Purpose Jobs’ Post

BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH VOICE OF THE YOUTH In a world that often feels divided by borders, ideologies, and misunderstandings, one constant has the power to connect us: the voices of the youth. Young people today are at the forefront of global movements, bridging divides, challenging norms, and fostering collaboration in unprecedented ways. At VOYNG, we believe in the transformative power of these voices to unite cultures, inspire action, and build a more inclusive world. The Importance of Youth Voices The youth population—over 1.2 billion strong globally—represents the most diverse, tech-savvy, and socially aware generation in history. Unlike previous generations, today’s youth have access to tools that amplify their voices, enabling them to address global challenges like climate change, inequality, and political polarization. But this power isn’t just about access; it’s about perspective. Young people often approach problems with fresh ideas and innovative solutions, unburdened by entrenched biases. They are the connectors between cultures, ideas, and generations, making their voices essential in creating dialogue and collaboration. How Youth Are Building Bridges                1.           Cross-Cultural Dialogue With platforms like social media, forums, and digital communities, young people are engaging in conversations that transcend borders. Initiatives like cultural exchange programs, global volunteer networks, and virtual collaborations are fostering mutual understanding and breaking down stereotypes.                •            For example, AIESEC, the world’s largest youth-run organization, connects young leaders across 120+ countries, enabling them to learn and grow from one another.                2.           Advocacy for Shared Goals Youth movements like Fridays for Future and Black Lives Matter have shown that collective action can spark change on a global scale. These movements often focus on issues that affect all humanity, demonstrating that common goals—like sustainability or equality—can unite people from vastly different backgrounds.                3.           Storytelling as a Tool for Connection Storytelling has always been a powerful way to share experiences and foster empathy. Through blogs, vlogs, podcasts, and other media, young people are sharing their lived realities, giving others a window into their worlds. This narrative-sharing creates empathy and understanding, essential for building bridges. In this light, VOYNG encourages you to share your story with us and we would always be here extending the need of a youth-inclined community. #youth #communitybuilding #blackccess #togetherwestand 

Black People in Tech Development: Breaking Barriers Black professionals in tech are driving innovation while overcoming systemic challenges, reshaping the landscape of an industry historically marked by underrepresentation. Through mentorship, community building, and advocacy, they are fostering diversity and paving the way for future generations. Initiatives that focus on inclusivity, scholarships, and training programs are crucial in bridging the gap, ensuring that opportunities in tech are accessible to all. This cultural shift is not only empowering individuals but also enriching the industry with diverse perspectives. #DiversityInTech #BlackTechExcellence #BreakingBarriers #InclusiveInnovation #TechLeadership #RepresentationMatters #FutureInTech #EmpowermentThroughTech https://lnkd.in/dgmFN7wX

Community Does Not Equate to Visibility: What I’ve Learned in Five Years of Building and Leading Communities It’s been five years since I took my first steps into building communities, from Google Developer Student Club to Women Techmakers and all other organizations I have supported or worked with directly or indirectly. Each community has left a mark on me, shaping my views on what it means to bring people together with purpose and create a space where everyone feels seen. Here are some lessons I’ve learned along the way: 1. Visibility Takes Effort😫; Just starting a community doesn’t automatically bring visibility. You can have an amazing group with valuable insights, but without consistent advocacy, that impact may go unnoticed. True visibility means investing in each other and lifting each other up. 2. Passion is the Foundation🤩; A community without passion is like a body without a heartbeat. Passion is what keeps people coming back, contributing, and pushing the mission forward. When members share that fire, it translates into unstoppable momentum, driving initiatives and sparking collaborations that amplify our reach. 3. Learning Together Builds Strength💪; When we come together to learn, it creates a shared experience that empowers everyone. Whether it’s coding workshops, discussions on digital rights, or tech camps for young girls, I’ve seen how powerful it is to grow in knowledge as a group. The collective drive to learn gives us courage and resilience. 4. Empathy Cultivates True Belonging🙌; Belonging in a community isn’t just about being a member; it’s about feeling valued and understood. By fostering empathy, we create safe spaces where everyone can speak openly. This has been especially important for women and young people finding their footing in tech—it’s a space where we all have each other’s backs. 5. Impact Over Size😊; I used to think success meant a large community, but I’ve learned that impact isn’t about numbers. Small, focused communities can drive meaningful change when members are committed. Whether we're addressing digital literacy in the Gambia or amplifying women’s voices in AI, our collective impact speaks louder than our size.🙌 These years in tech community work have been challenging, inspiring, and full of growth. They’ve taught me that real impact happens when people come together with purpose, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to elevate one another. Here’s to many more years of building visible, inclusive spaces where everyone has a place and a voice. #CommunityBuilding #WomenInTech #TheGambia #DigitalInclusion #YouthEmpowerment #TechFeminine #VisibilityMatters #EmpathyInTech #DigitalRights #AfricanTech TechFeminine

📢 Our new strategy has six themes, which will help us achieve our vision of creating a fair and just world for working-class people. Our first exciting theme will focus on growing our strong community of working-class young people. Here are four key objectives: 1️⃣ Core programme development: develop a core programme as a foundation for all young people participating in our projects and programmes. It will cover critical thinking, power, and intersectional class identity. 2️⃣ Connect working-class youth: provide opportunities for current and former RECLAIM young people to connect, learn from each other and develop deeper relationships with each other and their work. 3️⃣ Build stronger networks: support young people in building relationships and networks with organisations, activists, decision-makers, and change-makers across social movements and civic spaces. 4️⃣ Develop our community: embed a community engagement strategy that enables us to understand young people, support their work and platform their voices. If you'd like to know more about our strategy or how you can get involved, DM us or email d.dallman@reclaim.org.uk

We Black people are geniuses, we are so creative, we have so many different skills but when you talk about unlocking your genius and in the way we light up, we have to let AI and other technology tools help us with the rest,” said Alexa Turnage. A futurist technology movement is gaining momentum, one Saturday at a time in Detroit’s start-up community. Alexa and Johnnie Turnage, co-founders of Black Tech Saturdays, have made it their mission to bridge the gap in tech education and access. The innovative husband-and-wife duo is helping redefine how technology intersects with community empowerment for Black and Brown users. The development of a tech-focused meeting space addresses the digital divide across underserved communities, where access to high-speed internet and STEM education remains a challenge. "Technology is crucial to closing these gaps," Johnnie Turnage noted. "It's not just about catching up, it's about leading and innovating." In a world driven by technology, initiatives like #BlackTechSaturdays are not just transforming communities but also inspiring a new generation of tech leaders who are unapologetically Black and brilliant. As Johnnie aptly put it, "We're not just building businesses, we're building a legacy of innovation and empowerment." Kianga J. M. EBONY Media 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 https://lnkd.in/gdHXtK8x #BlackTechSaturdays #keepgoing #strongertogether #togetherwecan #Bridgethedivide #ClosetheGap #creativeeconomy #Ebony #Detroit #Baltimore #Houston #Miami #Lansing #BlackExcellence #BlackLove #BlackJoy #BlackInTech #LatinxInTech #WomenInTech #DiversityInTech #Entrepreneurship #Founders #tech

As we gear up to celebrate Juneteenth, a powerful reminder of freedom and resilience, and as we honor the end of slavery in the United States, it's crucial to reflect on how far we've come and recognize the work still ahead. We have a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change in the tech industry. Technology is a powerful equalizer, providing tools and platforms that can help bridge gaps, create opportunities, and amplify historically marginalized voices. From coding boot camps and STEM education initiatives to diversity hiring practices and inclusive workplace cultures, every step toward equity and justice is a step forward. Let's leverage our skills and resources to build a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Together, we can innovate for a better, more inclusive tomorrow, and that's why we are inviting you all, if you are based in New York - to come to our JuneteenthTech Summit, which will be held at Medgar Evers this June 17th. #Juneteenthtech #Juneteenth #Technology  #Juneteenth #TechForGood #DiversityInTech #Inclusion #Equity #TechIndustry #Innovation #STEM #BlackVoices #TechCommunity #CelebrateFreedom

Great to see ShipItCon pledging support here! There is a common narrative from tech companies on the topic of #womenintech, saying they want to improve #genderrepresentation. Here is an opportunity to play a part! This piece from Abby Wambach from a couple of years ago really resonated: https://lnkd.in/gp2z5tCB In particular: Stop believing organisations when they TELL you who they are. Demand to see proof, not with words but with numbers - ask them to show you their history of speaking out in favour of ‘othered’ groups, the minority group leaders they employ at the highest levels - and how much they pay them. Instead of being distracted by institutions waving flags of #Blacklivesmatter, #Pride, #Women’shistorymonth and #Earthday, ask them to wave their budgets, leadership rosters, profit reports and environmental impacts. A flag does not tell you who a family, a company, a school or a country is - its INVESTMENT does. Tech Meetups and #newsletters such as Coding Grace, are an excellent way to share expertise, insights and to bring people together, in particular from underrepresented groups. It is really important that those who volunteer their time and effort are supported financially!

How can we attract more founders from disadvantaged backgrounds? As we kick off the new year, one of my resolutions is to increase the number of founders from lower socio-economic backgrounds applying to Daring Capital. In our last cohort, only 28% of applicants identified as coming from a disadvantaged background. While we’ve made great strides in attracting women and minority ethnic founders (who are now overrepresented in our pool 🙌), we still have work to do here. I’ll admit - I’m stumped. But I’m also committed to fixing it. I’d love to hear your ideas: 💡 Are there specific networks, groups, or communities we should be reaching out to? 💡How can we make our opportunities more visible and accessible to talented founders from disadvantaged backgrounds? Thanks for your help

If you haven't checked out the state plan that will help to close the digital divide throughout our state, please do. Melanie Colletti will be talking about it today during a webinar at 2:30. Join us! https://lnkd.in/g_YyYkqd #DIW24 #digitalinclusion #digitaldivide #digitalequity #internetforall

It’s something that has the power to enable both empathy and exclusion; to provide us with new perspectives while simultaneously silencing other voices that deserve to be heard: technology.And while the tech platforms we interact with every day demonstrated their value in the lead-up to and during last year’s BLM protests, the companies and culture that created them have long-standing issues with diversity and inclusion. In this Black History Month episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, John Stackhouse is pleased to welcome as co-host Michael Carter, the Global Head of Technology Investment Banking at RBC Capital Markets in New York, for a compelling and complex conversation about the fight for equity in the tech sector. They’ll be joined by another voice that’s sure to be familiar to longtime listeners; Dax Dasilva, the CEO of Montreal-based Lightspeed Inc, who will share his perspective as a member of, and crusader for, both the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. The challenges are numerous: securing more investment funding for Black entrepreneurs, breaking down geographical barriers to diversity, and maintaining focus on the fight for racial justice in the face of other crises, like the pandemic. As you’ll hear from Tamar Huggins-Grant, the Founder and Executive Director of Tech Spark Canada, it’s not going to be a comfortable journey, but that’s OK, because she believes there has to be some level of discomfort if we really want things to change. Notes:For details on Lightspeed’s commitment to inclusion and diversity, click HERE. Dax Dasilva wrote an editorial in last summer’s Globe and Mail about the role of CEOs in fostering diversity, and he was also John’s guest on a previous episode of Disruptors: ”Diversity x Inclusion x Innovation”. John also discussed the lack of Black representation in the tech sector in February of last year, in the episode ”Why Are There So Few Black Entrepreneurs in Canadian Tech?”. Details on Tech Spark Canada’s mission to increase inclusivity in the technology sector are at techspark.ca. To learn more about Michael Carter’s background and work promoting innovation, inclusion, and diversity, click HERE. You can use the following links to read up on RBC’s Purpose, Vision, and Values, Community and Social Impact, and efforts to promote Diversity & Inclusion.