February 2024 Updates
February is an extra special month here at the Foundation. On the 18th, we celebrated what would've been Helen’s 102nd birthday! With over a century of her, and her legacy, we honor her fearlessness and lasting impact on style and feminism. Her journey exemplifies unwavering determination to pursue her dreams, no matter the odds, and continues to resonate deeply.
Within our Empowering the Future vertical, there is exciting movement at our BridgeUP STEM program, located in Atlanta, GA. Applications for the program just closed at the end of February for students to apply to be a part of the new Scholar cohort. Now, The BridgeUP STEM team has the difficult job of narrowing down the applicant pool to make their decision and announce the new Scholars!
The program is open to 10th-12th grade girls and non-binary students, in or around Atlanta, offering strong support and education surrounding Computer Science. Falyssa L., a BridgeUP STEM Scholar, developed her confidence as a woman in STEM by meeting positive role models who gave her hope about her future. Gender and racial parity in STEM fields remains uneven. Encouraging young women and non-binary students to feel confident in pursuing computer science is crucial in shifting the paradigm, which is why we are passionate about empowering this demographic.
“It impacted the way I view tech by showing me that tech can be used to change the world in so many different ways.”
In our Empowering Women vertical, the Alliance Theater’s, “Furlough’s Paradise”, just wrapped its final week of production. The poignant play examines the dynamics that shape our lives and lead us to where we make our homes. With its Artistic Director being BOLD Circle member, Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, it is no surprise that the show was a massive success. It was the winner of the 20th Annual Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwright Competition. BOLD Ventures is so proud to support this project!
BOLD Women’s Leadership Network Scholars at Rutgers attended a candle-making event amidst their midterm season. It was led by Savayra, a Scholar in her junior year, as a part of their ongoing series of student-led initiatives. Participants found inspiration in the creative process, experiencing both relaxation and connection, as they crafted their personalized candles. Scholars also had the opportunity to participate in a ‘Lunch and Learn’ event, where they had lunch with Dr. Butterfield, the executive Vice Chancellor and BOLD Lead. They engaged in transformative conversations and were provided with a platform for intellectual exchange, mentorships, and networking.
In our Empowering Innovation Universe, the Brown Institute is hosting its very own Open Source AI Hackathon! The weekend will be full of ideating and building with open source AI for experiments relating to journalism and civic information. The event will include a mixer and pitch session for groups to come together, a day and a half of working, and will end with final pitches to share.
Finally, our partners at Capital B are celebrating its 2 year anniversary since inception. Each year is a milestone, representing the strides and dedication being made in the name of local news. They continue to tell black stories, empower black reporters and editors, and spur crucial conversations in areas often overlooked. They continue to strengthen and build a community that is so necessary. Congratulations to Capital B!