National Academies Co-Launch New Action Collaborative To Transform Trajectories For WOC In Tech

The nation’s leading science and education organizations have partnered to launch the Action Collaborative on Transforming Trajectories for Women of Color in Tech, paving the pathway in tech education and careers.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine launched the action collaboratively alongside 35 other institutions representing higher education, national laboratories, and government.

Action Collaborative

The action collaborative is guided by the findings and recommendations from the 2022 consensus report Transforming Trajectories for Women of Color in Tech.

Using an intersectional approach, the collaborative aims to transform the pathways in tech education and careers to ensure sustained resources and opportunities for women. 

Women identifying as African American, Black, Hispanic, Latina, Native American, Asian American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander are the main focus for the action collaborative.

“Women of color face amplified barriers and biases that can impede their progress and limit their opportunities in STEM and in tech,” said Gilda Barabino, chair of the National Academies Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine and president of the Olin College of Engineering.

“Through this effort, we will work together to dismantle these barriers and foster an environment where every woman, regardless of her background, has the chance to thrive and contribute to cutting-edge developments in science and technology.”

What does the action collaborative hope to achieve?

The Action Collaborative is pursuing several goals. These include collaborating with leaders across the research enterprise to establish partnerships and networks.They also aim to have a collection of novel, promising and evidence-based practices.

This involves sharing, compiling, exchanging, and identifying novel approaches, pilot initiatives, and promising practices to support improved recruitment, retention, advancement, inclusion, and belonging of women of color in tech.

The action collaborative also aims to share data collection practices, discuss and advance research priorities, and communicate strategies and resources.

“Changing the culture, climate, norms, and values across the tech ecosystem requires cross-sector engagement and participation,” said Jeena Thomas, director of the Action Collaborative, according to the news release.

“It is with this in mind that we hope more higher education, industry, national laboratories, government, and other organizations join us on this journey.”