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

We came, we conquered, we showed we #conDifferently

SquadCon 2023 was a great success. Our Inaugural conference had 306 attendees and volunteers and over 30 diverse speakers. Keynoted by the incomparable Camille Stewart Gloster, Jen Easterly and Marcus J Carey, SquadCon 2023 was a 3 day conference full of amazing moments, cutting edge talks, and amazing people. Check out the recaps on our YouTube page: Here

ThriveDX Partners with BlackGirlsHack to Launch BlackGirlsHack Scholars Program

NEWS PROVIDED BY

ThriveDX 

25 Jul, 2023, 09:00 ET

•  Cyber Training and Awareness Company Joins Forces with Virginia-Based Non-Profit to Increase Access to Cybersecurity Training to Help Individuals Enter Workforce

MIAMI, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ThriveDX, the global leader in cybersecurity skills training, is excited to announce the launch of The ThriveDX BlackGirlsHack Scholars Program, which will provide 25 learners from BlackGirlsHack with full tuition and fees for the ThriveDX Cybersecurity Professional Program. This Scholars Program will enable a cohort of 25 individuals, who are associated with BlackGirlsHack, to receive support and benefits needed to successfully complete the program and secure new employment in the growing field of cybersecurity.

ThriveDX partners with academic institutions, enterprises, and government branches globally to offer advanced cybersecurity training and security awareness training programs. ThriveDX is on a mission to train the next-generation cybersecurity workforce and close the cybersecurity skills gap by providing under-represented and under-resourced communities with access to relevant training to enter the digital skills industry.

BlackGirlsHack (BGH Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) organization 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 BlackGirlsHack 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.

Together, ThriveDX and BlackGirlsHack will carve new pathways into the cybersecurity and technology field for individuals who historically have limited opportunities and access. Throughout the program, learners will have ThriveDX Career Coaching support in collaboration with OneTen to help place all program graduates in cyber roles, and once finished with the course, learners will receive a certificate of completion from ThriveDX.

"Equity in access to cyber training is something we work towards on a daily basis, and I couldn't be more excited about our latest partnership that will help us get one step closer to that," stated Desiree Young, Executive Vice President of Global Partnerships & Strategic Innovation, ThriveDX. "Collaboration is key to reaching our common goal of providing under-resourced communities with routes to lucrative cyber careers, so we can't wait to see how this program will change the lives of the members of BlackGirlsHack."

"Inclusivity in the cyber workforce is needed in the industry for a more innovative, creative and holistic cybersecurity ecosystem in order to help reduce biases and identify blind spots that exist in the threat landscape. A diverse workforce also ensures that a range of skill sets and backgrounds are represented, resulting in more effective problem-solving and innovative solutions," said Dan Vigdor, Founder, Co-CEO and Executive Chairman of ThriveDX. "We are proud to do our part in achieving this by forming strategic partnerships, like this one with BlackGirlsHack, to create access to our Cybersecurity Professional Program that will ultimately help these individuals enter the evolving cyber workforce."

"We're excited to partner with ThriveDX to help train the next generation of ethical hackers. What the ThriveDX BlackGirlsHack partnership does is provide a structured framework for traditional students and students without 2 and 4 year degrees to be able to transition into the field of cyber. The best part, in my opinion, is that after the learners have completed the training they will have the opportunity for job placement in cyber roles through the partnership with OneTen. We're excited to continue our role as an international nonprofit providing cybersecurity training for cybersecurity's underrepresented communities," said Tennisha Martin, Executive Director, BlackGirlsHack.

Program enrollment began in early July and the cohort began on July 24. For more information on ThriveDX's partnership with BlackGirlsHack, visit https://thrivedx.com/resources/lp/black-girls-hack-scholars-program.

About ThriveDX
ThriveDX is the global leader in cybersecurity education, and an expert in providing cybersecurity training to upskill and reskill lifelong learners. Our teams are made up of military trained cyber experts, industry veterans and seasoned educators united to close the worldwide skills and talent gap in cybersecurity. Operating in two divisions – education and enterprise – ThriveDX's award-winning solutions exist to bridge the skills gap and impact the talent shortage in the cybersecurity and overall tech industry. The Education sector partners with academic institutions, enterprises, and government branches globally to offer advanced, professional development programs in cybersecurity and digital technology. The Enterprise branch (formulated by companies formerly known as Cybint Solutions, Kontra Application Security, Lucy Security, ThriveDX Labs, and HackerU Pro), is a suite of products and services that cater to non-technical employees, developers, IT professionals and anyone in between. For more information, visit https://thrivedx.com/

About BlackGirlsHack
BlackGirlsHack Foundation (BGH Foundation 85-3683902) is an international cybersecurity training nonprofit set up to increase representation within the field of cybersecurity. The mission of BlackGirlsHack 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 of The BGH Foundation is to promote a diverse and inclusive cyber industry where Black women are represented in all levels of cybersecurity, including technical, leadership, and executive roles.

Media contact
Kerry-Ann Hylton
press@thrivedx.com

SOURCE ThriveDX

Girls Hack Village presents SquadCon is a three-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 10-12th. It is run by the makers of Girls Hack Village and exists to help foster diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity.

August 10th, 2023

9am Registration

10am-5pm Conference Day 1

August 11th, 2023

9am Registration

9:30am-5pm Conference Day 2

August 12th, 2023

9am-5pm Conference Day 3

8pm-2am Superheroes vs Villains Party

General Admission Ticket ($150) includes:

Access to full day events and networking

Access to sponsors

Access to Party

VIP Admission Ticket ($200) includes:

Access to full day events and networking

Access to sponsors

Access to Party

Custom Badge

Free Shuttle or Lyft from Strip To/From the Industrial Event Space (Once each day)

VIP+ Admission Ticket ($250) includes:

Access to full day events and networking

Access to sponsors

Access to Party

Custom Badge

Box Lunch all three days

Free Shuttle or Lyft from Strip To/From The Industrial Event Space (Once each day)

Virtual Only Ticket (Free) includes:

Access to live streamed talks

Virtual+ Ticket ($70) includes:

Access to live streamed talks

Custom Badge (Shipped to U.S. addresses)

Purchase Tickets Here

It is with great disappointment that we must inform you that while we will be at DEF CON this year, it will not be as an official DEF CON Village. We were recently notified leadership collectively decided to not accept our village application for inclusion at DEF CON 31. While we are saddened by this outcome, we understand that they have determined we no longer meet the criteria for village participation.

As a girls' organization dedicated to promoting cybersecurity education and awareness, we remain steadfast in our belief that diversity is critical to creating a safe and secure cyber world. While some would relegate us to an affinity group, Girls Hack, and as 25% of the cyber industry, we have equal rights for space, opportunity, and representation at cybersecurity conferences. Shirley Chisholm once said if they don’t give you a seat at the table bring a folding chair.

Our organization will continue to strive towards this goal, and we are proud to announce that the Girl Hack Village mission will live on in a standalone event.

We understand that hosting such events requires resources, and we are committed to fundraising and garnering support from our community and donors to ensure that women will continue to have a seat at the table even if we have to create our own. We believe that our dedication to cybersecurity education and awareness is worthy of support, and we will continue to seek out opportunities to advance this cause.

If you agree and would like to see our mission continue, we are currently accepting donations. Any and all support is greatly appreciated. https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=ENDQNWPGWAT5Y

A special thank you to those that supported every talk, workshop and event we hosted last year. We’ll see you soon.