$100K Google Grant to Fund King County Library System’s First Regional Makerspace

GeekWire | Frank Catalano | April 12
https://www.geekwire.com/2018/100k-google-grant-fund-king-county-library-systems-first-regional-makerspace/

“The King County Library System is opening its first makerspace this weekend. And it’s doing so with the help of a $100,000 grant from Google. The new ideaX Makerspace stakes out 3,000 square feet on the first floor of the Bellevue Library. Library patrons will be able to explore everything from making robots and building electronic circuits to creating digital music and learning to code. Overall, KCLS is promoting the new makerspace as a hub for STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math) education.”

Here’s How Seattle-Area Tech Companies Are Chipping Away at Bias Against Women

Seattle Times | Rachel Lerman | April 12
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/heres-how-seattle-area-tech-companies-are-chipping-away-at-bias-against-women/

“Bridget Frey was the only woman on Redfin’s engineering team in Seattle when she joined the online real-estate company more than six years ago…One of the reasons the tech field is so heavily male is that people tend to hire job candidates who remind them of themselves, feeling immediately most comfortable working with similar people, studies find…Many Seattle companies know they will have a hard time advancing women into leadership roles without role models…Several large tech companies began releasing their workforce demographic data in recent years, partially in response to the Rev. Jesse Jackson traveling around the country to shareholder meetings and calling for transparency.”

U.S. News Unveils the 2018 Best Places to Live

US News | Press Room | April 10
https://www.usnews.com/info/blogs/press-room/articles/2018-04-10/us-news-unveils-the-2018-best-places-to-live

“U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today unveiled the 2018 Best Places to Live in the United States. The new list ranks the country’s 125 largest metropolitan areas based on affordability, job prospects and quality of life…The 2018 Best Places to Live were determined in part by a public survey of thousands of individuals across the U.S. to find out what qualities they consider important in a home town..10. Seattle, WAS”

‘Depressing and Inspiring’: Study Finds 5% of Washington Tech Companies Founded by Women

GeekWire | Taylor Soper | April 9
https://www.geekwire.com/2018/depressing-inspiring-study-finds-5-washington-tech-companies-founded-women/

“New research from the Washington Technology Industry Association shows how wide the gender gap is among the state’s startup founders…It found just five percent of companies started by women…There are local efforts to help increase diversity in companies and the boardroom…On the investment side, Seattle-based Redfin and several venture capital firms last year launched a new initiative that encourages startups to recruit an “independent, diverse board member” within two years of funding.”