Redefining Women in Tech Receives Mozilla Foundation Grant

Women-led pilot introduces an interactive digital format that improves access to educational and career development opportunities

Eugene, OR (Nov. 14, 2017) — Redefining Women in Tech (RWIT) announced today that it has secured a portion of the $83k granted to Eugene area organizations by the Mozilla Gigabit Community Fund. The Mozilla Gigabit City designation Eugene earned earlier this year provides grant funding to support educational and workforce development projects that employ gigabit network technology in innovative ways. Following a competitive grant application process, RWIT’s Interactive Video Learning Events project was one of five local proposals selected in the first round of funding.

RWIT’s project will build on the organization’s success creating events that connect women with the resources and community they need to thrive in tech careers. The collaborative workshop format will use real-time, low-latency video and interactive technologies to engage speakers and participants in multiple 4k-enabled locations. RWIT will also provide free training opportunities for community leaders to learn to leverage the event format and use the gigabit infrastructure to expand their own outreach and resources.

• Women in technology, a growing movement — As part of a growing worldwide movement to encourage women’s participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers, RWIT was founded to develop opportunities and resources for women in technology careers.
• Breaking down geographic boundaries — Through this funding, RWIT will release an open model and provide training to enable any organization to improve access to their events through the digitally-enabled format. The project will engage community partners in higher education, K-12, business, government and nonprofit sectors, increasing access to professional development, mentorship and community-building opportunities.
• 4K events to promote a more equitable industry — Leveraging the gigabit infrastructure, RWIT will develop interactive 4K video events specifically designed to help women navigate the challenges associated with the often-inequitable tech sector. Events are currently being scheduled for early 2018.

Craig Wiroll, Mozilla Community Gigabit Fund Manager, said: “In an effort to build technologies that support a healthy Internet, Mozilla has provided grant funding to support pilot tests of gigabit technologies such as virtual reality, 4K video, artificial intelligence, and their related curricula. The technologies will address education and/or workforce development opportunities. We are looking forward to working with Redefining Women in Tech as they develop impactful, inspiring, and exciting projects.”

Lauren Jerome, co-founder, Redefining Women in Tech, said: “We can’t wait for advocacy groups to develop solutions for women in tech in every city. By leveraging emerging technologies we can improve opportunities in developing areas now. It’s an opportunity to amplify existing efforts and reach people who might otherwise not have access to similar training programs.”

About Redefining Women in Tech

Redefining Women in Tech is an organization of professionals and students emphasizing creativity and openness with technology, providing an open and welcoming environment, tangible resources and targeted events. Founded in Eugene, Oregon, RWIT is dedicated to supporting the needs of women in technology careers while helping businesses diversify their workforce by engaging members through community and key corporate partnerships.

About Mozilla

The nonprofit Mozilla Foundation believes the Internet must always remain a global public resource that is open and accessible to all. Its work is guided by the Mozilla Manifesto. The direct work of the Mozilla Foundation focuses on fueling the movement for an open Internet. It does this by connecting open Internet leaders with each other and by mobilizing grassroots activists around the world. The Foundation is also the sole shareholder in the Mozilla Corporation, the maker of Firefox and other open source tools. Mozilla Corporation functions as a self-sustaining social enterprise — money earned through its products is reinvested into the organization.

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This release was originally published on the Redefining Women in Tech website. For more information about the pilot project, read Inclusion by Design by Lauren Jerome.