Today we’d like to introduce you to Ernanda White.
Ernanda, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Maya Angelou- said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” A layoff from my Enterprise Tech role as a Software Sales Engineer in Data Analytics during Christmas 2019, a chance introduction to present at the Denton Black Film Festival Interactive Expo reignited my love for Aviation. As a little girl, I loved space launches and rockets… I literally wanted to be an Astronaut! Loved airplanes, parachutes and RC race cars and video games and computers as a little girl… not considered a girly type thing as more of my male cousins had the cool toys but out of my displacement, I was able to release my innermost dreams in a discussion with my first Co-Founder, Renata Cathey of the DBFF-IE (who helped me rediscover my new journey, or Movement as she so aptly named it) so befitting that on January 13, 2020 pre-Pandemic our organization BlackGirlsDrone was born. Flying high in our new social enterprise, we faced abrupt change during our ascent… then we were impacted by COVID.
During these challenging times, we decided to remain focused by utilizing the opportunity in the chaos! Our mission: create change donating Response Boxes at our local CVS, partner with Mission Aids’ social media resource response team answering site visitors inquiries with local COVID testing sites and community social service resources. Despite the chaos, we sought the opportunity to rebuild and reconnect with industry partners [whom we were in earlier talks with] about our Drone program. We had an overwhelming response for the need for our FREE COVID Drone Summer Camp to families impacted by COVID. Our response. We served over 15 girls across the United States and globally with STEAM learning opportunities in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Career Development, and Continuing Education through our EmpireHer Empowerment Series.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Now seven months later, more hopeful than ever. We have raised $30K in grants and been gifted in-kind drone flight simulator platforms for our campers with the Drone Racing League and Zephyr. We have scheduled tech talks with Flight Fusion and the President of DRL (Rachel Jacobson) and the Head of Engineering. (Both female) But none of this would be possible for our girls without this support. Being calendared and canceled from major invitations like SXSW, Capital Factory SXSW, Facebook, and Target Accelerator interviews, opportunities with our local school districts really stung my heart. But here we are. Standing. Pressing forward despite our obstacles with 20 registered campers from TX, CA, NJ, FL, LA, Canada, Africa, India, and Ireland as we rolled out June 15 – August 11 2020 all virtual. Tech grant $20K, City of Dallas grant $3K, Won pitch prizes and Business services $5K, (Currently enrolled) TWU AccelerateHER, 2020 Graduate Microsoft for Startups School for Female Founders, Enrolled into YC Combinator’s Startup School.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Black Girls Drone?
Black Girls Drone Inc. is a Drone EdTech startup platform providing drone literacy through an app to empower women and girls from underserved communities with drone workforce development training. We use drones as a vehicle to pioneer the future of next-gen drone-tech professionals. Currently, there are over 300K FAA Certified Commercial Drone Pilots in the US only 5% are women and less than 3% are women of color. (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-15/where-are-all-the-black-women-in-the-flight-deck) The quit rate of women in the workforce is almost twice as high as that of men. In 2018, the number of women who left their STEM jobs was 53%. In comparison, that number for men was only 31%. (Source: NCWIT) A Drone Pilot salary at the min is $50K/yr. and a great immediate entryway into the career pathways of Aviation, Aerospace, and Aeronautics or continued Education in those respective fields.
The commercial UAV industry is currently experiencing a labor deficit as businesses struggle to find qualified UAV professionals to fill open positions. Bringing drones into our schools is a promising path toward building a future workforce, big enough to handle an ever-growing demand, and to help change the overall perception of the technology. (Source: https://pilotinstitute.com/drone-pilots-salaries/) Given the current unemployment landscape where significant job loss will never return- the opportunity for workforce redevelopment and reskilling is a necessary component to the 87.5% of women who are the heads of household, caregivers, breadwinners, single parent to their families and because of this reskilling and upskilling will be necessary. According to AUVSI’s The Economic Impact of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the United States report shows the economic benefit of UAS integration. AUVSI’s findings show that in the first three years of integration more than 70,000 jobs will be created in the United States with an economic impact of more than $13.6 billion.
This benefit will grow through 2025 when we foresee more than 100,000 jobs created and an economic impact of $82 billion. (Source: https://www.auvsi.org/our-impact/economic-report) Currently, there are over 300K FAA Certified Commercial Drone Pilots in the US only 5% are women and less than 3% are women of color. (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-15/where-are-all-the-black-women-in-the-flight-deck) The quit rate of women in the workforce is almost twice as high as that of men. In 2018, the number of women who left their STEM jobs was 53%. In comparison, that number for men was only 31%. (Source: NCWIT) A Drone Pilot salary at the min is $50K/yr. and a great immediate entryway into the career pathways of Aviation, Aerospace, and Aeronautics or continued Education in those respective fields. (Source: https://www.auvsi.org/our-impact/economic-report) Launched on January 13, 2020, pre-Pandemic our organization was directly impacted by COVID.
What’s next? We hope this opportunity can bring us National into platforms where this type of tech is impossible to influence so many. We strive to create a diverse and inclusive pathway for our next-gen Drone Pilots; granting them access to learning opportunities within its multi-billion dollar industry.
For our nation’s workforce economy to improve, it is critical to focus on supporting workforce upskilling and reskilling programs with a proven method for success that will reduce barriers to marginalized learners with obtaining drone industry certification. We incorporate the 3E’s (educate, empower, and enable) today’s learners through our free mobile app! Equipped with personalized accountability and assessments, goal tracking for individual learners, freemium subscriptions, pay as you go digital subscriptions, virtual hands-on labs with real-world scenarios, 24/7 access, mentors, and social media community. We promote remote learning and earning through our job board of apprenticeships, internships, and career opportunities. What’s Next for us in ’21? We have teamed up with Dallas ISD to serve students in Dallas ISD (Spring-Summer 2021) and will be hosting our Ready! Set? Drone! “Take Flight” STEM virtual exhibit booth on Jan. 28-Feb4 2021 (see flyer attached) We’re supporting our workforce development initiatives with our partnership with the South Dallas Employment Project and Redemption Bridge (second chancers- nonviolent) teaching drone education to promote a new career in the Drones (UAS) industry- helping them become self-sufficient, earning sustainable wages as Professional Commercially Certifed FAA Drone Pilots.
Having workforce solutions (TX Workforce) Dallas College and Corporate industry organizations coming together to help them with job placement in the area to further advance their skillsets. We offer a full spectrum of services (end to end) once identified to help the individuals succeed in their new career journey. (Career placement, healthcare, housing assistance, career development, character building, food insecurity, clothing, transportation, continuing education) We’re in talks with gamification developers in Africa (Analog) and Microsoft to use our drone platform to educate and help to bring awareness. By addressing and helping to eradicate social injustices for Black and Brown communities of color. Doing social good with drones in our new program for underserved communities “Dronez in tha Hood” bringing Drones, Tech, Gaming, culture, and hip hop innovatively to address socio-economic challenges and offer solutions while building community trust in police, healthcare, and criminal justice systems. We’re partnered with Hampton University’s Department of Aviation which is the only one of the 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in America with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved ATCI program- as we make plans together for both initiatives in 2021 and with our 2nd annual Summer Drone Camp. We’re bringing another level to this with HBCU’s showing us the love we need and deserve in order to support our mantra- “If she can see, she can be it”. (Source: Senator- Now VP Kamala Harris).
Add to that- our new swag line”FlyGirlz” with custom BGD apparel, sneakers, drones, comic books, anime, and tech stuff. And- we’re just getting started! That’s just filling up the calendar until August 2021… New website coming soon. Find us on Facebook (Black Girls Drone) Twitter (@GirlsDrone) email me Founder@blackgirlsdrone.net We are currently fundraising and open to investor discussions. As well as partnerships, sponsorships, mentorships and collaborations with organizations that also support our STEAM initiatives. Please email me with inquiries. Our pledge to create change can not be underestimated, as we fundraise, share our story to motivate others to spark change, and collaborate; our dedication to the cause propels us to keep moving forward and inspire the next generation of STEAMAviation professionals. All on a budget of hope. Hope this helps! Thank you so much for this opportunity and your patience! Happy Holidays! Ernanda, Black Girls Drone Inc. Capture – Copy.PNG pixton-class-photo-black-girls-drone-s2 (7).png realtime_2020_07_22_4.mp4 STEMExpo_Flyer2021-ENG.pdf https://www.bigthought.org/audience/clients/black-girls-drone-takes-flight/ https://dallasinnovates.com/meet-the-6-cohort-members-for-denton-startup-incubator-program-accelerateher/ https://startupill.com/101-best-and-fastest-growing-texan-startups-of-2020/ https://www.starternoise.com/founder-stories-ernanda-white-ceo-founder-of-black-girls-drone/
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Yes, Maya Angelou quotes, reading motivational Entrepreneurship books, like right now I am reading Make it Rain by Areva Martin, The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki, Principle Centered Leadership by Stephen R. Covey and American Uprising by Daniel Rasmussen. Podcasts, Therapy for Black Girls by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford and use these daily, the Shine app. for mental physical fitness!
Pricing:
- $25 gets you started with a Drone Consultation to see if this is a career industry you’d like to pursue.
- Winter Drone Camps and Workshops available at $50 pp/ for 2 weeks
Contact Info:
- Email: founder@blackgirlsdrone.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackGirlsDrone
- Twitter: @GirlsDrone
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkTePjh2ff8Jg3kk2cON4WQ
- Yelp: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10RT7r-7PQ4J1Dy80WZEYD5kGvgEa-tQsFmPChU6G8MU/edit?usp=drivesdk
- Other: https://forms.gle/1HvbeStBJzYdanG86
