3 Changemakers That Are Impacting Black Youth
Britney Robbins (The Gray Matter Experience)
Britney Robbins is the Founder and CEO of The Gray Matter Experience. The non-profit organization, founded in 2016, aims to unlock the self-determining power of Black youth and strengthen their ties to the community through real-world experience in entrepreneurship. Britney is passionate about entrepreneurship, education, equity, and youth and believes in empowering others to use their passions and strengths to create opportunities for themselves.
This changemaker is not new to the entrepreneurship and tech scene. For over seven years, she’s worked for some of Chicago's top venture capital firms and incubators including Sandbox Industries, Lightbank, and 1871. Her recognition in the community is remarkable as one of Ariel Investment, BMO Harris, and WVON's 40 Under 40 Gamechangers, Essence Magazine's Woke 100, and a finalist for Ebony Magazine's Power 100 People's Choice Award. She was also named as one of five investees for Goodcity Chicago's Women's Innovation Fund.
Her work through Gray Matter has served over 500 students, taught entrepreneurship in 40 high schools and colleges, launched more than 8 teen-led businesses, and provided over $75,000 in funding and resources for teen entrepreneurs. Gray Matter is seeking to increase its impact and accessibility to Black Youth on a national scale and you can contribute to their mission here.
Kimberly Bryant (Blacks Girls Code)
Kimberly Bryant is the Founder and CEO of Black Girls CODE, which introduces computer coding lessons to young girls (ages 7-17) from underrepresented communities. Since its inception in 2011, the non-profit organization has closed the digital gap by giving underprivileged girls a chance to dominate the increasingly technological world through classes and programs.
Kimberly has been recognized on a national level as a leader for her work to increase opportunities for women and girls in the tech space. She has been recognized by Business Insider on its list of “The 25 Most Influential African-Americans in Technology,” by the White House as a Champion of Change, and received an Ingenuity Award in Social Progress from the Smithsonian Institute.
Her work in tech inclusion and focus on bridging the digital divide for girls of color will develop the tech leaders of tomorrow. Black Girls CODE's ultimate goal is to provide African-American youth with the skills to occupy some of the 1.4 million computing job openings expected to be available in the U.S. by 2020 and to train 1 million girls by 2040. Support their goal here.
Sheri Crawley (Pretty Brown Girl Foundation)
Sheri Crawley founded the Pretty Brown Girl Foundation in 2014 and has since been ranked by NBC News as one of the top seven non-profit organizations dedicated to empowering girls of color. The Pretty Brown Girl Foundation’s mission is to adverse social issues affecting girls of color through self-acceptance and leadership development programs in an atmosphere of celebration, empowering them to fulfill their dreams and promote positive change in their communities.
Sheri began her career by improving business sales; client sales base development, profitability, service and quality for Fortune 500 companies. After 10 years, she decided to make a social impact by developing the Pretty Brown Girl Academy curriculum. The D.R.E.A.M Program is the only national Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program personalized for Black and Brown girls. By building leaders from the inside out, the organization is able to guide girls through a self-discovery journey that inspires confidence, self-love and a passion to pursue their dreams.
Their goal is “to ensure that girls from marginalized communities will not become victims of environmental challenges that are many times exacerbated by bullying, suspension, poverty, single-parent homes, drug abuse, domestic and sexual violence or entering the juvenile justice system”. Find out how you can help make a difference here.