Busy End of Year

Katy Dickinson, Lee Satterfield, TechWomen 10 Year Honor, 20 October 2022

As 2022 is ending, I have been reflecting on how busy these last few months have been. In October, I mentored the remarkable and inspiring TechWomen Team Tunisia, and was one of the 21 mentors honored by the U.S. State Department – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for ten years’ service to the TechWomen program. (I was the TechWomen Process Architect 2010-2011, and have been a mentor each year since.) Also that month, my husband John Plocher said a fond goodbye to Apple, and started a new job at Ford Greenfield Labs.

Katy Dickinson, TechWomen 10 Year Honor, 20 October 2022

Katy Dickinson, TechWomen Honor, 20 October 2022

Katy Dickinson, Tunisia TechWomen, 16 October 2022

John Plocher with Ford Mach-E

In November, John and I became grandparents with the birth of baby Alex to our daughter, Jessica Dickinson Goodman, and son-in-law, Matthew Holmes.

Jessica, Matthew, Baby Alex, 19 November 2022

I helped our son Paul D. Goodman manage two successful craft sales in December 2022. Yesterday, I turned in the final paper for the Fall term of my Berkeley School of Technology – Doctor of Ministry program. Also yesterday, as part of the Saint Joan’s Chapel and Correctional Institutions Chaplaincy team, I gave holy communion to 92 Elmwood jail inmates. Our team gave communion to 198 prisoners in three visits, starting on Christmas Day. The guys inside were happy to sing and dance with us to the tune of “Feliz Navidad.”

Looking forward to my next adventure!

Paul D. Goodman, 17 Dec 2022

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Learning with TechWomen Team Tunisia

TechWomen Team Tunisia in San Jose, CA 2022-10-1

I am honored to help mentor five TechWomen Emerging Leaders from Tunisia during their visit to the USA. The U.S. State Department – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs – TechWomen program connects and supports the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by providing them the access and opportunities to advance their careers and pursue their dreams.

So far, our team has spoken online, been to a kickoff event hosted by Twitter at their San Francisco headquarters (I got to wear the embroidered cape I bought in Tunisia in 2015), and enjoyed dinner together at my house in San Jose. We are learning about each other, and working on the project again online, Tuesday night! This term, I am happy to be a TechWomen Co-Mentor with Darpana Pendyala (Hardware Design Engineer, Marvell), and Priyanka Sahay (Director, Product Marketing, LinkedIn).

TechWomen Team Tunisia 2022-09-23

TechWomen Team Tunisia at Twitter 2022-09-29

TechWomen Team Tunisia at Twitter 2022-09-29

TechWomen Team Tunisia with WP668, in San Jose, CA 2022-10-1

TechWomen Team Tunisia in San Jose, CA 2022-10-1

TechWomen Team Tunisia in San Jose, CA 2022-10-1

TechWomen Team Tunisia in San Jose, CA 2022-10-1

TechWomen Team Tunisia in San Jose, CA 2022-10-1

TechWomen Team Tunisia in San Jose, CA 2022-10-1

TechWomen Team Tunisia in San Jose, CA 2022-10-1

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TechWomen Team Tunisia (Fall 2022)

Bardo Museum, female centaur mosaic, Tunisia 2015

Next week, I will meet five TechWomen Emerging Leaders from Tunisia whom I will help mentor during their visit to the USA. The U.S. State Department – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs – TechWomen program connects and supports the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by providing them the access and opportunities to advance their careers and pursue their dreams. Three of us have been invited to coach these senior technical women in developing the project they will take home. This is my second time being an Impact Coach for Tunisia – our 2016 team developed a project to improve transport in Tunis. I was also a member of the 2015 TechWomen Delegation to Tunisia. I have been a TechWomen mentor since 2010 when I served as the TechWomen Process Architect – it is such an inspiring and fulfilling program. I am so looking forward to meeting the new Team Tunisia!

Techwomen Impact Coach Mentors for Tunisia, 8 Sep 2022

TechWomen Team Tunisia 2016

Sheep on the road, Tunisia 2015

Katy Dickinson and TechWomen on beach camels, Tunisia 2015

Dougga Roman ruins, Tunisia 2015

Katy Dickinson, Dougga Roman ruins, Tunisia 2015

Africus carving, Dougga Roman ruins, Tunisia 2015

TechWomen, Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia Delegation 2015

TechWomen, Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia Delegation 2015

Pine nut tea, TechWomen, Tunis, Tunisia Delegation 2015

Eileen Brewer, Katy Dickinson, TechWomen, Tunis, Tunisia Delegation 2015

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TechWomen in Yosemite

TechWomen at Yosemite Falls, CA, 27 Mar 2022

I am proud of my daughter Jessica whose annual Yosemite camping trip for her Palestinian mentees has evolved into a TechWomen tradition. This year, there were enough mentors and mentees for two weekends. I was a driver last weekend, joining about thirty others – many of them camping for the first time. We stopped over in Columbia for lunch on the way to our campsite at Tuttletown. We had a lovely time getting to know each other, figuring out how to raise a tent, singing pop songs, and eating s’mores – and Safa of Libya got to touch a river for the first time ever!

TechWomen going camping, 26 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Kate’s tea, Columbia, CA, 26 Mar 2022

TechWomen Jessica and Samantha, Columbia, CA, 26 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Columbia, CA, 26 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Columbia, CA, 26 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Columbia, CA, 26 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Tuttletown camp, CA, 26 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Tuttletown camp, CA, 26 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Tuttletown camp, CA, 26 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Tuttletown camp, CA, 26 Mar 2022

sunset at Tuttletown camp, CA, 26 Mar 2022

sunrise at Tuttletown camp, CA, 27 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Tuttletown camp, CA, 27 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Tuttletown camp, CA, 27 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Yosemite, CA, 27 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Yosemite, CA, 27 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Yosemite, CA, 27 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Yosemite Falls, CA, 27 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Yosemite Falls, CA, 27 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Yosemite Falls, CA, 27 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Yosemite Falls, CA, 27 Mar 2022

TechWomen at Yosemite Falls, CA, 27 Mar 2022

TechWomen brings emerging women leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East together with their professional counterparts in the United States for a mentorship and exchange program. I have been working with TechWomen since I helped to design it in 2010. Launched in 2011, TechWomen is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and is managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

If you want to receive Katysblog posts by email, please sign up using the Sign Me Up! button (upper right on Katysblog home). Images Copyright 2022 by Katy Dickinson.

Side Garden Upgrade

Katy Dickinson garden, San Jose CA, 23 March 2022

It’s time in the San Francisco Bay Area to start planting our summer vegetables. Since I have some time during GTU‘s Reading Week, I cleared out winter weeds, dug in compost, and added tomatoes, basil, and borage to my planting beds. I left the rhubarb in its wheelbarrow since it seems happy. This year, from Yamagami’s nursery I bought three cherry tomato plants for salads and snacks (Yellow Pear, Sun Sugar Hybrid, and Super Sweet 100), plus three Ace tomatoes for soup. I also upgraded the Guadalupe River bank area next to the planting bed. The big yuccas, huge prickly pear cactus, and an elderberry tree dominate that space. There are also three lavenders (French and English) and two California Sagebrush (Artemisia Californica – from Jessica) continuing from two years ago. I just added four gloriosus “Heart’s Desire” prostrate ceanothus to fill in under and around the cactus. Another ceanothus “Centennial” plus some yarrow (Achillea Little Moonshine, and Red Velvet) will go in the front yard. I mostly add California Native Plants for long-term plantings. I am looking forward to everything growing happily all summer!

Katy Dickinson garden, San Jose CA, 23 March 2022

Katy Dickinson garden, San Jose CA, 24 March 2022

Katy Dickinson garden, San Jose CA, 24 March 2022

Katy Dickinson garden, San Jose CA, 23 March 2022

Princess – cat garden guardian, 24 March 2022

Ketchup – cat garden guardian, 24 March 2022

Update 24 March: I decided to go camping with Jessica and the TechWomen in Yosemite this weekend, so I planted the ceanothus Centennial in the side yard, supervised by guardian cats Princess and Ketchup. I am also moving some of garden stones into the side yard where they will be more visible.

Update 28 March: My neighbor Russell gave away some of his extra heirloom tomato starts today – so I added a seventh (and final!) plant to my bed. The little plants are enjoying today’s rain.

Ceanothus Centennial, Katy Dickinson garden, San Jose CA, 24 March 2022

Marvel stripe heirloom tomato, 28 March 2022

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TechWomen Team Kenya Outings

TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

TechWomen Team Kenya has enjoyed two outings during which we worked on the team project pitch. We went to NightLife at San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences, and we had brunch together in Oakland, hosted by my Co-Mentor Ella Morgulis. Co-Mentor Samantha Raniere made ugali and spinach and an apple pie for brunch. Ella and her husband David made chicken, hamburgers, and salad. I brought Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies! We mentors have taken turns driving the mentees to our outings around the Bay Area. Pitch Day will be on Friday, 25 March 2022.

Launched in 2011, TechWomen is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and is managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

TechWomen Team Kenya, California Academy of Sciences, 17 March 2022

TechWomen Team Kenya, California Academy of Sciences, 17 March 2022

TechWomen Team Kenya, California Academy of Sciences, 17 March 2022

TechWomen Team Kenya, California Academy of Sciences, 17 March 2022

TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

Norah, TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

Laura, TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

Leonida, TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

Sylvia, TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

Asha, TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

Leonida, TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

Norah, TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

TechWomen Team Kenya brunch, 19 March 2022

If you want to receive Katysblog posts by email, please sign up using the Sign Me Up! button (upper right on Katysblog home). Images Copyright 2022 by Katy Dickinson.

TechWomen Volunteer Day in the Garden

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

Today was TechWomen Volunteer Day and twenty-three of us gathered at St. Stephen’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church – Community Garden in San Jose, California, to work together. We divided into three groups: the Hunters (looking for oak seedlings to pot), the Killers (taking down an oleander hedge), and the Diggers (making an accessible path for elder gardeners). We included technical leaders from the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia, some of whom were novices and others who had deep gardening experience, as well as two regular community garden volunteers and four TechWomen mentors. My daughter, Jessica Dickinson Goodman, manages the community garden but she was managing another TechWomen volunteer group today, so I was in charge. It was a fun and productive day!

Launched in 2011, TechWomen is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and is managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

Lizard, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

TechWomen Volunteer Day, St.Stephens-in-the-Fields, San Jose, California, 18 Mar 2022

If you want to receive Katysblog posts by email, please sign up using the Sign Me Up! button (upper right on Katysblog home). Images Copyright 2022 by Katy Dickinson.