It\u2019s Black History Month in the United States in Canada this February, and we\u2019re reflecting on and honoring the vital contributions of Black Americans and Canadians. This year’s theme, “African Americans and Labor,” emphasizes the invaluable impact and dedication of Black individuals in various industries, so here at Blackbaud, we\u2019re celebrating the impact of Black individuals on progress in tech.<\/p>\n
We asked employees about the figures from Black History who inspire them in their own efforts in tech for social impact.<\/strong><\/p>\n Brock Brown, who supports the Blackbaud Partner Program, finds powerful personal inspiration for his work in tech from his family history: \u201cMy great-grandfather, Ivory Fowler, was a hardworking sharecropper who dreamed of his children attending school full-time, breaking free from the cycle of hardship. I carry [his] legacy and many other African American pioneers daily in the technology space, driving meaningful impact, inspired by his determination to build a better tomorrow for future generations.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Tanya Turschic and Erikca Rouse from Blackbaud\u2019s Customer Success team both named Kymberly Bryant as a modern inspiration. Kymberly Bryant is \u201can electrical engineer, visionary, activist and influential leader in the tech industry. She is Founder and Executive Director of Black Girls CODE, a program dedicated to introducing girls of color to computer programming and creating pathways in STEM,\u201d<\/em> explains Tanya. She represents \u201cresilience, creativity, and brilliance\u201d to Erikca.<\/em><\/p>\n For historical inspiration, \u201cJust watch the film Hidden Figures to see the extraordinary journey of three African American women who worked as mathematicians at NASA in the 60s,\u201d<\/em> says Tanya.<\/p>\n Other employees shared how their own impact is shaped by heroes of Black history. \u201cMy success model reflects the Civil Rights Movement’s broader impact on all minority groups,\u201d<\/em> shares Joseph Harris, who works on Blackbaud\u2019s benefits team. \u201cRecognizing that my work in healthcare and benefits impacts everyone, I address disparities of health.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n For David Benjamin, Chief Commercial Officer, his work in the tech industry is deeply inspired by his parents. \u201cTheir resilience, determination, and belief in creating a better future have shaped my commitment to helping others make an impact.\u201d<\/em> During this month, we celebrate stories like theirs. \u201cStories of overcoming barriers, building legacies that inspire progress and reminding us we are better together.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Throughout the month of February, Blackbaud employees will have the opportunity to participate in special volunteering and learning opportunities for Black History Month.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s Black History Month in North America this February, and we\u2019re reflecting on and honoring the vital contributions of Black Americans and Canadians. This year’s theme, “African Americans and Labor,” emphasizes the invaluable impact and dedication of Black individuals in various industries, so here at Blackbaud, we\u2019re celebrating the impact of Black individuals on progress in tech.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":25957,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"news-category":[481],"news-topic":[],"class_list":["post-25956","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-category-announcements"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n