Honoring Black and Brown LGTBQIA2S+ Pioneers

Pride Month, which comes to an end this week, is a time to celebrate the moments in queer history that sparked activism and progress toward equality. One piece of history that frequently gets lost is the fact that many of these defining moments were only made possible by Black and brown LGTBQIA2S+ activists fighting for their liberation.

As we wrap the month of June, we have the unique opportunity to honor these brave trailblazers as well as share our gratitude to the countless other pioneers, activists, policymakers, business leaders and others whose tireless efforts continue to help support and amplify diverse voices, and collaborate towards a world where every individual is celebrated and valued, irrespective of their background or identity.

NPower & Command Shift Across the Nation

Throughout the month of June, NPower and Command Shift voices were present across the nation. Here’s a glimpse of these key moments:

New Orleans: Candice L. Dixon , Executive Director of Command Shift, as part of a panel at the Jobs for the Future (JFF) Horizons Conference, discussed the pathways that need to be expanded for girls and women of color to become the tech industry’s next generation of leaders. Panel featured: Gwyneth Gaul, CAP® , Ashley Gramby , Linda Calvin, JD (she/her/hers) , and Sierra Bentley .

San Jose, CA: As part of the Gartner Research Board 's 50th anniversary, 💡 Stefanie Boles , Chief Administrative Officer at NPower , participated in a panel discussion about the strategies executive leaders across the tech industry have to drive equity forward, the systemic issues in place that drive away diverse talent, and the infrastructure needed to enter and develop diverse associates into leadership positions.

Washington, DC: Kendra Rice Parlock , Vice President of Partnership Development at NPower spoke at Economist Impact events 's The Economist Impact Conference about the tech skills that are in demand, and what employers need to be doing to innovate and attract diverse talent. 

NPower Alumni Spotlight

Mikenzhie Smith

NPower Maryland Graduate

Fall 2022 Tech Fundamentals

IT Team Lead, NPower Community Helpdesk

Mikenzhie is someone that knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go for it; in fact, she went for it! She obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Computer Science while working in retail. Prior to NPower, she’d worked in retail for 7 years and knew it wasn’t going to provide the opportunities for economic or career advancement she wished for, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded. 

When Mikenzhie came across NPower, she saw her pathway out of retail. She enjoyed the structure of the Tech Fundamentals curriculum, the hands-on portions of the program, self-learning through Coursera, and the empathetic instructors. She especially treasured the personal development opportunities, where she practiced networking, interview practice, and mentorship - ultimately making connections that helped her get out of her shell.

Upon graduation, Mikenzhie considered multiple roles until the opportunity to join the Baltimore Community Helpdesk as a Digital Navigator opened up. And the rest is history. In her role, she loves being of service to the community. Some of the individuals she has helped so far remind her so much of her family that she has also helped, which makes her feel fulfilled. Mikenzhie also continues to augment her own learnings. In fact, she recently completed her Zendesk Omnichannel Agent certification and has evaluated about 20 processes and written 20 articles for those processes to help the organization build a budding knowledge base.

"Don't be afraid to take a leap of faith,  especially if you want to take a huge pivot and you are currently stagnant. There’s nothing wrong with being different and trying different things, surround yourself with people that are taking the path you want to take. 

Don’t be afraid to network, don’t be shy, just try your best because no one’s perfect. And last but not least: don’t be afraid to ask for help! If I didn't ask, I wouldn't have gotten my current opportunity in the Baltimore Community Helpdesk!"

Shift in Action: Command Shift Retreat held on June 28th

Earlier this week, we were delighted to welcome our Steering Committee partners, Alumni Council, and key guests to our 2nd annual Command Shift Retreat. 

We’d like to extend our utmost gratitude to the attendees who contributed to such a successful meeting, and shared their experiences and tactics towards creating a future where women of color are prioritized, hired, and advanced in the tech industry.

Sharpening the S in ESG: Bertina Ceccarelli in Forbes | Forbes Business Council

“With investment in ESG set to rise 84% and reach $34 trillion by 2026”; it is beyond evident that we ensure investment in Social impact does not fall behind. If we wish for the companies we support, to in turn support the communities they are in, we must urge them to continue their investment into the S in ESG.”

Hear from NPower CEO ☀️Bertina Ceccarelli as she breaks down different strategies that can be utilized to enhance the investment to social impact within a company’s ESG goals here.

Innovating for Diversity

"Meaningful diversity and equity practices are essential to the success of any organization, and I can think of no better guides through this complex process than Bertina and Susanne. 'Innovating For Diversity' should be on the bookshelf of every manager and business leader in this country. The case studies are unique and illuminating, the advice is practical and adaptable, and readers will no doubt walk away inspired and committed to create work cultures grounded in inclusion." - Dr. Tarika Barrett, Ph.D. , CEO, Girls Who Code

☁️ Susanne Tedrick, "Women of Color in Tech" Author and Command Shift Coalition Member, along with ☀️Bertina Ceccarelli, NPower CEO recently released "Innovating for Diversity". This book is centered around how the principles of innovation can be applied to build sustainable diversity, equity, and inclusion practices embraced at all levels across organizations.

Get Your Copy Today!

NPower & Command Shift in the News

Don’t miss Candice Dixon’s opinion commentary about how Women of Color can close the existing tech-skills gap, if given a competitive chance, published on Technical.ly , here!