Volunteer Spotlight: Karrisa Barrera
What was your favorite initiative with PDXWIT?
In my first volunteer role, I managed the social media accounts and a very small but mighty team.
A few years ago, we put together a campaign (#ImWorthMore) for equal payday. Although it's infuriating that a campaign like this still needs to happen, our purpose wasn't to bring awareness to the general pay gap for women but focus on how racism and structural oppression contribute to how big that gap is for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color).
The typical number we see thrown around is the cumulative amount but here is the data broken up:
For every $1.00 a man makes:
White women make ~$0.82 for every $1.00 a man makes.
Black women make $0.62
Native American Women make $0.57
Latina Women make $0.54
http://www.equalpaytoday.org/equalpaydays
There are several projects I’ve worked on that I’ve loved, but this specific one is an example of how this organization encourages volunteers to take an idea and run with it.
Why do you volunteer for PDXWIT?
I volunteer with this organization for numerous reasons. I attended my first PDXWIT event five years ago while I was a student, and intern at a tech company here in PDX. My goal was to build a network and find a job post-graduation that could support me. All the events I attended were a reflection of the Portland tech scene: white and male-dominated. The environment felt like a bar, I wasn’t taken seriously, and men liked to explain things to me — including my job.
My first PDXWIT event blew me away. This was a group of women, nonbinary folks and allies who were welcoming, took me seriously and wanted to support me in pursuing my goals. I felt empowered after attending my first event and started volunteering shortly after.
I believe everyone who volunteers does so for their own individual reasons, in addition to the general mission. I give my time to this organization because I firmly believe that everyone should feel safe and comfortable with the freedom to be their authentic selves at work. Many folks in tech spend ~33% of their entire day working. Some folks spend more time at work than they do with their own family. If people work in a toxic environment, that could absolutely affect their mental health, their ability to grow professionally, get promotions, and so much more. People need to feel safe at work and all sexist and racist barriers need to constantly be challenged until they don’t exist.
This organization has given me a place to voice my concerns with the industry: the normalization of toxic work culture, male-dominated and white hierarchical structures, broken HR systems, sexual harassment, etc. etc. etc. I appreciate that PDXWIT challenges these issues and creates space for people to share their experiences and provide support. I also appreciate that this organization is not afraid to call themselves out when they make a mistake – which can help us all learn and grow.
Now, if you haven't already, I strongly advise you to read Reflections from Black Women on the PDXWIT Team which has a guide to allyship and a list of vetted organizations that are doing critical work for the Black Lives Matter movement. Keep the momentum up! Tech is racist. Let’s take action.