NISSAN LEAF

WARRIORS WHO CODE:

Fewer than 1 in 10 scientists and engineers employed in the United States are women of color. This lack of representation is not only visible in STEM but also permeates to industries such as media and entertainment–where few roles portray women of color in this field. Nissan is committed to developing technology that moves people by ushering the next generation of innovators. So when Ava DuVernay became the first black woman to direct a $100 million movie with a diverse cast, strong female lead and a focus on science and technology, we saw an opportunity. By tapping into our partnership with Disney's 'A Wrinkle In Time', we sought to inspire young women of color to pursue STEM careers by nurturing a sense of curiosity and bringing underrepresented voices to the forefront.

To help foster this next generation, we partnered with Black Girls Code, Disney's Wrinkle In Time, HP and NASA for an all-girls hackathon and exclusive movie premiere. The "Warriors Who Code Challenge" brought participants from across the country together as they developed creative ways to use technology to solve some of today's pressing issues. We formulated a unique panel of successful women in STEM fields to guide the girls in challenges focused around future innovative technology. Ava DuVernay and stars of the film Storm Reid, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pines and Gugu Mbatha-Raw even dropped in to lend words of encouragement in pursuit of the girls' dreams.