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Happy Women’s History Month!

I want to make it a point to utilize the newsletter note this month to occasionally recognize women who have blazed the trail for other women in tech. Because I’m in the mood for riddles, I’ll describe this figure, whether past or present, and allow you to try to guess who it is as you read along. Cool?

Ok, so this first powerful woman in tech was a mathematician and physicist. She often referred to herself and her co-workers as “computers who wore skirts.” Don’t cheat! She was born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. There’s definitely a film produced about her and this is definitely going to give it away but she was played by Taraji P. Henson in a biographical drama film entitled "Hidden Figures."

If you guessed Katherine Johnson, NASA trailblazer, mathematician, and physicist, then you guessed right! For me personally, it’s crucial to acknowledge the contribution of Black women in history, particularly in STEM domains. Recognition can serve as a source of inspiration for the future generation of Black women in technology and can restore their rightful place in history. By honoring these women who played a pivotal role in revolutionizing technology, we can correct the historical record and pay tribute to their transformative contributions that have shaped our present.

Here in Baltimore, we’re making some new strides with our own technologies, which I, as a social designer and fan of solving complex human problems creatively, love! I’m also super curious if any women (besides Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement Director Shantay Jackson) had something to do with this new Public Safety Accountability Dashboard launching, hmm.

People ask leaders in our city every chance they get what they’re doing to prevent violence in the city. I'm just happy to see some accountability for what was listed in the mayor's 2021 violence prevention plan. I'm definitely wondering how many concerned citizens will use this dashboard, but if you’re curious like me, then I've been on the case learning more about this dashboard.

On the Mayor’s Office's website, the dashboard is described as “a data tool designed to provide greater levels of transparency and allow the public to hold agencies accountable for executing agreed-upon strategies and identifying best practices for measuring the effectiveness of the administration’s public safety efforts”. The announcement asserts that the dashboard is to be the first of its kind, providing us all with a real-time look at the numbers that inform the efforts that directly address Baltimore's latest public safety trends.

How do you feel about this dashboard? Do you think it’ll offer real transparency? Let us know by emailing [email protected].