'Girls In Tech' Launches In Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit women who work in any tech-related industry now have a local organization tailored specifically to them. The recently launched Girls in Tech Detroit is a social network enterprise focused on the engagement, education and empowerment of like-minded, professional, intelligent and influential women in technology.
GIT Detroit focuses on collaboration, promotion, growth and success of women in the technology sector in southeast Michigan. One of GIT Detroit's goals will be to offer a variety of resources and tools for women to supplement and further enhance their professional careers and aspirations in technology.
Plymouth resident Audrey Walker is the managing director of GIT Detroit. Pleasant Ridge resident Nikki Stephan, Troy resident Jenni Murray, White Lake resident Sarah Worsham and Novi resident Trisha Verma join Walker on the GIT Detroit board.
Its first initiative is Laptops for Ladies, a charity laptop drive to support the technology needs of underserved women by supplying them with laptops for the holidays. GIT will give the donated machines to mothers at Lighthouse of Oakland County and girls from the Detroit Public School District via Reality Check Detroit. GIT is collecting the donated laptops at six locations across metro Detroit now through Dec. 6. Mythlogic Computers in Ann Arbor will clean up the laptops before they are delivered to the receiving organizations. Visit www.girlsintechdet.com. for more information and the drop-off location addresses.
GIT is also hosting a launch event Thursday, Nov. 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Sweet Lorraine's in Livonia, 17100 N. Laurel Park Drive. All GIT Detroit events are not women exclusive, so anyone is welcome to attend.
As a front-end developer and digital strategist at Learning A-Z in Ann Arbor, Walker recognized that there were no local organizations that filled the need of reaching out to women in tech.
Said Walker: "Some of our goals as we get this chapter up and running include creating a mentorship program and scholarship, hosting networking events, serving as a support group for women in tech fields and helping to strengthen our local community. We'll also use the national group as a platform to help get the word out about Detroit and our strong tech and digital community."
GIT officials say their organization differs from similar organizations such as the Michigan Council of Women in Technology or the Association for Women in Computing. For one thing, there's no fee to join the organization or attend events. And GIT targets women in all technology related fields, not just high tech industries like engineering or IT -- for example, women who work in social media or online marketing/advertising are part of GIT Detroit's target audience. Also, while they say GIT welcomes and encourages members of all ages to join and attend the events, there is an emphasis on attracting young women in tech professions.
Those interested in joining GIT Detroit can register on the Web site. GIT Detroit also has a Facebook group, LinkedIn group and Twitter page.
For more information about GIT Detroit, visit www.girlsintechdet.com or contact Audrey Walker at audrey@girlsintech.net.
Adriana Gascoigne founded Girls in Tech in San Francisco in February 2007. There are 53 chapters and approximately 12,000 members.
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