Under -represented in technology: the journey to strengthen others

In 2019, Allie Nimmons and Michelle Frechette became tired of people who constantly asked if they knew black people who could speak at events or could become guests on podcasts. So they set out to make a spreadsheet of people they knew in the WordPress room.

But about 20 rows in that Google magazine, they realized that it would be a Herculean attempt to reach each of those people regularly to ensure that they were still available and were interested in contact. There was also no way to take people they didn’t know. And that limiting such an attempt at one group of under -represented people was short -sighted.

So under -represented in technology was born.

In the almost five years since the database was published, the project has grown into a podcast and webinars. There have been racist rants and online attacks, but there have also been gratitude and praise for the work that has been done.

This session will talk about the why, the how and hope associated with under -represented in technology. Participants leave with insight into how each of us can make a difference for diversity, fairness, inclusion and connectedness.