 00:19:03.850 align:middle line:90% culturally. 00:19:03.850 --> 00:19:07.240 align:middle line:84% And it's that that helps them solve challenges that they see 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:11.690 align:middle line:90% in their communities every day. 00:19:11.690 --> 00:19:14.920 align:middle line:84% Now, recently I participated in a webinar, 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:17.980 align:middle line:84% in a meeting with several other digital equity 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:21.640 align:middle line:84% leaders that was convened by the Obama foundation. 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:24.580 align:middle line:84% And in that meeting, I was asked to articulate, 00:19:24.580 --> 00:19:29.020 align:middle line:84% in my very brief minute to talk, what 00:19:29.020 --> 00:19:31.510 align:middle line:84% my team and I had learned and had 00:19:31.510 --> 00:19:36.380 align:middle line:84% to rethink as we went through this global pandemic. 00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:40.450 align:middle line:84% And before I tell you what happened there, 00:19:40.450 --> 00:19:46.180 align:middle line:84% can I just say that change management is a huge challenge 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:50.560 align:middle line:90% under the normal circumstances. 00:19:50.560 --> 00:19:53.380 align:middle line:84% And here we are, all are now, forced 00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:56.410 align:middle line:84% into managing change for ourselves, 00:19:56.410 --> 00:19:59.560 align:middle line:84% our households, our communities, and also 00:19:59.560 --> 00:20:03.990 align:middle line:84% in our organizations underneath the shadow of a pandemic. 00:20:03.990 --> 00:20:07.010 align:middle line:90% 00:20:07.010 --> 00:20:09.010 align:middle line:84% I just wanted to pause on that thought 00:20:09.010 --> 00:20:10.780 align:middle line:84% because it's important to recognize 00:20:10.780 --> 00:20:14.400 align:middle line:90% that this is really hard. 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:16.960 align:middle line:84% And so we also have to give ourselves 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:20.080 align:middle line:84% and each other a little bit of space 00:20:20.080 --> 00:20:23.350 align:middle line:84% to breathe and to gain perspective 00:20:23.350 --> 00:20:28.330 align:middle line:84% and then to lean in and start over. 00:20:28.330 --> 00:20:30.210 align:middle line:90% So back to the call. 00:20:30.210 --> 00:20:32.020 align:middle line:84% I'm on this call with a lot of people 00:20:32.020 --> 00:20:36.250 align:middle line:84% that I really respect and I look to for support. 00:20:36.250 --> 00:20:40.900 align:middle line:84% And I shared, though, one of the most challenging pieces for BGC 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:42.520 align:middle line:84% as we kind of really navigate it, 00:20:42.520 --> 00:20:45.770 align:middle line:84% how we can utilize these virtual skill sets, 00:20:45.770 --> 00:20:50.110 align:middle line:84% was to break down how we thought before, especially 00:20:50.110 --> 00:20:52.600 align:middle line:90% about geography. 00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:56.260 align:middle line:84% When I mentioned before the history of BGC, 00:20:56.260 --> 00:20:58.930 align:middle line:84% it's a really important point that we 00:20:58.930 --> 00:21:01.660 align:middle line:90% were built on local chapters. 00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:05.820 align:middle line:84% We support and we guide them through the curriculum that we 00:21:05.820 --> 00:21:09.610 align:middle line:84% create, the cultural expectations that we set, 00:21:09.610 --> 00:21:12.610 align:middle line:90% supplies, logistics, training. 00:21:12.610 --> 00:21:17.770 align:middle line:84% But if you look at BGC before, the DC chapter 00:21:17.770 --> 00:21:20.140 align:middle line:84% is very different from the Dallas chapter. 00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:22.390 align:middle line:84% And then the South African chapter 00:21:22.390 --> 00:21:24.890 align:middle line:90% is in a world of its own. 00:21:24.890 --> 00:21:29.140 align:middle line:84% We got really, really good at that chapter-based model, 00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:33.340 align:middle line:84% and we've grown our organization by adding chapters. 00:21:33.340 --> 00:21:36.040 align:middle line:84% But getting good at supporting chapters and organizing 00:21:36.040 --> 00:21:39.460 align:middle line:84% local events for our students for almost a decade means 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.840 align:middle line:90% that-- 00:21:40.840 --> 00:21:42.640 align:middle line:90% I talked to my team. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:45.640 align:middle line:84% It was really hard, really hard for me 00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:50.590 align:middle line:84% to get them to stop thinking from that frame of reference. 00:21:50.590 --> 00:21:55.420 align:middle line:84% When I tuned into the Tech; Me event series a few weeks ago, 00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:57.910 align:middle line:84% I started to look at the pictures 00:21:57.910 --> 00:22:03.190 align:middle line:84% of the kids on the screen from all over the world, little 00:22:03.190 --> 00:22:06.160 align:middle line:84% black and brown kids sitting in front of the laptops 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:10.900 align:middle line:84% at their homes, learning about coding. 00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:15.130 align:middle line:84% And I thought, my gosh, we could literally 00:22:15.130 --> 00:22:20.050 align:middle line:84% reach kids from throughout the African diaspora in ways 00:22:20.050 --> 00:22:23.590 align:middle line:90% that were not possible before. 00:22:23.590 --> 00:22:26.170 align:middle line:84% And even when things get back to some kind of normal, 00:22:26.170 --> 00:22:29.800 align:middle line:84% how could we not continue some or maybe most 00:22:29.800 --> 00:22:33.130 align:middle line:90% of our programming in this way? 00:22:33.130 --> 00:22:37.180 align:middle line:84% Now, I've thought as a CEO for many, many years 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:41.110 align:middle line:84% about adding some type of virtual element to our work. 00:22:41.110 --> 00:22:44.690 align:middle line:84% But now that that's the only option, 00:22:44.690 --> 00:22:49.210 align:middle line:84% my eyes have truly opened to all of the new possibilities that 00:22:49.210 --> 00:22:52.090 align:middle line:90% are available to us. 00:22:52.090 --> 00:22:55.570 align:middle line:84% Making this change to a virtual platform 00:22:55.570 --> 00:22:57.970 align:middle line:84% is definitely going to be a long road. 00:22:57.970 --> 00:23:03.310 align:middle line:84% And we're still in very much of a learning process. 00:23:03.310 --> 00:23:06.460 align:middle line:84% For one thing, we were really good at infusing 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:10.900 align:middle line:84% these cultural practices and cultural relevancy 00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:14.590 align:middle line:84% in our in-person workshops and event. 00:23:14.590 --> 00:23:18.220 align:middle line:90% BGC is an organization. 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:22.720 align:middle line:90% But BGC is also an experience. 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:25.360 align:middle line:84% Everybody knows that when they are in a BGC space 00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:29.020 align:middle line:90% that it's something special. 00:23:29.020 --> 00:23:31.960 align:middle line:84% So when I was looking at this workshop on Zoom, 00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:38.110 align:middle line:84% I was trying to, I guess, imagine, 00:23:38.110 --> 00:23:45.910 align:middle line:84% how could we translate the specialness of a BGC workshop 00:23:45.910 --> 00:23:50.050 align:middle line:84% on a platform like a Zoom or webinar? 00:23:50.050 --> 00:23:52.820 align:middle line:90% And then it dawned on me. 00:23:52.820 --> 00:23:57.190 align:middle line:84% In essence, we have to show the kids, 00:23:57.190 --> 00:24:00.680 align:middle line:84% and those kids have to see each other. 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:03.550 align:middle line:84% We have to reenvision our programs 00:24:03.550 --> 00:24:05.920 align:middle line:90% and get the tech right, yes. 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:12.220 align:middle line:84% But those kids all across the world need to see each other. 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:15.550 align:middle line:90% BGC educates its students, yes. 00:24:15.550 --> 00:24:20.050 align:middle line:84% But we also transform self-image. 00:24:20.050 --> 00:24:23.710 align:middle line:84% And in those safe spaces, we create these group identities 00:24:23.710 --> 00:24:28.060 align:middle line:84% that are built on mutual support and a shared strength 00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:31.460 align:middle line:90% and a pride in who they are. 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:34.120 align:middle line:90% We can't lose the BGC magic. 00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:40.320 align:middle line:84% We can't lose that culture of connectedness. 00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:43.830 align:middle line:90% So that's how BGC is adapting. 00:24:43.830 --> 00:24:47.940 align:middle line:84% And it's been a long road, but we're learning a lot. 00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:51.820 align:middle line:84% And we get better each and every day. 00:24:51.820 --> 00:24:55.230 align:middle line:84% But I also wanted to share the stories of a few other leaders 00:24:55.230 --> 00:24:58.770 align:middle line:84% that have pivoted and created positive change also 00:24:58.770 --> 00:25:02.910 align:middle line:84% in their lines of work under the same level of uncertainty 00:25:02.910 --> 00:25:06.440 align:middle line:90% that I have experienced myself. 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:08.540 align:middle line:84% I wanted to start with an example that's 00:25:08.540 --> 00:25:11.550 align:middle line:90% pretty close to home. 00:25:11.550 --> 00:25:14.510 align:middle line:84% The East Oakland Collective is a nonprofit organization 00:25:14.510 --> 00:25:19.700 align:middle line:84% that was founded by Oakland native Candice Elder in 2016. 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:22.880 align:middle line:84% It was a response to what she saw as gentrification 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:26.630 align:middle line:84% and disenfranchisement creeping into this very 00:25:26.630 --> 00:25:31.180 align:middle line:84% close-knit community in which she was born and raised. 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:35.810 align:middle line:84% EOC uses an army of volunteers, many of them 00:25:35.810 --> 00:25:39.710 align:middle line:84% millennial professionals, to catalyze efforts focused 00:25:39.710 --> 00:25:44.060 align:middle line:84% on providing economic empowerment, civic engagement, 00:25:44.060 --> 00:25:48.120 align:middle line:84% and homelessness services for longtime residents in Oakland, 00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:52.040 align:middle line:84% California and surrounding counties. 00:25:52.040 --> 00:25:55.070 align:middle line:84% Before the pandemic, their most popular program 00:25:55.070 --> 00:25:57.110 align:middle line:90% was called Feed the Hood. 00:25:57.110 --> 00:26:00.440 align:middle line:84% And it was responsible for distributing meals and hygiene 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:03.260 align:middle line:84% kits across Oakland and Berkeley, 00:26:03.260 --> 00:26:09.930 align:middle line:84% utilizing their team of 200 to 400 volunteers per week. 00:26:09.930 --> 00:26:13.160 align:middle line:84% Now, all of that changed when COVID-19 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:16.050 align:middle line:90% erupted in early march. 00:26:16.050 --> 00:26:19.250 align:middle line:84% EOC was forced to adjust everything 00:26:19.250 --> 00:26:21.560 align:middle line:90% about how they did their work. 00:26:21.560 --> 00:26:25.730 align:middle line:84% Large gatherings here in the Bay Area were suspended. 00:26:25.730 --> 00:26:29.060 align:middle line:84% The catering company that they worked with closed. 00:26:29.060 --> 00:26:31.730 align:middle line:84% And the critical supplies that Candace and her team 00:26:31.730 --> 00:26:37.270 align:middle line:84% needed for the hygiene kits was extremely hard to come by. 00:26:37.270 --> 00:26:40.730 align:middle line:90% And yet they quickly adapted. 00:26:40.730 --> 00:26:43.040 align:middle line:84% Candice and her team built relationships 00:26:43.040 --> 00:26:46.100 align:middle line:84% with restaurants that were now not operating. 00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:47.960 align:middle line:84% They created other partnerships that 00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:51.590 align:middle line:84% allowed them to increase their source of supply. 00:26:51.590 --> 00:26:54.260 align:middle line:84% And they pivoted to delivering meals 00:26:54.260 --> 00:26:57.500 align:middle line:84% every few days to delivering and distributing 00:26:57.500 --> 00:27:05.420 align:middle line:84% meals almost daily, but now to seniors, to disabled residents, 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:09.470 align:middle line:84% to low income families who are now struggling in addition 00:27:09.470 --> 00:27:13.800 align:middle line:84% to the homeless populations they served before. 00:27:13.800 --> 00:27:17.600 align:middle line:84% And in that one little change, they quickly 00:27:17.600 --> 00:27:24.980 align:middle line:84% went from distributing about 400 meals per week to over 1,000. 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:27.890 align:middle line:90% EOC saw an opportunity. 00:27:27.890 --> 00:27:30.620 align:middle line:84% And in the midst of a crisis, they 00:27:30.620 --> 00:27:34.220 align:middle line:84% harnessed the uniqueness and the skills and capabilities 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:41.480 align:middle line:84% of their tribe to fill the needs of an expanded community. 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:46.160 align:middle line:84% So much of what EOC is doing is analogous to our work right 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:48.200 align:middle line:90% here at BGC. 00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:54.650 align:middle line:84% And when I learned of their story it truly, truly moved me. 00:27:54.650 --> 00:27:57.770 align:middle line:84% Founder Candice said in a recent article in which she 00:27:57.770 --> 00:28:01.010 align:middle line:84% was profiled that all of the food that is distributed 00:28:01.010 --> 00:28:03.620 align:middle line:84% by her organization is carefully curated 00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:06.410 align:middle line:84% and is made in commercial kitchens and food service 00:28:06.410 --> 00:28:09.470 align:middle line:90% facilities across the Bay Area. 00:28:09.470 --> 00:28:13.820 align:middle line:84% She even personally taste tests every single meal 00:28:13.820 --> 00:28:16.700 align:middle line:84% to ensure its quality before it's 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:19.320 align:middle line:90% given to the EOC community. 00:28:19.320 --> 00:28:24.780 align:middle line:84% She said, and I quote, "We pride ourselves in quality." 00:28:24.780 --> 00:28:27.740 align:middle line:84% EOC and her team has a goal to give everyone 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:30.110 align:middle line:90% a full and nutritious meal. 00:28:30.110 --> 00:28:34.220 align:middle line:84% And sometimes they even deny and turn down certain donations 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:36.890 align:middle line:84% if they don't meet their criteria. 00:28:36.890 --> 00:28:38.600 align:middle line:84% She said in the same article, "If you're 00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:41.090 align:middle line:84% going to hand somebody a loaf of bread, 00:28:41.090 --> 00:28:44.300 align:middle line:84% at least give them some peanut butter and jelly or sandwich 00:28:44.300 --> 00:28:46.880 align:middle line:90% meat." 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:54.080 align:middle line:84% Like EOC who's feeding the body, BGC and our work 00:28:54.080 --> 00:28:57.830 align:middle line:84% are really focused on feeding minds, 00:28:57.830 --> 00:29:00.260 align:middle line:84% which is why we should do everything 00:29:00.260 --> 00:29:03.560 align:middle line:90% that we do with quality. 00:29:03.560 --> 00:29:08.450 align:middle line:84% And it's also why we are also prudent with how we partner. 00:29:08.450 --> 00:29:11.300 align:middle line:84% We're just not looking to hand out a loaf of bread 00:29:11.300 --> 00:29:15.530 align:middle line:84% or teach our girls a few lines of coding skills. 00:29:15.530 --> 00:29:19.610 align:middle line:84% We want our kids to have all the fixings, including 00:29:19.610 --> 00:29:21.710 align:middle line:84% the career and the life skills they 00:29:21.710 --> 00:29:26.030 align:middle line:84% need to survive in this new digitally connected world. 00:29:26.030 --> 00:29:29.150 align:middle line:90% 00:29:29.150 --> 00:29:31.900 align:middle line:84% But this is not really the first time in history 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:34.960 align:middle line:84% that leaders, and women leaders in particular, 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:37.860 align:middle line:84% have faced extraordinary challenges, 00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:40.210 align:middle line:84% made tough decisions, and ultimately 00:29:40.210 --> 00:29:44.110 align:middle line:84% made huge strides for their causes. 00:29:44.110 --> 00:29:48.400 align:middle line:84% I recently learned by another powerful sister. 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:51.880 align:middle line:84% Emmeline Pankhurst was a leader of the movement for women's 00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:54.980 align:middle line:90% suffrage in Great Britain. 00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:58.750 align:middle line:84% Now, when World War I broke out in 1914, 00:29:58.750 --> 00:30:02.710 align:middle line:84% Emmeline made a decision that I can hardly imagine. 00:30:02.710 --> 00:30:04.900 align:middle line:84% She deferred all of her work that she 00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:08.620 align:middle line:84% had been spending on the equal voting rights campaign 00:30:08.620 --> 00:30:11.320 align:middle line:84% and redirected and organized her supporters 00:30:11.320 --> 00:30:13.880 align:middle line:90% to back the war effort. 00:30:13.880 --> 00:30:16.210 align:middle line:84% Now, this is important because it radically 00:30:16.210 --> 00:30:20.860 align:middle line:84% shifted the perceptions in Great Britain of women's roles 00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:22.510 align:middle line:90% in societies. 00:30:22.510 --> 00:30:25.030 align:middle line:84% And as they took up these jobs that were traditionally 00:30:25.030 --> 00:30:28.030 align:middle line:84% held by men and their male counterparts, 00:30:28.030 --> 00:30:32.470 align:middle line:84% they changed the perception of a woman's equal worth 00:30:32.470 --> 00:30:34.660 align:middle line:90% in the workplace. 00:30:34.660 --> 00:30:39.290 align:middle line:84% So now, while the war ravaged towards its conclusion in 1918, 00:30:39.290 --> 00:30:41.920 align:middle line:84% the first suffrage law was passed, 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:48.610 align:middle line:84% bringing 8.4 million women into the voting ranks. 00:30:48.610 --> 00:30:51.010 align:middle line:84% Shortly after the war concluded, the government 00:30:51.010 --> 00:30:57.810 align:middle line:84% passed a law allowing women to be elected to parliament. 00:30:57.810 --> 00:31:01.470 align:middle line:84% Now, I often thought about, would 00:31:01.470 --> 00:31:05.640 align:middle line:84% that movement have seen such a rapid shift 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:09.150 align:middle line:84% without the onslaught of the war? 00:31:09.150 --> 00:31:12.190 align:middle line:90% That's impossible to say. 00:31:12.190 --> 00:31:17.910 align:middle line:84% But one thing for sure is Emmeline's strategic savvy 00:31:17.910 --> 00:31:22.290 align:middle line:84% in the face of crises and really being flexible in how she 00:31:22.290 --> 00:31:27.150 align:middle line:84% redirected her work cannot be denied. 00:31:27.150 --> 00:31:31.200 align:middle line:84% It was that critical decision that 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:34.440 align:middle line:84% changed the whole narrative for women in Great Britain 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:37.920 align:middle line:84% and have ripples across the pond. 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:41.310 align:middle line:84% How can we all pivot in this time to serve communities 00:31:41.310 --> 00:31:46.680 align:middle line:84% and also to advance our organizational missions? 00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:48.630 align:middle line:84% Luckily, here at Black Girls Code, 00:31:48.630 --> 00:31:52.200 align:middle line:84% we aren't faced with a call to defer. 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:55.560 align:middle line:84% In fact, we believe that the COVID-19 pandemic really 00:31:55.560 --> 00:31:58.590 align:middle line:84% highlighted the needs of black and brown communities 00:31:58.590 --> 00:32:00.030 align:middle line:90% that we serve. 00:32:00.030 --> 00:32:03.120 align:middle line:84% And that just reinforces our purpose 00:32:03.120 --> 00:32:06.060 align:middle line:84% to diversify the tech workforce and tech leadership 00:32:06.060 --> 00:32:10.110 align:middle line:84% ranks so that our future is defined by a technology sector 00:32:10.110 --> 00:32:14.790 align:middle line:90% that serves everyone equitably. 00:32:14.790 --> 00:32:17.610 align:middle line:84% When I think about the examples of these women 00:32:17.610 --> 00:32:21.600 align:middle line:84% that I mentioned that are leading through crises, 00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:24.960 align:middle line:84% I'm reminded that we can't get those kind of solutions 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:29.940 align:middle line:84% without diverse teams and diverse thinking. 00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:32.880 align:middle line:84% For me and for BGC, this has made 00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:36.000 align:middle line:90% me think about two frontiers. 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:39.970 align:middle line:90% One is internal and one global. 00:32:39.970 --> 00:32:40.890 align:middle line:90% It's really great. 00:32:40.890 --> 00:32:42.840 align:middle line:84% And we're lucky that here at BGC we 00:32:42.840 --> 00:32:47.490 align:middle line:84% have both Gen X and millennial perspectives on the team. 00:32:47.490 --> 00:32:50.370 align:middle line:90% But there's still a gap. 00:32:50.370 --> 00:32:52.590 align:middle line:90% We engage Gen z. 00:32:52.590 --> 00:32:54.450 align:middle line:90% We serve them. 00:32:54.450 --> 00:32:57.780 align:middle line:84% And we all know that when each generation emerges, 00:32:57.780 --> 00:33:00.150 align:middle line:84% they embrace different technologies 00:33:00.150 --> 00:33:03.510 align:middle line:84% and adopt the whole suite of available technology 00:33:03.510 --> 00:33:05.910 align:middle line:90% quite differently. 00:33:05.910 --> 00:33:10.860 align:middle line:84% But if we were to be blind to the platforms and spaces 00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:17.910 align:middle line:84% that Gen Z adopts, would our organization be as successful? 00:33:17.910 --> 00:33:20.790 align:middle line:84% What about those generations of learners 00:33:20.790 --> 00:33:23.640 align:middle line:90% that haven't even been born? 00:33:23.640 --> 00:33:26.280 align:middle line:84% With this thought, I'm now challenging myself 00:33:26.280 --> 00:33:30.150 align:middle line:84% and even challenging my team to learn about more youth web 00:33:30.150 --> 00:33:32.580 align:middle line:90% models for organizations. 00:33:32.580 --> 00:33:36.030 align:middle line:84% How can we include even the youngest kids in our target age 00:33:36.030 --> 00:33:40.320 align:middle line:84% range as leaders who inform our decisions and, even better, 00:33:40.320 --> 00:33:44.970 align:middle line:84% inform the designs of the programs that we deliver. 00:33:44.970 --> 00:33:49.440 align:middle line:84% Now, this is going to take a big rethink of everything 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:51.990 align:middle line:84% we do and all of our history up to date. 00:33:51.990 --> 00:33:56.280 align:middle line:84% And I will be honest and say, it's a little scary. 00:33:56.280 --> 00:33:59.880 align:middle line:90% But it's also very exciting. 00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:01.830 align:middle line:84% We've also discovered in this time 00:34:01.830 --> 00:34:06.420 align:middle line:84% that, during this digital shift, the digital divide is still 00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:08.699 align:middle line:90% alive and thriving. 00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:14.460 align:middle line:84% And who has access to technology isn't as clear 00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:16.730 align:middle line:84% as we once thought it was before. 00:34:16.730 --> 00:34:21.250 align:middle line:84% There is definitely an unlevel playing field. 00:34:21.250 --> 00:34:23.880 align:middle line:84% This unlevel playing field could prevent us 00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:25.860 align:middle line:84% from reaching the communities who would 00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:28.590 align:middle line:90% benefit from our work the most. 00:34:28.590 --> 00:34:31.290 align:middle line:84% And as a result, our commitment at BGC 00:34:31.290 --> 00:34:34.350 align:middle line:84% is really about speaking out about these policies, 00:34:34.350 --> 00:34:38.139 align:middle line:84% or the lack thereof, in the corporate sector 00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:42.750 align:middle line:84% and governments that really lead to creating this unequal access 00:34:42.750 --> 00:34:45.659 align:middle line:90% to technology and education. 00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:49.290 align:middle line:84% We built a movement to confront the global tech industry's 00:34:49.290 --> 00:34:52.719 align:middle line:84% urgent need for global diversity and inclusion. 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:56.739 align:middle line:84% And I'm committed to reaching a million girls by 2040. 00:34:56.739 --> 00:35:00.900 align:middle line:84% But to reach our goals, I will be asking our movement 00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:04.590 align:middle line:84% to step up even more, to use their voices, 00:35:04.590 --> 00:35:08.790 align:middle line:84% to use their knowledge and their savvy, their access 00:35:08.790 --> 00:35:11.280 align:middle line:84% to decision makers to say we need 00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:13.860 align:middle line:90% to invest in every community. 00:35:13.860 --> 00:35:16.440 align:middle line:84% Because a digital transformation that 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:22.170 align:middle line:84% isn't accessible to everyone may not be a transformation at all 00:35:22.170 --> 00:35:28.200 align:middle line:84% but simply reproduces or even worsens historical divides. 00:35:28.200 --> 00:35:31.210 align:middle line:90% 00:35:31.210 --> 00:35:33.490 align:middle line:84% I hope the stories and the thoughts 00:35:33.490 --> 00:35:35.350 align:middle line:84% that I've shared with you today helped 00:35:35.350 --> 00:35:39.670 align:middle line:84% to inspire you to look for and to create hope 00:35:39.670 --> 00:35:41.950 align:middle line:84% and clear-headed thinking that we really 00:35:41.950 --> 00:35:46.880 align:middle line:84% need now in order to survive and support our communities. 00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:50.020 align:middle line:84% I hope that you come away curious 00:35:50.020 --> 00:35:53.290 align:middle line:84% about how you can ask of each challenge, 00:35:53.290 --> 00:35:57.160 align:middle line:84% is there an opportunity hiding in here? 00:35:57.160 --> 00:35:59.940 align:middle line:84% The answer may not always be a yes. 00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:01.390 align:middle line:90% I'll tell you that. 00:36:01.390 --> 00:36:04.750 align:middle line:84% But if you keep looking, if you keep refreshing 00:36:04.750 --> 00:36:07.480 align:middle line:84% the way you look at the world around you, 00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:10.900 align:middle line:84% if you stay curious, flexible, nimble, 00:36:10.900 --> 00:36:14.690 align:middle line:84% and take the long-term view when solving a problem, 00:36:14.690 --> 00:36:20.320 align:middle line:84% I'm confident, so confident, that you'll find something 00:36:20.320 --> 00:36:24.190 align:middle line:84% inside with your onlyness as your superpower 00:36:24.190 --> 00:36:27.990 align:middle line:84% to make the changes you need to survive personally 00:36:27.990 --> 00:36:31.030 align:middle line:90% and in your professional lives. 00:36:31.030 --> 00:36:33.850 align:middle line:84% And it might just be the transformation 00:36:33.850 --> 00:36:39.190 align:middle line:84% you need to thrive once we all return to whatever normal 00:36:39.190 --> 00:36:42.400 align:middle line:90% will look like after this time. 00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:44.980 align:middle line:84% I also hope you take it upon yourself 00:36:44.980 --> 00:36:50.740 align:middle line:84% to prioritize finding and supporting diverse leadership. 00:36:50.740 --> 00:36:53.290 align:middle line:90% Now, what does that look like? 00:36:53.290 --> 00:36:56.050 align:middle line:84% On a personal level, perhaps you have an opportunity 00:36:56.050 --> 00:36:59.740 align:middle line:84% to mentor a young woman or a person of color in your work 00:36:59.740 --> 00:37:03.110 align:middle line:84% or through your community service in your neighborhood, 00:37:03.110 --> 00:37:04.760 align:middle line:90% in your community. 00:37:04.760 --> 00:37:08.710 align:middle line:84% If you do, I hope you listen as much if not more 00:37:08.710 --> 00:37:10.600 align:middle line:90% than you advise. 00:37:10.600 --> 00:37:13.570 align:middle line:84% If you are a leader in your organization or a decision 00:37:13.570 --> 00:37:16.980 align:middle line:84% maker, a hiring manager for your team, 00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:20.410 align:middle line:84% I hope that you tap into this growing pool of resources 00:37:20.410 --> 00:37:25.090 align:middle line:84% for creating, maintaining, and evolving your diversity 00:37:25.090 --> 00:37:27.400 align:middle line:90% and inclusion strategy. 00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:31.630 align:middle line:84% Now, I know all of these things and everything that I've shared 00:37:31.630 --> 00:37:34.000 align:middle line:90% is asking a lot. 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:36.670 align:middle line:84% But the world is asking for us to give 00:37:36.670 --> 00:37:41.020 align:middle line:84% everything we have right now, and then maybe even some. 00:37:41.020 --> 00:37:43.770 align:middle line:84% And I'm going to ask for one more thing. 00:37:43.770 --> 00:37:48.430 align:middle line:84% And this is something especially for you. 00:37:48.430 --> 00:37:52.540 align:middle line:84% I ask that you navigate this moment with empathy. 00:37:52.540 --> 00:37:54.250 align:middle line:84% And as a parting thought, I want to tell 00:37:54.250 --> 00:37:59.510 align:middle line:84% you to be kind to first yourself and then to others. 00:37:59.510 --> 00:38:01.720 align:middle line:84% We have the tools, digital and otherwise, 00:38:01.720 --> 00:38:05.590 align:middle line:84% to make it through this transformational moment one 00:38:05.590 --> 00:38:09.100 align:middle line:84% step at a time with our eyes on building a better 00:38:09.100 --> 00:38:13.060 align:middle line:84% future together that's more equitable and fair 00:38:13.060 --> 00:38:16.150 align:middle line:90% for each and every one of us. 00:38:16.150 --> 00:38:18.070 align:middle line:90% Thank you, and be well. 00:38:18.070 --> 00:38:20.630 align:middle line:90% 00:38:20.630 --> 00:38:23.300 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Kimberly, for sharing the inspirational story 00:38:23.300 --> 00:38:25.430 align:middle line:90% and impact of Black Girls Code. 00:38:25.430 --> 00:38:27.313 align:middle line:90% So glad you could join us today. 00:38:27.313 --> 00:38:28.730 align:middle line:84% Next up at the top of the hour, we 00:38:28.730 --> 00:38:31.130 align:middle line:84% will turn our focus to The Augmented Human 00:38:31.130 --> 00:38:33.680 align:middle line:84% with insights from Dr. Helen Papagiannis. 00:38:33.680 --> 00:38:36.490 align:middle line:84% We'll be right back after a short break. 00:38:36.490 --> 00:40:36.000 align:middle line:90%