Is technology the great equalizer or just another struggle continued….

Is Technology the great equalizer or just another struggle continued?
I had the pleasure of attending a dynamic, leading edge, ahw inspiring, thought provoking conference this past weekend in Long Beach California, where I was blown away at the talented women (and men) who came together to attend the 3rd annual,Wonder Women Tech Conference (We Are Change Makers).

The topics discussed were the current Empowerment of Women themes.. but then it became so much more, it was like the lights were turned on and a fashion show of the mind began. Brilliant female engineers, coders, technical writers, project managers and business owners were in the room sharing their stories of creating a space of their own after finding that their talents were either undervalued or plan ol’ overlooked. The conference was about inclusion of Women, the Disabled and LBGT within the Tech space. I had the opportunity to interview the Founder and Creator of the Wonder Women Tech Conference, Lisa Mae Brunson back in April for a article I was writing on diversity in the Tech space for Diversity Professional magazine (www.diversityprofessional.com) and she invited me to the conference. Not being that much of a technical person I decided to attend believing I was going to see the ever present stereo typical Jeans and tee-shirts or a button down wearing nerdy looking anti social, glasses wearing Tech Geeks and what I witnessed was, well, let me just say NOT THAT!!!!, in fact I was the jean wearing Geek.
I witnessed all sorts of women. Women in wheelchairs and women of color!!! commanding and controlling their own way, leveling the playing field on their own terms. However, the more I listened to the speakers the more I realized these woman were speaking a language littered with words of the 50’s and 60’s. They were speaking about Inclusion, Diversity and Equality, wait what? I thought we were speaking about Technology the great equalizer!! Then my mind started thinking about all of the things I have heard over the years regarding the great data divide I had equated it to lack of access to, math science or the computer sciences for women and girls, I believed we had already tackled the granting of access, never did I believe it was still present as relevant a topic as to headline a tech conferences until I realized who was in the audience and it was solidified when the Close Out Keynote Speaker, was the legendary Civil Rights Leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, it kinda freaked me out!! Then I thought about what is going on currently in Silicon Valley with the “Google Manifesto”, Sexual Harassment Lawsuits pending in Silicon Valley and the views of the Current Administration in the White House

That is when I got it, that is when the illumination of the Conference shown itself bright, that was when I realized why These women were walking heads held high, commanding the room, walking the hallways like runway models exuding that #Blackgirlmagic, riding the #WonderWomenWave, screaming #AbleBodied because they were in a space that was all about them, where they could SHINE in the vain of the conference title #WE ARE CHANGE MAKERS!!!! Change has always come on the backs of someone; Technology lead us to believe once again that anything is possible if we can believe it, we can achieve it, but as with anything the people who control the narrative control the story. The technology space with it’s challenges is still a place where dreams are coming true but it is also a place where a lot of kicking, pushing and breaking the preverbal door still needs to happen, with more discussions like those had this weekend and with more leaders like the great Rev. Jesse Jackson joining in on the chorus. For, it is real.. the struggle continues and the mantel has been passed to a Woman….. Go on with your bad self Lisa Mae Brunson keep pushing women in technology higher by giving a voice and platform for us to stand!!!

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