Accelerate 2022 update: Grayter Cleveland

Grayter Cleveland

Shane Winnyk & Courtney Smith

2022 Winner

Presented in partnership with:

ORIGINAL PITCH DESCRIPTION:

Grayter Cleveland aims to increase the number of People of Color and women in STEM careers, particularly the tech field, by pairing a Black employee and a White employee together to give brief presentations in schools (remotely or in-person) about what it’s like to work in technology.

These presentations provide students with an example of someone who looks like them, and someone who doesn’t, working together in a field that requires an interest and acumen in STEM. The program is designed to interest students in STEM and technology, as well as demonstrate that we’re better together.


Keep up to date with Shane and Courtney on LinkedIn.


March 3, 2022

Shane posted a video on LinkedIn the evening of Accelerate explaining why the Grayter Cleveland idea he pitched alongside his co-presenter, Courtney Smith, is so crucial to our community. Shane and Courtney also put together a brief video on YouTube that recaps their Accelerate experience and provides more insight into their Grayter Cleveland idea.