Tech Inclusion Solution: Day 73: Create Building “Capital” Opportunities For People Of Color (POC)
100 Solutions to Diversity and Inclusion in Tech
Since the inaugural Tech Inclusion Conference in 2015 we have received and granted over 100+ scholarship applications to attendees. For each scholarship application we ask one simple question “What solutions would you like to see for diversity and inclusion in tech?” Below is a series leading up to the 2016 Tech Inclusion Conference of “100+ Solutions to Diversity and Inclusion in Tech”. The Theme for Tech Inclusion 2016 Conference is Inclusive and Sustainable Innovation and will be held October 26th — 27th at the Innovation Hangar in San Francisco. Tech Inclusion Conference is presented by Google for Entrepreneurs. The conference will feature a career fair, a startup showcase and a tech innovation demo hall. Regular admission tickets are now on sale.
Solution: How To Create Building “Capital” Opportunities For People Of Color (POC)
The greatest setback for people of color (POC) in tech is a lack of capital. To be clear, ‘ capital’ is defined as “the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively.” Without capital, POC will always be trailing behind as the minority in tech.
Apart from building platforms for fairer and more inclusive recruiting processes, we need to solve this core problem like humans. The best way to bridge the gap of capital is through relationship building. Hence, to get and keep more POC into tech, we need a stable and reliable system of relationships, that can encourage, inspire and educate in a way that only real-life experiences can. This system can take many forms; but in its simplest may represent a ‘Big Brother/Sister in Tech’ model. Essentially arranging a kind of mentorship process, which should instead be understood as an “exchange”, because we all have much to learn from one another, despite age and experience.
Here POC will not only gain the invaluable knowledge and insight that they have yet to find elsewhere, but they will be affirmed, believing more firmly that they have the ability to succeed in this space, that they are deserving of a seat at the table, that they have a supportive network that also wants to see them thrive and ultimately that they have a fairer chance at achieving what has long been immensely difficult yet possible!
Diversity and Inclusion In Tech Solution Submitted by Sadé
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About Change Catalyst:
Change Catalyst empowers diverse, inclusive and sustainable tech innovation — through education, community engagement and mentorship. Change Catalyst is a Certified B Corp, winning the “Best for the World” award for community impact in 2014 and “Best in the World” overall in 2015.
Tech Inclusion:
Our Tech Inclusion programs explore and develop innovative solutions to tech diversity and inclusion. We partner with the tech community to solve diversity and inclusion together through conferences, career fairs, strategic consulting and training. Our work spans the full tech ecosystem, including: Education, Workplace, Entrepreneurship and Policy.
The Change Catalyst Team
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Follow all 100 Solutions to Diversity and Inclusion in tech in our Tech Inclusion Medium Publication here.
