We recently had a member who requested to close their membership with BGH, be removed from all emails and removed from teams. We of course granted the request but I later found out that the person left the organization because they were in one of our training programs and had failed one of their exams. Rather than have the conversation that they had failed the exam they chose instead to bolt.

While I respect everyone's right to leave the organization if they so choose, please know that that person was not the first, nor will they be the last, to fail an exam. We've had people who have failed an exam multiple times and we typically will pay for the retake (at least the first one). I pride myself on the fact thatBlackGirlsHack / BGH Foundationis a welcoming and supportive community and while we 100% celebrate the wins, we also 100% will not and do not alienate you if you fail.

We have instructors that we contract to provide specialized attention to those having difficulty passing an exams and I know I've worked personally with folks, as has my team, who are having challenges. I'm sad that that person chose to exit rather than have a difficult conversation but for everyone else, please know that our community provides support and services to help people achieve their goals.

Most people fail exams at some point in their lives, I know I've failed many but the only real defeat is not getting back up and trying again. So for everyone else, this is your reminder not to quit.

Training update for BlackGirlsHack / BGH Foundation

As many of our training programs have reached the half way point in their programs we have received an abundance of feedback from our program participants that the programs require too much of a long term commitment in their lives. As one of our leaders put it, 18 months is a masters degree and not everyone can commit that amount of time consecutively. To allow for greater flexibility with our training programs we have divided them up into smaller chunks that do not need to be taken consecutively. Each program (named 102-104) takes between 3 months and a year (we are giving a longer time for exams like the OSCP which require more studying). We will start the training programs at the same time and transition from one exam at the same time across programs giving us greater flexibility in combining the earlier levels of the cohorts. We hope that this will make our training options available for a larger amount of people to help truly meet them where they are with the flexibility to pivot and live life.

All participants in our training programs (which are currently open to US residents) require completion of a RangeForce assessment and either the Grow with Google on CourseraorISC2Certified in Cybersecurity (A higher level certification demonstration cybersecurity foundational knowledge will be accepted). Our BGH Training Programs are subject to funding availability (We're fundraising for next year's events athttps://lnkd.in/eQ_e8NXT) and are open to BGH members only. There is an interest list available for BGH members on the BGH Events Page (https://lnkd.in/eg7aagmR) We've also allowed students to swap out the eJPT byINE Security (FKA eLearnSecurity)for the PJPT byTCM Security and vice versa. Our Cloud programs sponsored by Amazon Google and Microsoft have remained the same.

You can check out the updates to our existing programming and those that are on the roadmap for 2025 (Like GRC and Artificial Intelligence Training Programs) at https://lnkd.in/ePed9At3

In conversation at the end of a meeting, we discovered that one of the digits on the BlackGirlsHack leadership hand was a green thumb. April Richardson, our Deputy Chief Technology Officer, excitedly gave details on her latest project. Glowing as she discussed what she was growing, I was inspired by her passion and intrigued by the parallels to cyber. We asked and she graciously accepted to be interviewed and share her story with the squad. Please read the questions and responses below to learn more. - Rebekah Skeete

Professional Journey: Can you share with us your journey in the technology field and what inspired you to pursue this career path?

April: I started working on my associates degree in technology a few years after high school. Working my way up to a Master’s in Information Technology & Management with a concentration in Cybersecurity. I’ve had 13 years of working in this fast paced ever changing industry. Looking back, hindsight is 20/20, I see pivotal moments in my life that put me on this path, from my dad purchasing the first PC in my family, a Tandy 3000, and me trying figure out how to get on this “internet” everyone was talking about by connecting the telephone cord to the PC, playing with PCs and Barbie software and webtv in middle school, to meeting my boyfriend at the time, now husband, who knew about building PCs part by part, this and several other moments sparked my interest and lead me to technology. 

Passion for Gardening: How did you discover your passion for gardening, and how do you balance it with your demanding tech career?

April: I've always liked playing in the dirt. Being around my grandmother, I would always be in somebody's garden gathering food. It’s very interesting to see a tiny seed grow and later provide so much nourishment, and still very fun to play in the dirt. I’m still finding the balance between the two, but gardening helps to release the stress and anxiety that my tech career may bring. I guess gardening helps me recenter, to be a better tech professional.    

Gardening and Tech Synergy: Do you find any parallels between your work in technology and your gardening hobby?

April: Yes. Anyone in technology will understand planning and design, problem solving and especially continuous learning, just to say a few. It’s all the same for gardening, you have to plan and design your garden for what you want to eat, for the positioning of the sun, plants that want different levels of moisture or nutrients. Problem solving if plants look unhealthy, and always learning about new techniques, or even learning about new plants that I haven’t ever grown.We talk of the deadlines in tech, it's the same in gardening, if you missed a certain timing with the weather it could make or break the opportunities you have to grow and enjoy certain fruits and veggies. It's many parallels between technology and gardening.  

Impact on Well-being: In what ways has gardening impacted your well-being and productivity at work?

April: It’s been able to help calm anxiety and stress of the tech grind. Gardening has been an escape at times, it helps me reset and gain clarity with issues I’m dealing with at work. Gardening is my real passion.  

Favorite Gardening Project: What has been your most rewarding gardening project to date, and why?

April: Really, starting to garden has been the most rewarding project. Also, expanding my garden to include more garden beds, adding more fruit trees, perennials, and starting a Youtube channel to step out of my comfort zone to share my growth and mistakes with people has been rewarding. I’m still amazed how plants grow, I love to cook and eat them, and love to share it with others.    

Tech in the Garden: Have you incorporated any technological innovations into your gardening routine?

April: Yes. Scheduling planting times and plant spacing with apps that are available has been the most fun tech innovations I’ve included in my gardening journey, also utilizing watering gadgets to automatically water my garden helps me to conserve water.  

Community Involvement: Do you share your gardening interest with your colleagues or community? If so, how?

April: I do, especially my harvests. My great aunt and cousin have been my gardening companions, helping me, learning together, sharing our finds and gardening gems. My husband is becoming the tree guru, learning how to take care of the trees we plant. I definitely follow many professional and novice gardener’s on Youtube and other social media platforms to connect, learn, and share. I hope to start a small seed exchange with some people in my area soon.    

Sustainability Practices: How do you incorporate sustainability practices into your gardening, and do you see any crossover with sustainability in tech?

April: Yes, this is one of my favorite topics in gardening. It’s several sustainable practices that I utilize in my garden, from composting, rainwater collection, conserving water, native and non-invasive planting for my area, and using organic products. There are crossovers with tech, used to become more efficient in gardening, such as tech to help reduce water consumption, or lighting meters to assist with proper plant placement. I’m growing to have the understanding that creating an ecosystem that supports all of nature creates the best harvest.  

Advice for Aspiring Gardeners: What advice would you give to someone in the tech industry looking to start gardening as a hobby?

April: I would give the advice to find something that you like to eat, buy the seeds or the plant and some potting soil from your local box store, grocery store, or anywhere that sells these things and just plant it, see how it grows, watch, learn, and see how you grow! 

Future Aspirations: Looking ahead, what are your aspirations both in the field of technology and within your gardening endeavors?

April: I’m looking to grow my technology career more in cybersecurity, AI, and Cloud. My goal is to utilize the money and knowledge from my tech career to expand my gardening endeavors, which will include more technology used in my gardening projects, especially AI, to help me grow and expand while I balance the two paths. 

BlackGirlsHack presents SquadCon ‘24: Play to Win

GHV in 2022, and now we are back again!

August 7-8 | Las Vegas at The Industrial

Welcome event on August 6 – Game Night

August 7-8 Las Vegas Conference Caps BlackHat 2024; Register Today; Sponsored by Microsoft and BlackGirlsHack (BGH) Foundation, SquadCon Promotes Ways to Improve Diversity in Cybersecurity

FREDRICKSBURG, VA, April 24, 2024 – The highly anticipated SquadCon is back, and it’s bigger, bolder, and more secure than ever! After a successful inaugural event last year, we are excited to announce the second edition of this premier cybersecurity gathering. SquadCon 2024: Play to Win promises to be a must-attend event for professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts.

SquadCon continues to bring a wealth of experience, perspectives, stories, and knowledge from professionals at all career levels. We can't wait to start announcing the outstanding line-up of speakers and topics we'll bring to SquadCon 2024. As Tennisha Martin, the Chair of BlackGirlsHack, aptly stated, "We started SquadCon to create a space for underrepresented communities that felt 'othered' in existing cybersecurity conferences but SquadCon is more than that. With the support of our sponsors and our community, SquadCon 2024, our third conference represents what the cybersecurity industry should be. SquadCon provides representation, visibility, and networking opportunities, along with a breadth of perspectives that can only be achieved by bringing diverse minds together to discuss diverse topics."

Conference Highlights:

Call for Papers (CFP) Now Open! We invite cybersecurity experts, thought leaders and practitioners to submit their groundbreaking research, case studies, and innovative ideas. Share your insights with a global audience!  

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

• Threat intelligence

• Incident response

• Cloud Security

• IoT security

• Ethical hacking

• Privacy and Compliance

Submit your proposals by midnight on June 30, 2024,at www.SquadCon.me.

2. Sponsorship Opportunities:

• SquadCon 2024 offers unique sponsorship packages for organizations looking to showcase their products and services.

• Gain visibility among industry leaders, connect with potential clients, and demonstrate your commitment to cybersecurity excellence.

• Contact Tennisha Martin at tennisha@blackgirlshack.org. to explore tailored sponsorship options.

3. Keynote Speakers:
Stay tuned for announcements regarding our lineup of distinguished keynote speakers. We’ve secured top experts from government agencies, private sector firms, and academia.

4. Hands-On Workshops and Training:

• Enhance your skills with practical workshops led by seasoned professionals.

• Topics include penetration testing, secure coding, threat hunting, and more.

5. Networking Opportunities:

• Connect with fellow attendees, industry influencers, and potential collaborators.

• Attend our evening receptions, breakout sessions, and interactive panels.

What: SquadCon

Where: The Industrial Event Space | 2330 S Industrial Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89102 

When: August 7-8 at 9am-5pm | Welcome Event - August 6 at 5:30 pm| Party - August 7 at 8pm-12am 

Details: Tickets can be purchased at SquadCon.me. Early registration ends on April 30, 2024.

Media Registration can be completed at bgh.mobi/tickets

Press: Email tammy@blackgirlshack.org for registration code

(Please provide recent bylines with your media organization)

About BlackGirlsHack

BlackGirlsHack Foundation (BGH Foundation, EIN 85-3683902) is a registered non-profit organization in the state of Virginia with a 501(c)(3) designation. It is a training-focused organization created to increase diversity in cybersecurity by bridging the gap between what is taught in educational institutions and what is necessary for careers in cybersecurity. 

The mission of the BGH Foundation is to increase representation and empower Black girls and women in the field of information security and cyber security through skills training, mentoring, resume review, and access to low-cost resources in an inclusive environment. The vision for Black Girls Hack (BGH) is to provide resources, training, mentoring, and access to black girls and women and increase representation and diversity in cybersecurity and executive suites.

About SquadCon:
SquadCon is an independent conference event in Las Vegas during Hacker Summer Camp scheduled for August 7-8^th. Run by the creators of Girls Hack Village, SquadCon exists to help foster diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity.  Sponsors include Microsoft, Adobe, and Carnegie Mellon.  Additional sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Tennisha Martin at tennisha@blackgirlshack.org. 

Get Involved:
Visit our website: www.BlackGirlsHack.org
Follow us on Twitter: @_SquadCon

Join the conversation: #SquadCon2024

For media inquiries, please contact:
Rebekah Skeete

Chief Operating Officer

Email: rebekah@blackgirlshack.org 

Phone: (817) 443-1157

Note to Editors: High-resolution images and logos are available upon request.
SquadCon 2024: Play to Win is organized by BlackGirlsHack and supported by leading industry partners.

Disclaimer:This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of any products, services, or claims made by the conference organizers or sponsors.

# # #

Media Contact:Dan Chmielewski

Madison Alexander PR

949-231-2965

dchm@madisonalexanderpr.com

As a nonprofit, our success depends on us being able to fulfill our mission which is to increase representation end empower underrepresented groups in information security and cyber through skills training and access to low-cost resources in an inclusive environment.

Low cost at BlackGirlsHack has historically meant free. We've trained thousands of humans in a wide variety of topics, and for our training programs and study groups there has never been a cost.

Until now.

Anyone who works in the nonprofit world knows how hard it is to do the work we do, especially with limited resources. I started BGH to help reduce the financial barriers to entry because there should not be a cost that keeps you from achieving your full potential (or world domination). Unfortunately we occasionally have people who take advantage of "free" by signing up for things that they never complete which not only has a monetary cost, but an impact and opportunity cost as well.

The fact is that people do not value the time and effort that is put in while the resources are free. That combined with a reduction in donations have led us as an organization to move towards a model where there are nominal costs associated with the programs; especially the ones that we have to pay out of pocket to provide.

So if you're on our newsletter mailing list or regularly check out our events page for our latest offerings, you'll notice things start to pop up with pricing involved. This does not impact the people who are in our Red and Cloud based cohorts that are in flight. They can tell our new members about how "back in their day" they were able to get 6-8 industry certifications at no cost.

BlackGirlsHack Partners with EC-Council to Bring CTF Hackathon to BSidesMKE

April 3, 2024 BSides Milwaukee; Register Today; Sponsored By EC-Council and BlackGirlsHack (BGH) Foundation

FREDRICKSBURG, VA, April 1 , 2023 – BlackGirlsHack has partnered with EC-Council to bring a Capture the Flag (CTF)/Hackathon to the BSides Milwaukee cybersecurity conference. The CTF which will include 30 beginner and 30 intermediate level players, is a multiplayer competition which provides challenges for both beginner and intermediate level players. With Guided challenges for beginners, and unguided challenges for intermediate players, the CTF has something for players at every level. First through third place winners of the CTF will be awarded prices including training and vouchers for EC-Council exams for both the beginner and the intermediate level.

“Hackers that are new or early in their careers are often not comfortable joining Capture the Flag competitions because they think they don’t know enough,” said Tennisha Martin, founder and chair for BlackGirlsHack. “Through our partnership with EC-Council, our CTF provides real world scenarios for hand-on training, problem solving and technical skill development, and teamwork and collaboration. Participating in CTFs are great for helping new hackers to identify areas within cybersecurity that they have an interest in and it gamifies the learning of ethical hacking.”

BSidesMKE is a cybersecurity conference is a cybersecurity conference that started in 2023 to bring community and networking to the southeastern Milwaukee area. BSides MKE provides an opportunity for cybersecurity enthusiasts to gather to share knowledge, collaborate, and advance the field.

What: BlackGirlsHack x EC-Council CTF at BSides MKE

Where: Irish Cultural & Heritage Center of Wisconsin | 2133 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233 When: April 3rd, 2024 at 12pm-3pm | Awards – 2:45pm CST

Details: Tickets can be purchased here: https://buy.stripe.com/6oE2aqaXN88M6e46op

About EC-Council Academia

EC-Council, the inventor of Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification course and exam, has a mission to provide Cybersecurity education and certifications to students across the world to prepare them for their future careers. Founded in 2001, EC-Council offers over 200 different training programs and certifications – ranging from End-user Security to highly technical Penetration Testing to Information Security Management, and many other tactical courses. Recognized under the US Department of Defense 8140/8570 and ISO/IEC 17024 Accredited Organization, EC-Council holds these and many other distinctions and accreditations by prestigious agencies worldwide – making EC-Council’s certification programs highly desirable and valued within the cybersecurity global communities.

The EC-Council Academia partner program offers free partnership opportunities to academic institutions globally. These partnerships establish cybersecurity ecosystems through education that support students, alumni, faculty, employees, and the local communities at large. Through established partnerships, academic institutions can access extensive discounts on learning resources, technologies, and certifications, offering students opportunities to obtain stackable credentials to become more competitive as they enter the workforce. The program also focuses on initiating faculty development, scholarships, and cyber competitions. To date, EC-Council supports upwards of 2,000 education networks and institutions globally. EC-Council Academia works with academic institutions at all levels, including 175 National Centers of Academic Excellences (N-CAEs) as designated by the National Security Agency, contributing to certify tens of thousands of students annually with industry-leading credentials. For more information on EC-Council Academia, please visit www.eccouncil.org/academia

About BlackGirlsHack

BlackGirlsHack Foundation (BGH Foundation, EIN 3683902) is a registered non-profit organization in the state of Virginia with a 501(c)(3) designation. They are a training-focused organization that was created to help increase diversity in cybersecurity by helping to bridge the gap between what is taught in educational institutions and what is necessary for careers in cybersecurity.

The mission of the BGH Foundation is to increase representation and empower Black girls and women in the field of information security and cyber security through skills training, mentoring, resume review, and access to low-cost resources in an inclusive environment. The vision for Black Girls Hack (BGH) is to provide resources, training, mentoring, and access to black girls and women and increase representation and diversity in cybersecurity and executive suites.

From the desk of Tennisha Martin, the human:

All the tears . For the first time in over 4 years I handed the reins to BlackGirlsHack over to someone else. As I've mentioned in my #martinminutes the past few weeks I'll be having surgery next week and will be out out office for at least a month. The best part of this is that I do it knowing that BGH is in great hands with Rebekah Skeete . I've always told people that running *arguably the best* cybersecurity training nonprofit was something I do not do alone. It takes an amazing group of people who volunteer their skills, talents and time to help us to be able to do what we do.

While many nonprofits have paid staff, my team does this as a labor of love, but I'm 100% positive that they wouldn't mind actually being compensated for their time. I'm working with our Chief Development Officer Ryan Richard who we announced earlier this month, to apply to more grants that cover not just our amazing training but also our operations. My goal this year is to get my team paid so if you know of any grants that help support the operations to keep doing the work we do, we'd love to hear about them.

As we kick off our fundraising push this month for #BlackHistoryMonth and #WomensHistoryMonth I'm excited to announce that BlackGirlsHack has achieved its GuideStar/ Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency designation for 2024!!! The Platinum Seal of Transparency is the highest level of recognition offered by Guidestar and is just another way that we separate ourselves from the pack in terms of impact and transparency. The Platinum seal of trust means that BGH Foundation shares our strategies, goals, capabilities, impact, and most importantly, our progress! What's more impressive to me is that BGH does this while spending 87% of our revenue in support of our Mission.

With over 2k members, 100 volunteers, and the trust and support of many of your faves, the work that we do both as a training organization and a cybersecurity conference series that is inclusive and open to all is nothing short amazing. (Presale tickets for SquadCon are up on our website events page nowwww!!!)

My OOO kicks off Monday morning but look at me, look at me, Bek is the captain now!!! World domination continues and hopefully with your support. Check out our Guidestar profile and consider donating to help us increase representation and empower underrepresented communities in technology and cybersecurity.

As I focus on my recovery and health for the next month, I know that "my baby" is in excellent hands. Until then,

Yours in service,

Mother of Hackers

https://lnkd.in/eYbBFPSS

https://lnkd.in/gYbwt3AP

#blackgirlshack #blackintech #blacksincyber #squad #nonprofit #worlddomination #blkwicc The Black Women in Cyber Collective Girls Hack Village / SquadCon BGH Security Corporation #squadcon Tanisha O'Donoghue Alshlon Banks, MIS Aleise McGowan, Ph.D.Eric Martin Travis Mayfield

What’s up squad, as some of you may or may not know I started a doctorate program at the beginning of this semester so I’m about two courses down towards Doctor Martin. So I’m doing my doctorate in cybersecurity with a focus on cybersecurity education and artificial intelligence because these are a couple of areas where I feel need the most in terms of research to be a net positive impact on the black community in the future.

So on January 23^rd the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, launched an AI Risk Management Framework. So you’ve probably heard about the Risk Management framework 800-53 but this is a specific framework for AI. SO here are the key takeaways.

The NIST AI RMF is a framework to better manage risks to individuals, organizations, and society associated with Artificial Intelligence. The Framework is intended to help add trustworthiness into the design, development, use and evaluation of AI products, services and systems.

So you may be saying, well tennisha, another risk management framework, why is this newsworthy. It’s newsworthy because in press release the press release acknowledges something that many frameworks don’t, and that is the negative impacts to individuals, groups, communities, organizations and society.

Thre framework is divided into two parts, the first which is included to help frame the risks and outline the characteristics of trustworthy AI systems, and the second is your standard risk management framework boiler plate: govern map, measure, and manage.

So what they’re not saying, is that the bias that exists AI systems can cause discrimination and bias that may be intractable. The National Fair Housing Alliance points this out with respect to housing discrimination. What’s missing from the statements collected from the private and sector, is the explicit mention of how bias within AI impacts women, specifically women of color. A new York times article release in July stated that AI systems used to generate pictures amplified stereotypes about race and gender and perpetuated a bias that people with lighter skin tones hold higher paying jobs with darker skin tones labeled as dishwasher and housekeeper.

It's giving very much the help. So this framework is notable because they’ve included a whole part of the framework to analyzing and framing the risks associated with biases such as these that often are trained on systems with inherent bias. This is a field to look out for in 2024, especially when the OpenAI reunion pics on twitter last week were super white. My money is on a diversity driven hiring focus within the AI space in the near future. CITATION NIS231 \l 1033  (NIST, 2023)

 BIBLIOGRAPHY NIST. (2023, January 26). NIST Risk Management Framework Aims to Improve Trustworthiness of Artificial Intelligence. Retrieved from NIST.gov: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2023/01/nist-risk-management-framework-aims-improve-trustworthiness-artificial

Pre-sale Tickets available until December 31, 2023

SquadCon is a two-day conference that seeks to bring gender diverse perspectives of the contributions, experiences, and issues facing the industry's other. Hackers that are new or from underrepresented communities may not often feel comfortable in existing conferences. SquadCon is a forum for conversations about topics that impact girls, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals, including mental health and all the factors that shape the experiences of marginalized groups in the industry. SquadCon is a cybersecurity conference that will include talks, labs, workshops, discussions, CTFs and panels to move towards our mission of improving diversity in ethical hacking.

SquadCon is an independent conference event in Las Vegas during Hacker Summer Camp scheduled for August 7-8th with a kick off event August 6th. It is run by the makers of Girls Hack Village (BlackGirlsHack and BGH Foundation) and exists to help foster diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity.

Pre-Sale tickets are on sale now!

https://www.blackgirlshack.org/events