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Women of Color in Tech Day 2020

Recap from Women of Color in Tech Day 2020 | March 12, 2020 

On March 12th, NPower celebrated the first Women of Color in Tech Day in New York. The day celebrated the recently passed resolution proclaimed by Governor Cuomo, to acknowledge the economic and educational disadvantages facing young women of color. This annual day was designed to promote the importance of respect, dignity, fairness and equity in supporting Black and Latina women as they pursue tech careers. 

The day kicked off with Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, (D-Brooklyn – Assembly District 55), Chair of the Commission on Science and Technology and NPower champion, along with Councilwoman Carlina Rivera and Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Ingrid Lewis-Martin presenting the proclamation on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall.

Cristal Espejo, NPower alumna and Cloud Transformation and Migration Consultant at Accenture, provided words of inspiration during her student reflection, She encouraged young women of color on their  journey to claiming their space in tech that this is possible. When most people ask me about the success in my career – every story includes NPower. As a women of color, I am statistically an outlier in the tech field. However, having the opportunity to work in tech has allowed me to discover leadership qualities, influencing power and the ability to produce results.”

To commemorate the day, NPower’s CEO, Bertina Ceccarelli, Assemblywoman Walker along with excited alumni, students, partners, and staff rang the closing Nasdaq bell. 

What a more impactful way to celebrate Women’s History Month 2020 than advocating and raising awareness for the issues facing one of the most marginalized groups within the technology industry
 

Overheard during Women of Color in Tech Day: “Feels great to be a  part of an initiative that is actually making a larger impact for women of color. Happy that I was able to participate.” – NPower Student

View the Nasdaq bell ringing here.

To learn more about the 40 by 22 initiative in partnership with Citi Foundation visit: npower.org/40-by-22/

Save the Date! A new original research report Breaking Through, Rising up: Strategies for Propelling Women of Color in Technology will be released on April 21st at www.npower.org.

Photography courtesy of Nasdaq, Inc.
Photography courtesy of Nasdaq, Inc.
Photography courtesy of Nasdaq, Inc.

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