Oakland Non-Profit CEO To Speak At Major Tech Conference In San Francisco
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2017
Contact:
Meghan Tisinger
Media@AsanteAfrica.org
Oakland Non-Profit CEO To Speak At Major Tech Conference In San Francisco
Oakland, CA — — Erna Grasz, Founder of Asante Africa Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to educating African youth, will be a speaker at the inaugural IEEE Vision, Innovation, and Challenges Summit in San Francisco, CA on May 25th. The conference brings together innovators, visionaries and leaders of technology in the Silicon Valley area to discuss what is imminent, to explore what is possible, and what will these emerging areas mean for the future.
“It is an honor to be speaking at such an incredible event. The attendants and world-class presenters are truly at the center of innovation. This innovation not only impacts the technology arena but has opportunities to change the world and provide assistance for those who are struggling,” said Erna Grasz.
Grasz co-founded Asante Africa Foundation with two visionary African women from Kenya and Tanzania. Grasz refers to herself as a Systems Engineer turned Systems Entrepreneur for Global Impact. Originally trained as an Electrical-System Engineer, she spent her early career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and then in Silicon Valley. In 2011, she left the corporate world to manage Asante Africa Foundation full time. She is a recipient of the Jefferson Award for public service, “Distinguished Engineering” Award and a HULT Prize Judge for Innovation in Urban slums (Clinton Global Initiative).
Erna Grasz’s session at the IEEE Vision, Innovation, and Challenges Summit will examine ways for leaders in technology to learn how they can transfer their professional skills to local and global humanitarian projects. She will share her story and field experience to teach technology innovators how to use their expertise to create and empower the next generation of change agents.
Based in Oakland, California, Asante Africa Foundation began when Erna Grasz, traveled to Tanzania and witnessed firsthand the desperate need to improve educational opportunities for the youth of Africa. Since 2007, Asante Africa Foundation has trained more than 11,000 teachers in East Africa; developed programs to keep nearly 330,000 students in school, particularly girls; and changed the future of 200+ African communities. In 2015 alone, Asante Africa Foundation improved the educational opportunities in 133 schools in Kenya and Tanzania. 50% of those schools reported improved academic performance by girls on national exams and 60% of girls acknowledged confidently refusing unwanted sexual advances. 67% of students reported an increased confidence in critical thinking, expressing opinions, and English skills.
Erna Grasz bio can be found here
For more information on Asante Africa Foundation please visit click here.
About Asante Africa Foundation
Asante Africa Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to educating children in Africa. Asante Africa Foundation works to address the roots cause that prevents children from receiving an education. In addition, Asante Africa Foundation provides the tools that students need to tackle life’s challenges and influence change. To date, Asante Africa Foundation has trained more than 11,000 teachers in Africa; developed programs to keep nearly 240,000 students in school, many of whom were young girls; and changed the future of 200+ African communities. For more information on Asante visit www.asanteafrica.org.
