We're pleased to announce that Google and Microsoft are both offering grant programs to help support travel to conferences including the 2018 ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference.

To help break down the barriers that prevent underrepresented groups in computer science from attending leading tech conferences, Google Travel and Conference Grants are available for selected conferences in Computer Science and related fields. Grants are available in North America for all traditionally underrepresented groups in technology (including, but not limited to, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, persons with disabilities, women and veterans). To learn more go to https://bit.ly/2n4FlOE.  Applications for Tapia grants are due by July 13th.

The Microsoft Diversity Conference Scholarship awards conference scholarships designed to empower the students that study Computer Science and related STEM fields, especially those individuals from backgrounds that may historically have been underrepresented in the technical field. They also prioritize applicants that demonstrate exceptional leadership work in the promotion of diversity in STEM. To learn more go to https://bit.ly/2qXCpn6.  Applications for Microsoft Diversity Conference Scholarship Awards are due May 5th!

Over one hundred women gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, from April 5 - 7, 2018 for the second annual #blackcomputeHER conference.  The conference attendees included students (graduate and undergraduate) and career women (early career through senior-level) in computing careers. Session topics focused on entrepreneurship, career-life balance, technology and social behavior, privacy and security, big data modeling, and digital media strategy. A conference highlight was  a panel discussion titled,   Getting to the C-Suite: What You Need To Know, which featured five black women C-suite executives from ITSMF, HP Inc.  AnitaB.org, Intel, and the Robinson Group Consulting.   Sponsors for this year's conference included HP, Inc., Intel,  AnitaB.org , National Center for Women & Information Technology, Association of Computing Machinery - Women, and the National Science Foundation.

This year also served as the official kickoff for the #blackcomputeHER Fellows program.  This program features a cohort-based, leadership development model designed to provide year-long mentorship, technical training, and leadership development in support of building black women leaders in computing and tech.  In this year's Fellows program, eighteen participants will engage with senior tech executives and develop long-term relationships with professionals in the tech community.  The conference and Fellows program comprise the growing collection of blackcomputeHER activities designed to serve as a platform to support the community of black women and girls in computing and technology through education and professional development initiatives. For more information about the conference, the Fellows program, or their mission visit  blackcomputeHER.org.

Each year during the month of April, individuals and organizations across the globe celebrate Autism Awareness Month with events to educate local communities and raise public awareness about autism. Almost 50 years have passed since the Autism Society held the first National Autism Awareness month in April of 1970. 

Tech companies are recognizing the benefits of hiring for diversity, including neurodiversity.  A group of tech companies including SAP, IBM, JP Morgan Chase, Bloomberg, and Microsoft came together earlier this week to host the Autism at Work Virtual Career Fair. The goal of this event was to connect job candidates with Autism to organizations with #InclusiveHiring programs.