Republished from Inside Amazon News
The AWS Inclusive Experiences and Technology (IXT) team recently launched its third annual Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (ID&E) Innovation Fund to unlock new opportunities for AWS builders to support underrepresented groups around the world.
The AWS ID&E Innovation Fund is a micro-grant program that awards funding to employees seeking to transform the lives of individuals, communities, and groups historically underrepresented through projects they are already involved in or new ones they are trying to get off the ground. This year’s ID&E Innovation Fund will provide up to $30,000 for employees to champion change in underrepresented communities.
Nearly 200 employees applied for this year’s ID&E Innovation Fund, and 24 were named as recipients.
“The builders selected this year are eager to join forces with community impact organizations,” said Shyla Martinez, global head of AWS IXT Inclusion in Communities. “We’re inspired by their passion to support others and excited to see what transpires from their projects.”
This year’s recipients are supporting a variety of projects and initiatives this year—some address systemic gaps to basic human needs, like access to water, and others help eliminate barriers to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs for underserved populations, including expanding access to artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI technology.
Through the Innovation Fund, recipient Hye Park, AWS principal solutions architect, is leading an effort as part of the nonprofit Girls in Tech to upskill 60 women in South Korea through generative AI technology training.
“By providing generative AI technology training to women IT professionals, we hope to encourage innovation and empower more diverse perspectives in emerging technologies,” said Hye. “These trainings will arm women with the necessary skills to unlock infinite possibilities and take on leadership roles within our community.”
Maggie Blanchard, AWS sourcing recruiter and one of this year’s recipients, will leverage the Innovation Fund to expand an immersive college-readiness camp in Tennessee as part of Women in Technology of Tennessee (WiTT) for 30 girls, grades 9-12, through a three-month learning program focused on empowering, inspiring, and igniting interest in tech fields while developing the fundamentals of AI..
The original article from Inside Amazon News can be found here.
nonPareil Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission of building better futures for adults with autism. For more information, visit www.npusa.org.