MacKenzie Scott Bezos Joins Black Girls CODE In Creating Equitable Futures For Girls Of Color In STEM
For nearly a decade, Black Girls CODE (BGC) has been dedicated to changing the narrative by eliminating socioeconomic barriers surrounding STEM education through an array of culturally competent tech-focused programs and initiatives for girls from under-represented communities across the US. As the longstanding systemic injustices experienced by the African American community have been pushed to the forefront of a global conversation, the social climate has further revealed how important our work at BGC truly is.
Black girls are disproportionately impacted by the lack of accessibility to digital resources which ultimately takes a tremendous toll on their educational opportunities. Women of color account for 3 percent of the tech workforce and in communities across the US Black girls continue are marginalized locked out of access to the tools and experiences which would prepare them to access the technology space as innovators and creatives.
When it comes to creating equitable futures for our youth, it takes a village and the support of committed and invested allies. We’re grateful for the support and generosity of activist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott Bezos who recently announced that she will contribute $3 million to further Black Girls CODE’s impact in an effort to help us reach our mission of teaching 1 million girls to code by 2040.
In 2019, Bezos vowed to donate half of her fortune to grassroots organizations that are leading transformative initiatives across different spaces. Cognizant of the polarizing effects of the digital divide and the stagnancy surrounding racial and gender diversity in tech, she has pledged to join us in our mission to disrupt the status quo and open up pathways for girls and young women of color in the realm of STEM. "Like many, I watched the first half of 2020 with a mixture of heartbreak and horror. Life will never stop finding fresh ways to expose inequities in our systems; or waking us up to the fact that a civilization this imbalanced is not only unjust, but also unstable," she wrote in a statement. "What fills me with hope is the thought of what will come if each of us reflects on what we can offer."
Bezos’ commitment to Black Girls CODE and other organizations that are at the forefront of change is a testament to true allyship. Black Girls CODE is grateful to have her support as we work to empower the next generation of leaders in STEM. In solidarity, Team Black Girls CODE