YWCA Evanston/North Shore launches first-ever Women in Tech Council to support new job training initiative
YWCA Evanston/North Shore has announced the formation of its first-ever Women in Tech Council, which will serve as an advisory group to the organization’s new YWeb Career Academy.YWeb Career Academy, which began in January, is YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s high tech job training program in partnership with Oakton Community College. The goal of YWeb is to train women, particularly women of color, so they can enter the tech field as web developers.“We are thrilled to have the Women in Tech Council because they can serve as role models and bridges to the corporate relationships our students need to secure internships and employment in tech,” said Shannon Callahan, director of women’s leadership and economic advancement at YWCA Evanston/North Shore.“The women on the council are passionate about increasing the representation of women of color in tech and helping women achieve family-sustaining employment, which is the goal of the program,” she said. “We’re grateful for their support.”The members of the YWCA Women in Tech Council and their respective companies include:
- Shayna Atkins, AtkCo, Inc.
- Chandra Erdman, Google
- Tiera Gray, Exelon Corporation
- Jennifer Jones, FreeWheel, A Comcast Company
- Armanda Killingham, Exelon Corporation
- Joyce Knauff, Joyce C. Knauff Associates
- Taylor Roper, Google
- Tope Sadiku, The Kraft Heinz Company
- Sarah Van Wart, Northwestern University
- Melanie Wright, NextGroup LLC
YWeb Career Academy, which is supported by a grant from Google.org, is part of YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s ongoing effort to empower women through job training and financial education. In 2019, the organization also launched YW Culinary, a job training program for the food service industry.