Reflections on the #RaceonTech chat
There was something refreshingly different about NPR’s #RaceonTech chat that was held July 13–15 and it was the focus on success stories. Instead of just admiring the problem #RaceonTech was a “Day in the Life” social storytelling series.
NPR built the series around the question “Who are some of the diverse voices emerging in technology and science across the country?” The level of discourse and engagement helped it spread like wildfire in the Twittersphere. At GapJumpers we heard about #RaceonTech through this tweet from our Twitter friend @GinaHelfrich, Founder and Principal Consultant of Third Coast InnovateHER, a management and HR consulting firm fostering innovation through women’s leadership and engagement. Gina’s tweet stood out because it focused on what works when it comes to moving the needle on diversity and inclusion in tech.
The momentum continued and we were hooked. The individuals engaging in the #RaceonTech chat were focused on finding solutions, trying new things and fixing this. We saw many of our Twitter friends engaging and we met new friends like @vrooje, Brooke Simmons, an astronomer and Henry Skynner Fellow and Postdoctoral Researcher at The University of Oxford. This tweet from Brooke stood out because she was willing to ask what role do I play? What can I do differently that will positively impact this issue? What a difference it would make if everyone asked that question.
We did not want the #RaceonTech engagement to end and we were not alone. @DrFayonline, Dr. Fay Cobb Payton, Founder of My Health Impact, a scholarly health research network focused on healthcare and health disparities that targets black female college students, also wanted to keep the energy going. We’ve already started the brainstorming with Dr. Fay on additional topics and actions that will continue to move the needle and cannot wait to see where that leads.
By focusing on what is working and engaging with the movers and shakers in the field #RaceonTech raised the bar. Join the #RaceonTech discussion, share what is working for you or your company, like Brooke Simmons ask what role you can play? By asking more questions and taking more action we can make inclusion the norm not the exception. What topics would you like to add to the #RaceonTech discussion? Follow us on Twitter @GapJumpers and let’s #ChangetheRatio.
