OVERVIEW

There is much that can be said about possibilities and how effective the planting of them like seeds can be in opening up the world to us, especially if they are sowed within the young. That’s why it’s crucial for BIPOC youth to be exposed to not only the right technological tools but also to the myriad of opportunities for self-determination and community growth that come with the knowledge of those tools. Another one of the best ways for Black and brown children to gain greater proximity to tech while young happen is for our young people to move from what Dr. Stephen Jones from Villanova University refers to as being consumers of technology to being creators of technology from early in their education. Enfranchising all students of color also requires a transformation of our HR recruitment processes that currently serve to widen the gap of access to important career connections and knowledge by limiting students who don’t otherwise have access to career mentorship through their families’ personal networks. Finally, empowering the youth to see technology as accessible, useful, and relevant to all people across identities, backgrounds, and experiences will do much to close the far too wide digital divide for students of color.

KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED

• Exposure & Proximity to Tech

  • “Earlier on, we need exposure to more complex technological tools so that going into college we’re coming in with more of a foundation.” -Brelind Whitehurst, USC Narrative Studies Student, Class of 2021

  • “Our young people are consumers of technology and what we have to do early in their education is make them the creators of technology. 75% of all engineers come from parents who are engineers.” -Dr. Stephen Jones, Associate Dean of Student Success and DEI, Villanova University

• HR & Recruiting Engagement Processes

  • “The traditional way that lots of HR systems are set up is to find those cohorts [of students in groups like NSBE, the National Society of Black Engineers]. We have to get rid of this VIP access, limited time available model so that all students have access to recruiters because so much of that is equity too.” -Erdina Francillon, Education Specialist, Microsoft 365 Education

  • “What schools typically do is they have a career day at the end of the year as students are going out the door. And I believe that career day should be all year long. And in doing that, you're getting young people used to having conversations with people who work in the corporate environment, used to doing an internship in high school, having those various experiences, and then created a dialogue amongst all the students. So that going into college isn't the first time that they've had exposure to the potential of having an internship and working in the company.

    And so I think a lot of it is also just that preparation so that students know what questions to ask and how to prepare themselves. The Internet has been helpful in that you can practice interviews with other professionals before you actually go for the interview. At our college, we've assigned every freshman a mentor that's in corporate America. I tell the students to go to your Career Services Center and let them know you want a mentor from an industry that you can tie into. They have hundreds of alumni who are looking for opportunities to interact with students as well. And that relationship opens up doors not only maybe at their company, but they know other people at other companies as well. And they can refer you.” -Dr. Stephen Jones, Associate Dean of Student Success and DEI, Villanova University

• Student Success Systems

  • “I think we should move away from this idea that people who can’t or choose not to do coding or engineering are less than and more that it’s a community of people collaborating and everyone has a role to contribute.” -Brelind Whitehurst, USC Narrative Studies Student, Class of 2021

  • “Tech is just an extension of us and a means to the end. You don’t just want to learn them and never apply them...I think going on YouTube, you can find a whole world of avenues of things you’re into and find things that are tech or tech-aligned to apply it to your interests. That’s what the internet is really about.” -Brian Price, USC Engineering Student

  • “You don’t have to be a know-it-all, you just have to be what we call at Microsoft a learn-it-all.” -Erdina Francillon, Education Specialist, Microsoft 365 Education

KEY SOLUTIONS SHARED

• Invest in Tech Access & Accessibility: Non-profits and EdTech startups, like We Are Tech, should provide Tech Access scholarships to help students get laptops and more complex technology products that will equip them with the tools to be successful in college.

• Measure Student Success with Intuitive Systems and Data Models: Major EdTech companies and academic institutions should collaborate to create student success measuring systems that adequately collect and exchange qualitative data with students in order to help inform colleges to support them, and other students with their similar backgrounds and experiences.

• Revamp the Recruitment Model: Major tech company recruiters should engage students year round, beyond the traditional career fair model, to strengthen their pipelines in order for them to become effective and empowered candidates that matriculate into employees in their companies.

KEY Resources SHARED

• Check out the NovaEdge Virtual Summer Program to engage with pathways into the tech industry!

• Explore the Microsoft Learn resources to learn more about using technology and gain skills certifications!

• Learn how youth can galvanize and become equipped with skills in Microsofts’ Student Ambassador Program!