Traveling non-stop looks glamorous for the ‘gram but is trying in real life. With that said, when Black Girl’s CODE, the non-profit empowering young women of color ages 7-17 to embrace the current tech marketplace as builders + creators, called for me to help support their first annual Alumnae Summit, I rebalanced my hectic work and personal schedule. I love BGC, I love what they do and how they do it and I have spent the past 3 years volunteering to help lead the Los Angeles chapter for my daughter and other young girls of color that may possibly change the face of tech and improve technological outcomes for both creators and consumers alike.
The Black Girls CODE alumnae summit brought together an intimate group of young women who are just starting their professional journey. BGC placed them in the room with industry leaders from American Express and exposed them to new hard skills taught by some of the very best management consultants from Accenture.
Black Girls CODE continually provides these ladies with a sense of community often lost when embarking upon college and other professional spaces that, very often, don’t reflect any form of true diversity or representation. It was a beautiful and magical thing born of the hard work and dedication of Kimberly Bryant and the rest of the BGC leadership and team members.
Last week, because of Black Girls CODE, I also attended AfroTech. “AfroTech provides a space for Black tech entrepreneurs, engineers, computer programmers, media moguls and inspiring techies to revel in the accomplishments of African Americans in the technology industry and look toward the future.” Not only was I at one of the premier events for black nerds and leaders, but I also experienced fall in Oakland, which was magical because it gave me the optics of fashionable and creative black folk in fall wear. It was a Pinterest inspiration board waiting to happen and I am so bummed I was so booked and busy that I couldn’t play street photographer and capture all the picturesque magic.
Men’s Fall Fashion 
AfroTech Fashion
I started last week in Florida for my 94-year-old grandfather in law’s funeral and ended in Oakland to witness the start of some incredible young women’s journeys. It was incredibly humbling and edifying. And I am glad I made time for the things I love, even in the midst of busyness and mourning.
Oakland founded Red Bay Coffee 
Red Bay Coffee
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