Tech amongst teens is no new discovery, with all of the various apps to keep them occupied for hours on end. From TikTok to Twitter and everything in between Gen Z is definitely the generation that will make the next big digital impact. Shana “Digital” Sanders is right at the forefront of that movement.
Relatability is the way that Shana Sanders also known as “Shana Digital” has connected with many teens over the years, in addition to her extensive resume that includes an Emmy, music production, and leading various creative processes. Shana has educated many students in Title one schools, outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, Sanders worked on the team for Young Guru’s ( Jay Z’s Music Engineer ) Era of the Engineer initiative and it really helped her to understand where the deficit was for exposure to music education and Tech. Through that experience and her classroom data collection, she decided to found We Create Tech. WCT is a non-profit organization that helps to close the gap in the digital divide for black and brown children in underrepresented communities.
We Create Tech is still in its early stages, but students will have an opportunity to learn how to make music through coding, film production basics with a modern vibe, entrepreneurship, marketing, ownership in the music industry, and virtual world deployment and development.
According to GlobalCitizen.com, “Black children in the rural south experience the #homeworkgap at far higher rates than their White peers.” This is a part of the experience that Sanders has had over the years. “Many students don’t have access due to a lack of resources, and we want to partner with organizations to help change that.”
Shana personally believes that teens and tech are synonymous and that you cannot mention one without the other. “ Black and brown kids are the culture creators, and they need to be educated with tools to protect their ideas, and to freely create in a safe environment.”
To see what Shana Sanders is currently up to, check out shanadigital.com
