Last night I had the privilege of attending California NOW's (National Organization of Women) Gender Equity awards show in Los Angeles as a winner of the annual Gender Equity Award.

NOW is a fantastic organization dedicated to the cultural, social, and economic advancement of young women across the United States. In the California state chapter, NOW is dedicated to empowering women across the state and electing more female leaders into office. 

During the course of the night I was able to hear the stories of so many inspiring women dedicated to bridging gender gaps in all fields, from business, to entertainment, to politics, and technology. 

CA NOW is doing some fantastic and much needed work - please donate to them here if you support their mission!

"In the 2000s, most investors would hear that a tech company was from Atlanta and immediately say, ‘No.’ But great universities and a strong black middle class have turned the tables"

Great article by the Guardian on the increasing diversity within Silicon Valley, particularly among the African-American demographic. Read it here.

Stricter regulation, including large fines, is one option to force technology companies to take the issue of hate speech more seriously, the Mayor of London has said.
"We can't assume that tech companies will find the solutions by themselves," Sadiq Khan told the BBC.
He said companies have to be "chivvied and cajoled to take action".
On Monday, he will share examples of abuse he has personally received.
The messages will form part of his keynote speech at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas.

Read more here.

When Christine Betts arrived at the University of Washington in 2016, she planned to study economics. After an introductory computer-science course inspired her, she changed her mind.
Betts joins growing ranks of women at influential schools entering the software field. The numbers at some colleges offer a glimmer of hope in an otherwise male-dominated industry. At Betts' school, as well as Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, women represent about a third of computer-science students. It's hardly gender parity, but the numbers are higher than they were five years ago.
Female enrollment at some other elite technical institutions is even more encouraging. This year, more women will graduate with computer-science degrees than men for the second time ever at Harvey Mudd College, a Southern California school whose alumni include creators of important web technologies like SQL, Flash and GitHub (all men). Maria Klawe, president of Harvey Mudd, has led an effort to recruit more women and said doing so will improve technology for everyone.

​Read more here.

In partnership with Adobe, Dell EMC, Girls Who Code and Microsoft, the Utah STEM Action Center recently announced the launch of the Utah Girls Who Code Club Network at Dell EMC.
Starting in the fall 2018 school year, nearly 50 clubs will be hosted at schools, community centers, libraries and various organizations. Industry partners will sponsor and facilitate the clubs, creating a unique business and education partnership.
More than 200 girls, grades 7-12, from multiple school districts joined industry members recently to kick off the program, listening to remarks given by Lt. Gov. Spencer J. Cox and engaging in a coding activity with Reshma Saujani, CEO and founder of Girls Who Code.

Read more here.

Representation matters, and these people are ensuring the visibility of women in STEM by sharing their stories.
Chances are, if you’re asked to think of a name from STEM on the spot, that name will be a man’s. The history of women in STEM has not been given equal attention, and the same is true of the column inches, screen time and airwaves devoted to present-day innovators. But these authors, performers, creators and campaigners are making sure that women in STEM are not forgotten.

A spotlight special by Silicon Republic, this gem showcases 12 women in STEM making a difference. Give it a read!

In an era when women are increasingly prominent in medicine, law, and business, why are there so few women scientists and engineers? A 2010 research report by AAUW presents compelling evidence that can help to explain this puzzle. Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) presents in-depth yet accessible profiles of eight key research findings that point to environmental and social barriers — including stereotypes, gender bias, and the climate of science and engineering departments in colleges and universities — that continue to block women’s progress in STEM. 

Read more here.

Short, concise little video on what exactly coding is. Neat, huh?

The most important thing on the topic of the internet right now – by far.