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Black Women------that makes us PROUD
Topic Started: Nov 12 2010, 02:48 AM (48,989 Views)
Rick1
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The Messenger
Dec 6 2011, 02:36 PM
A good woman can be traced back to a good mother.
And the bad ones to the daddy. Lol!!!!!
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Miami
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I wish we had more black women like these women, our race would be much better for it.
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Muhammad
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Malawi is a country and Africa and it now has it's first female president, Joyce Banda has become the president of that country.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304587704577331473217171482.html

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Edited by Muhammad, Apr 8 2012, 02:20 PM.
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Mal

The First female President of an African country was Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. It is good to see more African women in that role.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10865705/ns/world_news-africa/t/liberian-becomes-africas-first-female-president/#.T4Knl_tSTy0
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Marcus
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Mal I agree with you.
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Mal

Do not agree with me about anything Marcus/fake name fool unless you start acting like a man and stop humiliating yourself like a foolish white racist that is always insulting black women.
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Malia

Behind the Click: Kimberly Bryant, Senior Biotech Manager & Founder of BlackGirlsCode



Posted Image


Current Occupation: Senior Biotech Manager/Founder BlackGirlsCode
Favorite website: www.BlackGirlsCode.com
Favorite read: The Alchemist
Recent read: The Hunger Games
2012′s ultimate goal: Grow and expand Black Girls CODE to three cities.
Quote Governing Your Mission or a Quote that Inspires You: “I come as one, I stand as 10,000″ Maya Angelou
Twitter handle: @Blackgirlscode

Welcome back to another installment of the largest running profile series on African-American women in technology. I have a very special entry for you this time readers! Ever met an extremely successful executive holding it down who also runs a robust philanthropic endeavor ? Well, let me introduce you to Kimberly Bryant. This biotechnology/engineering professional is changing lives in a profound way through her organization BlackGirlsCode that is fast becoming a premier collective that introduces young Black women to technology and computer programming. I am so glad to have caught up with this colleague. Here’s a bit of our recent encounter:

LDC: So Kimberly, what was it like growing up in the South and what led you to pursue a career in engineering?

KB: I grew up in Memphis, TN which is a small metropolitan city in the South. Although I was not surrounded by technology, I was lucky to grow up during a time when it was cool to be smart and at least for me I had many opportunities to strive and achieve throughout my K-12 academic career. My strong focus in math and science led me to a career in engineering at Vanderbilt University at a time when the recruitment of women in STEM paths was at an all time high.
LDC: Tell me a little bit about your current position.

KB: I have worked in the Biotech/Pharma industry for more than 15 years in a variety of leadership roles in engineering management. My current role is a Senior Biotech Project Manager. In this role I get the opportunity to work with a multiple of clients on projects ranging from IT and infrastructure upgrades, manufacturing design projects, and technical transfer projects. Because of my diverse background in engineering and IT, I have an opportunity to work in multiple business functions which makes my current position both challenging and exciting.
LDC: Given that you have such a demanding career, what led you to create BlackGirlsCode?

KB: After many years of working in Corporate America, I decided that my skills and abilities could be transfered to an entrepreneurial endeavor in the rapidly exploding mobile health field. I began to network in the tech community and attend technical events where I found myself one of very few women and minorities. My focus shifted at this point. I felt a very strong drive to reach back into my community and help other young women of color discover the many opportunities for career growth and achievement in technology and decided to create Black Girls CODE as a vehicle to expose young women of color to the technical space and introduce them to computer programming and digital technology. I feel strongly that it is our mission to “change the equation” so that more women and minorities enter the IT field as creators.
LDC: How did you work with Bayview Youth (community group) to get them on board to support your idea?

KB: From the start of our program, we made a commitment to be a part of our community and to offer the Black Girls CODE programs to the youth who were least likely to have similar opportunities or programs available to them. The Bayview-Hunters Pointe community is one of the oldest and still largest African-American communities in the Bay Area. It sits literally right at the footsteps of technology and discovery being less than an hours drive from Silicon Valley and at the foot of the biotechnology hub in the bay. Yet most young people in the community have very little to no insight into biotechnology or computer programming and little exposure to these STEM areas as potential career paths. We were very blessed to find a strong community partner in the Bayview Youth Organization- 100% College Prep Institute , who literally opened their doors and their rolodexes to help us get our program off the ground. They allowed us to launch our pilot program from their new computer lab and actively recruited students from their existing programs to our pilot class. We have maintained a strong commitment to Bayview-Hunters Pointe and will continue to reach out to these students and the community as we grow and expand.


LDC: any advice for other women of color looking to create such beneficial alliances for philanthropic ideas they might have, by the way?

KB: My advice would be to engage others in your dream. Networks and relationships are critically important to you in every endeavor. So make a sincere effort to network and tell others about your dreams and goals. Enlist them as collaborators to help you achieve your goals and help them to meet their objectives as well. But always strive to give more than you receive. It will benefit you in both surprising and unexpected ways.
LDC: Back to the organization, talk to me a bit about the programs offered and how you select participants?

KB: How many girls are currently in the program? Our “Classroom Series” generally include 10-15 girls per class and we continue to grow and expand. We are currently planning a series of summer programs that will expand our reach to more than 100 girls in both San Francisco and three additional cities (Oakland, Chicago, and Atlanta).
LDC: So, what’s your biggest challenge in running the organization?

KB: Our biggest challenge, like most non-profit organizations, has been in finding funding to allow us to invest in the tools and infrastructure to allow our vision to grow and expand our program. We received a very generous Google R.I.S.E. (Roots in Science and Engineering) grant in January from more than 400 other applicants which has been crucial to our growth this year. We have also formed a very successful partnership with ThoughtWorks, Inc, a software company which has been a strong supporter of our mission and vision and which has provided us with resources for our classes both here in San Francisco and other cities where they have offices. We continue to look for other corporate sponsors to help us to reach more girls and expand our programs to those who need it the most.
LDC: What is your biggest hope for the organization in 2012?

KB: My biggest hope for Black Girls CODE in 2012, is to continue to see our program grow and flourish. We want to see our program reach over 175 girls this year and launch in additional cities.
LDC: Given all that you do, by the way, have you ever experienced any of what you might feel is gender/race bias during your career journey thus far? If so, how did you overcome it?

KB: As a black woman in a male-dominated industry such as engineering you are bound to experience some form of gender or race bias at some point in your career. I have overcome these challenges by always maintaining a very strong self-assurance regarding my skills and abilities as both a woman, an engineer, and a professional. For me failure was not an option. So I have continually found ways to overcome obstacles and keep my “eyes on the prize” in terms of my career goals and aspirations. I feel strongly that as women we have to “own” our careers/destinies because no one else is going to be as invested in your success as you will. Also it is imperative that women find both mentors and sponsors who can help them guide and navigate the land mines along the way.

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Veritas
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Mal
Apr 12 2012, 01:53 PM
Do not agree with me about anything Marcus/fake name fool unless you start acting like a man and stop humiliating yourself like a foolish white racist that is always insulting black women.
:D
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Veritas
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MondayMaliaMia
Apr 21 2012, 04:42 PM
Behind the Click: Kimberly Bryant, Senior Biotech Manager & Founder of BlackGirlsCode



Posted Image


Current Occupation: Senior Biotech Manager/Founder BlackGirlsCode
Favorite website: www.BlackGirlsCode.com
Favorite read: The Alchemist
Recent read: The Hunger Games
2012′s ultimate goal: Grow and expand Black Girls CODE to three cities.
Quote Governing Your Mission or a Quote that Inspires You: “I come as one, I stand as 10,000″ Maya Angelou
Twitter handle: @Blackgirlscode

Welcome back to another installment of the largest running profile series on African-American women in technology. I have a very special entry for you this time readers! Ever met an extremely successful executive holding it down who also runs a robust philanthropic endeavor ? Well, let me introduce you to Kimberly Bryant. This biotechnology/engineering professional is changing lives in a profound way through her organization BlackGirlsCode that is fast becoming a premier collective that introduces young Black women to technology and computer programming. I am so glad to have caught up with this colleague. Here’s a bit of our recent encounter:

LDC: So Kimberly, what was it like growing up in the South and what led you to pursue a career in engineering?

KB: I grew up in Memphis, TN which is a small metropolitan city in the South. Although I was not surrounded by technology, I was lucky to grow up during a time when it was cool to be smart and at least for me I had many opportunities to strive and achieve throughout my K-12 academic career. My strong focus in math and science led me to a career in engineering at Vanderbilt University at a time when the recruitment of women in STEM paths was at an all time high.
LDC: Tell me a little bit about your current position.

KB: I have worked in the Biotech/Pharma industry for more than 15 years in a variety of leadership roles in engineering management. My current role is a Senior Biotech Project Manager. In this role I get the opportunity to work with a multiple of clients on projects ranging from IT and infrastructure upgrades, manufacturing design projects, and technical transfer projects. Because of my diverse background in engineering and IT, I have an opportunity to work in multiple business functions which makes my current position both challenging and exciting.
LDC: Given that you have such a demanding career, what led you to create BlackGirlsCode?

KB: After many years of working in Corporate America, I decided that my skills and abilities could be transfered to an entrepreneurial endeavor in the rapidly exploding mobile health field. I began to network in the tech community and attend technical events where I found myself one of very few women and minorities. My focus shifted at this point. I felt a very strong drive to reach back into my community and help other young women of color discover the many opportunities for career growth and achievement in technology and decided to create Black Girls CODE as a vehicle to expose young women of color to the technical space and introduce them to computer programming and digital technology. I feel strongly that it is our mission to “change the equation” so that more women and minorities enter the IT field as creators.
LDC: How did you work with Bayview Youth (community group) to get them on board to support your idea?

KB: From the start of our program, we made a commitment to be a part of our community and to offer the Black Girls CODE programs to the youth who were least likely to have similar opportunities or programs available to them. The Bayview-Hunters Pointe community is one of the oldest and still largest African-American communities in the Bay Area. It sits literally right at the footsteps of technology and discovery being less than an hours drive from Silicon Valley and at the foot of the biotechnology hub in the bay. Yet most young people in the community have very little to no insight into biotechnology or computer programming and little exposure to these STEM areas as potential career paths. We were very blessed to find a strong community partner in the Bayview Youth Organization- 100% College Prep Institute , who literally opened their doors and their rolodexes to help us get our program off the ground. They allowed us to launch our pilot program from their new computer lab and actively recruited students from their existing programs to our pilot class. We have maintained a strong commitment to Bayview-Hunters Pointe and will continue to reach out to these students and the community as we grow and expand.


LDC: any advice for other women of color looking to create such beneficial alliances for philanthropic ideas they might have, by the way?

KB: My advice would be to engage others in your dream. Networks and relationships are critically important to you in every endeavor. So make a sincere effort to network and tell others about your dreams and goals. Enlist them as collaborators to help you achieve your goals and help them to meet their objectives as well. But always strive to give more than you receive. It will benefit you in both surprising and unexpected ways.
LDC: Back to the organization, talk to me a bit about the programs offered and how you select participants?

KB: How many girls are currently in the program? Our “Classroom Series” generally include 10-15 girls per class and we continue to grow and expand. We are currently planning a series of summer programs that will expand our reach to more than 100 girls in both San Francisco and three additional cities (Oakland, Chicago, and Atlanta).
LDC: So, what’s your biggest challenge in running the organization?

KB: Our biggest challenge, like most non-profit organizations, has been in finding funding to allow us to invest in the tools and infrastructure to allow our vision to grow and expand our program. We received a very generous Google R.I.S.E. (Roots in Science and Engineering) grant in January from more than 400 other applicants which has been crucial to our growth this year. We have also formed a very successful partnership with ThoughtWorks, Inc, a software company which has been a strong supporter of our mission and vision and which has provided us with resources for our classes both here in San Francisco and other cities where they have offices. We continue to look for other corporate sponsors to help us to reach more girls and expand our programs to those who need it the most.
LDC: What is your biggest hope for the organization in 2012?

KB: My biggest hope for Black Girls CODE in 2012, is to continue to see our program grow and flourish. We want to see our program reach over 175 girls this year and launch in additional cities.
LDC: Given all that you do, by the way, have you ever experienced any of what you might feel is gender/race bias during your career journey thus far? If so, how did you overcome it?

KB: As a black woman in a male-dominated industry such as engineering you are bound to experience some form of gender or race bias at some point in your career. I have overcome these challenges by always maintaining a very strong self-assurance regarding my skills and abilities as both a woman, an engineer, and a professional. For me failure was not an option. So I have continually found ways to overcome obstacles and keep my “eyes on the prize” in terms of my career goals and aspirations. I feel strongly that as women we have to “own” our careers/destinies because no one else is going to be as invested in your success as you will. Also it is imperative that women find both mentors and sponsors who can help them guide and navigate the land mines along the way.

This sistah has it GOING ON! Intelligence and initiative is so dayum sexy!
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Muhammad
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Good info Monday.
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