A legal and virtual battle has ensued over a nonprofit that provides technology education for Black girls.
Black Girls CODE filed a lawsuit against the organization’s CEO and founder Kimberly Bryant on Aug. 22 for hijacking its website and redirecting users to a new website. The suit comes 10 days after the Black Girls CODE Board of Directors fired Bryant. The founder also filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the board.
According to Black Girls CODE’s lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Bryant “took a series of inappropriate actions following her termination.” The website redirects users to saveblackgirlscode.com, where Bryant posted a press release about her wrongful termination and legal complaint. It “makes several false and misleading statements,” the organization said in a press release.
The board initially suspended Bryant from the nonprofit in December 2021, reports show. Her email was disabled, and the board placed Bryant on administrative paid leave to review complaints that she misgendered an employee and created a toxic work environment.
The eight-month investigation cost the nonprofit nearly $2 million in legal fees, Bryant said. She initially filed the lawsuit challenging the suspension but amended it after she was terminated.
The investigator “concluded in her presentation to the Board on Friday, August 12th, that none of the witnesses substantiated the special committee’s claims against Bryant,” the founder’s complaint said. Still, Bryant was removed as CEO and board member of Black Girls CODE the same day.
Black Girls CODE said it is currently working to restore its web presence and is providing information through its Twitter account.
Bryant says on the new website that her termination from an organization that “she created from the ground up” is a hostile takeover orchestrated by board member Heather Hiles. Bryant names Hiles, other board members and Wells Fargo in the wrongful termination and conflict of interest lawsuit.
“Hiles’ ultimate desire to gain control of over $30 million dollars in donated philanthropic funds,” the release says.
Bryant started the organization in 2011. It introduces computer programming, web design and other technology to girls, 7 to 17 years old, in underrepresented communities.
“Heather Hiles’ attempt to destroy BGC, which I built to help girls, especially girls of color, to enter into the high-tech industry of computer coding across the world, hurts me to my core,” Bryant said. “My painful feelings are for the girls who will suffer from Heather Hiles’ aggressive greed to dominate and destroy this beautiful community created to uplift and celebrate Black women and girls.”
Representatives for Black Girls CODE said the organization has never been in a better position. It served more girls this summer than ever before, across the country, including New York City, Oakland, Detroit and Atlanta.
