EDequity Global AWS Global Innovation Summit
[i]“In the face of the global COVID crises, how do we put the women and people who have suffered the largest economic effects at the center of recovery efforts and work toward fixing long-standing inequalities, by leveraging technology?” [/i]Shauna Ruyle, Founder & Executive Director, EDequity Global

Facing recovery from a global economic crisis, high unemployment, increased poverty, stagnating income growth, lowered GDP, and community college enrollment plummeting (in California, USA), is important to understand the different ways that technology is changing the world of work and how together we can stimulate inclusive economic growth through education. Hence, Edequity Global with the support of 30+ sponsors and partners including AWS, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Google, Netflix, ThingLogix, African Leadership University, California State University Office of the Chancellor, The Basement UCSD, Southwestern College, and more – has taken the bull by the horns to equip women, underserved young graduates and entrepreneurs in communities across the globe with 21st century cloud skills at the ‘21 Global Amazon Alexa Skills Challenge.

The ‘21 Global Amazon Alexa SkilIs Challenge received over 300 registrants from across the globe with 46 women, marginalized college/university student and entrepreneur graduates coming from 6 countries (over 70% participants from Nigeria, then USA, India, Kenya, Brazil and Mexico). These impressive alumni completed the 5-week AI primer, formed teams and built innovative Alexa Skills to address one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

‘21 Global Innovation Summit
Register for the 2-Day Virtual Global Innovation Summit
EDequity Global has organized the 2-Day Virtual Global Innovation Summit as an exciting “finale event’ and celebration to showcase graduate technology solutions to global problems, leveraging AWS. Business leaders, educators, nonprofits and civic leaders from the US and across the globe will join three leadership round tables to discuss the most pressing political, economic, environmental and human rights issues facing this generation today.

Highlights
• 3 trail-blazing keynotes including:
o London Bell, 2020 African Descent Fellow, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, NGO Committee on the Status of Women, Founder and President Bell Global Justice Institute
o 2 additional keynotes – to be announced
• 17 global leaders
• 3 leadership roundtable discussions
• 8 international team fast-pitch demos
• 6 tech all-star judges
• 20 AWS scholarships awarded
• 350+ attendees
• 30+ partners

AWS Demo Day
April 17, 7-11am US Pacific Time / 3-7pm West Africa Time
Following the 5-week artificial intelligence (AI) primer and project submissions, 8 teams will be invited to deliver their fast-pitch demos on AWS Demo Day, April 17, 2021 at the Global Innovation Summit for a chance to win scholarships toward AWS training & certification! Participants from 6 countries
including (Nigeria, USA, India, Kenya, Brazil and Mexico) will present their Alexa skill solutions to global problems in a fun, interactive livestream format.
Leadership Roundtable Discussions
April 28, 7am-2pm US Pacific Time / 3-10pm West Africa Time
The leadership round table discussions will center around three important themes:

READ ALSO: Global Amazon Alexa Skills Challenge 2021: EDequity Global Registers Over 300 Youth Across the Globe

Driving economic innovation in underserved communities through Digital Skills Development. Specifically, what are the workforce strategies, policies and initiatives needed to accelerate the adoption of digital learning and innovation? How can companies and governments collaborate with educators to prepare students for the future of work and entrepreneurship?
The Future of Democracy through Digital Cooperation, Digital Trust, Security and Sustainability
Embracing Data Ethics as an Essential Part of Business Strategy
This will bring to light the unlimited possibilities within AI/ML as a meaningful tool for improving people’s lives and solving some of society’s biggest challenges – addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. In the face of the global COVID crises, how do we build back better with sustainable growth, and a more equitable, just, inclusive society, by leveraging untapped human capital and technology?
Annual Global AWS AI Challenge
Launched in 2019, the annual Global AWS AI Challenge has the potential to reach millions of marginalized women, underserved higher ed students and entrepreneurs through EDequity Global’s education and corporate partners. It is our goal to provide beginner-level builders with free cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) education, live mentoring/coaching, access to scholarships, apprenticeships, job opportunities, startup accelerators, funding and more –from Africa to Latin America to the U.S.A.

Alumni Spotlight
Emeosongwu Arujeju stated “The Global Alexa Skills Challenge is a platform I recommend to fellow Nigerians any time any day!”
Omotayo Gbolahan said, “EDequity Global is a program that has helped to collaborate virtually with participants across the globe while offering a lasting solution to social problems. I also recommend this program to anyone who is looking to hone their skills for astronomical growth and interact with people of diverse cultures in the world.”

About We Connect The Dots and EDequity Global
We Connect the Dots, a non-profit educational organization founded by Laurie Carey in 2013, seeks to use learning and coaching models to create positive outcomes across education and professional development communities and provide engaging learning experiences. We Connect the Dots exists in-concert with Ms. Carey’s for-profit entity, Nebula Academy (a D.B.A. of Laurie Carey Consulting).
Nebula Academy’s mission is to use cognitive learning and coaching models to create positive outcomes across education and professional development communities, where technology is used as a tool for supporting productive and engaging learning experiences. http://www.we-connect-thedots.org. EDequity Global, is a brand within the WCTD organization, founded by Shauna Oenning Ruyle in 2019, EDequity.Global is a global coalition of partners advancing cloud education and economic equity for women and BIPOC youth leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS). www.edequity.global.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/01/global-amazon-alexa-skills-challenge-2021-edequity-global-300-youth.html