If you’ve attended one of GeekWire’s events, then you may have experienced that resonating moment that brings attendees back for more. Maybe it was making a promising connection that opened new doors, hearing a speaker who sparked a great idea, or finding inspiration in a talk that shone a light on the big picture, helping you regain some perspective that can get lost in day-to-day activities.
Attending an event such as next week’s GeekWire Summit can be entertaining, educational and professionally advantageous. But if you are part of an underrepresented group in the technology community, gaining access might not be so easy. That’s where our Impact Partners program comes in.
Inspired by many of the organizations profiled in GeekWire’s weekly Impact Series, made possible by the Singh Family Foundation, we wanted to engage some of these overlooked groups at our events. Last year, GeekWire provided complimentary passes to five nonprofit organizations promoting inclusion in technology. This year we aim to open the door to more.
We’re doing this with help from the community. We would like to thank Edelman Northwest for joining us as a sponsor of GeekWire Impact Partners, allowing us to make even more complimentary tickets available to the enthusiastic members of the University of Washington Society of Women Engineers (UW SWE), as one of the groups benefiting from this program.
And earlier this year, we welcomed Stripe as a partner for our 2018 Cloud Tech Summit, enabling us to provide 50 scholarship tickets to that event.
We’re striving to have an even greater impact at next week’s Summit — one of the country’s premier technology conferences — but we need your help. If your company is interested in underwriting additional tickets for our Impact Partners, please contact us at events@geekwire.com.
If you’re a non-profit organization or community group that would like to participate, please submit a request for complimentary tickets via this form.
Here’s a little more information on the terrific groups that have already signed on as GeekWire Impact Partners for the 2018 GeekWire Summit:
Technology Access Foundation (TAF)
TAF has been serving students of color for more than two decades through an unusual nonprofit-public school partnership. TAF has its own school (formerly TAF Academy and now called TAF@Saghalie), runs after school programs, trains teachers and is helping establish their STEM-focused program at other public schools. TAF graduates have 100 percent college acceptance rates.
Mission: “TAF aims to equip students of color for success in college and in life through the power of an interdisciplinary STEM education and supportive relationships.”
As seen in GeekWire: TAF coverage is here and here.
University of Washington Society of Women Engineers (UW SWE)
The UW SWE is a local chapter of the nearly 70-year-old program supporting professional engineers and students in science, technology, engineering and math. Their events include presentations by guest speakers, company tours, career fairs, resume critiques and mock interviews.
Mission: “To motivate both women and men to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity.”
Unloop
In partnership with community colleges, Unloop offers coding training in Washington state prisons in order to prepare students for careers in web development. The nonprofit has a mentorship program and professional development workshops to assist people who have left prison in finding employment in technology.
Mission: “Unloop enables people who have been in prison to succeed in careers in tech.”
As seen in GeekWire: Unloop coverage is here and here.
She’s Coding
She’s Coding was developed in cooperation with the 2016 documentary film CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap. The organization provides education and resources for people working to bridge the gender gap in the field of computer science, including women working in tech, girls interested in the field and companies trying to increase diversity.
Mission: “We are community driven. We educate and empower. We are closing the gender gap in tech.”
As seen in GeekWire: She’d Coding coverage is here.
Seattle Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA)
The Seattle chapter of ALPFA launched in 2005 and supports Latino leadership, providing professional and educational opportunities for students and Latino-owned companies.
Missions: “ALPFA is dedicated to transforming lives, creating connections and developing members’ leadership and career skills.”