tech black organization professional technology representation diversity

15 professional organizations focused on diversity in techThe tech industry does not have a reputation for being an inclusive space forBlack, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) working in IT and STEM jobs.While companies have made efforts to increase diversity in tech in the pastfew years, the statistics still paint a grim portrait of the diversity gapthat persists in the tech industry.White people comprise around 68% of the tech industry, far outpacingrepresentation of Asian Americans (14%), Hispanics (8%) and African Americans(7%), according to data from the Diversity in High Tech report published bythe U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. White tech workers alsobenefit from disproportionate representation in executive roles (83%), whileAfrican Americans hold only 2% of tech executive roles and Asian Americanshold around 11%.Despite diversity being a much-discussed topic in the tech industry,representation for BIPOC tech workers is still not where it needs to be. Whilethe current list of professional organizations focused on diversity is short,hopefully emerging conversations about diversity and equality in tech willhelp the list of professional resources grow in the future.Here are 15 professional organizations dedicated to growing representation inthe tech industry through scholarships, training, networking resources andmore.## American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) is a nationalnonprofit organization dedicated to increasing representation of AmericanIndians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, First Nations,and other indigenous peoples of North America in STEM studies and careers. Theorganization offers support to students in STEM programs with scholarships andevents and offers professional development support in addition to career andnetworking opportunities.## Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA)The Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) is an international organizationfounded in 1975 as a network for underrepresented minorities working in the ITand computer science fields. The BDPA organizes technology conferences, localchapter events, continuing education and professional development events,academic scholarships, and mentoring and career opportunities for Black ITprofessionals. The BPDA also organizes community outreach programs forstudents including the Student Information Technology Education andScholarship (SITES), National High School Computer Competitions (HSCC) andYouth Technology Camp (YTC) to increase representation in tech and createpipelines for future talent.## Black & Brown FoundersBlack & Brown Founders is a professional organization for Black and Latinxentrepreneurs to network and learn about startup bootstrapping through onlineresources and events. The goal is to “give entrepreneurs knowledge, tools andcutting-edge tactics to launch startups without relying on venture capital.”Black & Brown Founders was developed after its founder Aniyia Williams sawfirsthand the barriers people of color face when trying to get venturefunding. She wanted to provide a way for founders of color with limitedresources to get the training and resources to support their business idea,helping them grow their businesses without outside funding.## Black Girls CodeBlack Girls Code is an organization dedicated to inspiring young girls fromunderrepresented communities to code to help grow the number of women of colorworking in the tech industry. In Silicon Valley, white households are twice aslikely to have internet access compared to African American households — thisis what Black Girls Code calls the “digital divide.” The organization focuseson bridging this gap by teaching young girls, especially from underprivilegedareas, the early skills they need to get a head start in programming andequipping them with the right tools to learn. While it’s an organizationtargeted at a younger audience, they encourage adult professionals tovolunteer their time to help teach programming skills.## Blacks in Technology (BIT)Blacks in Technology is a global networking platform that is dedicated to“stomping the divide” for Black people in the tech industry by outliningindustry standards for creating a more diverse workplace. BIT offers itsmembers access to a network and community of other professionals withopportunities for mentorship, including 14 local chapters across the U.S.Members also get access to resources and guidance to foster diversity andrepresentation in the tech industry.## CODE2040CODE2040 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to “activating, connecting andmobilizing the largest racial equity community in tech to dismantle thestructural barriers that prevent the full participation and leadership ofBlack and Latinx technologists in the innovation economy.” The organizationachieves this through events, training, early-career programs and knowledgesharing to ensure Black and Latinx technologists have the tools and network toenable racial equity throughout the tech industry.## DigitalUndivided (DID)DigitalUndivided (DID) is an organization focused on fostering moreinclusivity in entrepreneurship by empowering Black and Latinx womenentrepreneurs. It started as a conference for Black women founders in tech,which led to it growing into a Focus Fellow (FF) program and eventually itturned into an eight-week virtual accelerator program. And they didn’t stopthere — DID later took on research projects that uncovered how Black andLatinx female founders receive less than 0.2% of all venture funding. Afterthe report was released, the number of startups led by Black women tripled andfunding increased 500%. DID has since continued to expand its offering ofprograms, initiatives and research to uplift Black and Latinx female foundersin tech.## Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF)The Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) offers career-advancing programs for Black IT professionals. The ITSMF was formed in 1996 bya group of technology executives who wanted to improve diversity in thetechnology industry all the way to the executive level. The mission of theITSMF is to “increase the representation of black professionals at seniorlevels in technology, to impact organizational innovation and growth.” TheITSMF offers programs for executives, managers, and an “emerge” programspecifically designed for increasing the representation of women of color atsenior levels in the technology industry.## National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME)The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) is aprofessional organization for underrepresented minorities working inengineering and STEM roles. NACME provides college scholarships forunderrepresented minorities who are interested in pursuing a degree in STEM.The goal is to increase representation of BIPOC in tech by providingscholarships, resources and opportunities for “high-achieving,underrepresented minority college students pursuing careers in engineering andcomputer science.” NACME’s focus is on helping students become qualifiedcandidates for in-demand tech jobs.## National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is a student-governedorganization with 500 chapters and nearly 16,000 active members in the U.S.and abroad. The nonprofit organization comprises collegiate and pre-collegiatestudents and technical professionals in engineering and technology. Themission of the NSBE is “to increase the number of culturally responsible Blackengineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impactthe community,” according to the website.## The Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network (NTEN)The Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network (NTEN) mission is to help create aworld where “nonprofits fulfill their missions through the skillful andracially equitable use of technology.” NTEN offers professional credentialsand training as well as community skill and resource sharing for the nonprofitcommunity. The organization is openly committed to antiracism and aims toadvance equity by dismantling systems of oppression. They acknowledge the workthat needs to be done in becoming an antiracist organization and that itrequires a continued commitment to listening and learning. NTEN offers adigital equity professional certificate and a digital inclusion fellowshipalong with other programs designed to help improve diversity, equity andinclusion (DEI) in the tech industry.## Opportunity Hub (OHUB)The Opportunity Hub (OHUB) was founded as a “technology, startup and ventureecosystem building platform” to ensure that everyone has “equitable access tothe future of work” and to create pathways to “multigenerational wealthcreation with no reliance on pre-existing multigenerational wealth.” Theorganization is dedicated to providing skills development, early techexposure, job placement, entrepreneurship support program, new job creation,and alternative capital formation for college students, young professionals,founders and investors nationwide.## Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans inScience (SACNAS)The Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans inScience (SACNAS) is an “inclusive organization dedicated to fostering thesuccess of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans, from college students toprofessionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers and positions ofleadership in STEM.” The organization has more than 8,000 members and hastrained over 300 leaders sine 2009 — they offer conferences, regionalmeetings, webinars, leadership programs and professional programs to members.## Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) was started in a garagein 1974 by a group of Hispanic engineers who experienced the barriers theHispanic community face when embarking on career path in tech spaces that lackdiversity. Rodrigo Garcia started the organization after realizing that atwork, he found himself as “a brown face in a sea of white,” and noticed thestark contrast in diversity to his own Los Angeles neighborhood. Theorganization has since grown into a nationwide professional associationboasting more than 11,000 members and 375 college and university chapters.## Wonder Women TechThe mission of Wonder Women Tech is to “highlight, celebrate, educate andamplify” women, BIPOC and underrepresented groups in high-tech fields. Thenonprofit organization offers programs, conferences, workshops, career fairsand a robust online community for networking and mentorship opportunities.Wonder Women Tech aims to highlight women and underrepresented communities whomake an impact in STEM and the arts. They also offer a series of inclusive andaccessible workshops and camps for deaf, disabled, seniors and underservedyouth.