Tackling the tech gap: $4.1M initiative granted for Southeastern women in tech

This summer in Birmingham, the National Center for Women & Information Technology officially launched its new nationwide campaign and multi faceted initiative for a program for digital skills education and technology awareness. 

A $4.1 million grant, given by the Cognizant U.S. Foundation, was made out to NCWIT in December 2018. The goal of the grant is to increase the number of women in technology jobs in the Southeastern U.S. through NCWIT’s programming in Birmingham City Schools, local community organizations and nearby colleges. 

NCWIT is a nonprofit community of more than a thousand companies, universities, nonprofits and government organizations working to increase participation from women and girls in computing. 

“We are pleased to be partnering with NCWIT to create new programs, pathways and opportunities for young women in technology in communities across the country,” said Kristen Titus, the executive director at the Cognizant U.S. Foundation.  

According to NCWIT, Birmingham was selected as a launch site for the program based on city leadership, educational infrastructure, technical ecosystem and community support and demand. In addition to Birmingham, two other Southeastern cities will be identified for programming assistance in the next two years. Combined, the locations are set to impact more than  13,000 girls and women by 2020.

“We’re excited to launch this effort with the many employers, educators and community partners throughout Alabama who have demonstrated a deep commitment to closing the gender gap in technology,” Titus said.

In NCWIT’s 2019 By the Numbers report, only 26 percent of professional computing jobs in the 2018 U.S. workforce were held by women. In the U.S., there is expected to be 3.5 million computing-related job openings by 2026. Through the grant, the goal is to get the percentage of women interested and working in technology much higher.

The following program are going to be enacted through the grant money by December 2019, with the money slowly distributed over time. Because NCWIT does not have local chapters or officials, local engagement happens through a handful of local programs, according to their website. 

COUNSELORS FOR COMPUTING

Counselors for Computing provides training opportunities, resources and helpful information for professional school counselors to support all students as they explore computer science careers and education. 

In order for young women to get the exposure and encouragement they need to pursue computing, it’s key for counselors in BCS to get up to speed on the knowledge and resources available in computer science. C4C offers professional development ranging from hour-long webinars, one-day workshops and advanced leadership development through multi day institutes. 

Counselors are able to try their hands at computing though interactive experiences called Studio Code and Sorting Networks, and they receive C4C Resource Kits they can use throughout the year to increase student access to computing educations and careers. 

ASPIRATIONS IN COMPUTING COMMUNITY

Aspirations in Computing Community provides scholarships, internships and networking opportunities in computer-related fields for high school, college and work-force entering women and girls. A big component of this program is providing encouragement through NCWIT awards and scholarships for high school students, educators and undergraduate and graduate students. 

ASPIREIT

Through the Aspirations in Computing Community, AspireIT educational workshops and camps are offered for middle school, high school and college women. 

In July 2019, for example, Coding Gems was an outreach program offered at the Birmingham Public Library Central location for eighth – through 10th-grade students. In the fall, similar programs will be enacted in schools, libraries and community centers.

For more information, go to ncwit.org.