ALD09post

[sunlit_music]

The woman I'm going to post about here is Anita Brown. You can read more about her at: http://www.girlgeeks.org/innergeek/inspiringwomen/abrown.shtmlAnita Brown is founder and chairman of Black Geeks Online, a nonprofit community organization based on the Internet. This movement was created by Ms. Brown in 1995, as she was concerned that people of culturally diverse backgrounds would be ignored in progresses in using the Net. What's more, she's in her sixties, proving that you're never too old to be tech savvy.

For five years she has honed the  "Miss DC" and "Black Geeks" brands. Black Geeks Online has provided great information for and promoted black online Net entrepreneurs and community tech leaders.

At an interview you can read at: http://www.girlgeeks.org/chat/abrown.shtml Brown describes the purpose of BlackGeeks Online (following text is a quote from Brown): "We're a grassroots organization committed to (1) linking tech-savvy African Americans online to encourage volunteerism and (2) to sponsor technology awareness events in urban communities to expose kids and adults to IT. We are an OFFline and an ONline organization."


From 18 charter members in 1996, Black Geeks Online has grown to more than 25,000 registered members in November 1999.

 

Through its offline program, "Taking IT to the Streets," the members demonstrate culturally-sensitive ways to bridge the "digital divide." They set up cyberlabs in the 'hood, share success stories, and encourage people of color to train for IT careers and/or business ownership. Their widely forwarded Heads-UP email bulletins serve as an information clearinghouse and cheering section for Black technologists, netpreneurs, and community tech leaders.