Monday, January 29, 2018

BDPA Chicago Program Meeting: 'Cryptocurrency, FinTech & Diversity' (January 2018)

BDPA Chicago hosted a powerful panel discussion on 'Cryptocurrency, FinTech & Diversity' with chapter president John Coleman, Panel Moderator Pat Perkins and Panelists (Nicole Villa, Adrian Cortez, Linda N Lee, Hannah Rosenberg and Marquis Davis).



We encourage our Chicago-based supporters to check out program meetings offered by BDPA Chicago. We also invite you to support BDPA Chicago HSCC Scholarship Fund!

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Grant Declination: Walmart Community Grant Request (BDPA Greater Tampa Bay)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked with BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter (president, Andrea Johnson) to submit a $2,500 grant proposal to the Walmart Community Grant Request. If approved, the grant would provide partial funding for the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in Tampa, FL.

Unfortunately, our grant proposal was declined. The declination letter read as follows:

Thank you for submitting a request, Request ID 38527597, to facility #3197 for a grant through the Walmart Community Grant Program. Your grant request was not selected for funding at this time.

The Community Grant Program is a competitive application. On average, we receive more than 150,000 applications from more than 65,000 local organizations striving to improve their communities each year. A number of variables may influence each funding decision. Common reasons grants may be declined include lack of: alignment with our focus areas, local connection with the store, program timing, limited resources and clarity of programmatic work within the facility community.

Thank you again for your interest in the Walmart Community Grant Program. We appreciate your efforts to help people live better and wish you success in your future endeavors. If you would like to learn more about all of Walmart’s giving programs, we encourage you to visit http://giving.walmart.com.

Sincerely,
The Walmart Community Grants Team


BETF will continue to aggressively pursue funding for all 46 local BDPA chapters. However, God loves the child who has his own ... so we encourage you to support BDPA scholarship programs by making a secure online donation

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Vincent Shorter Encourages You to Support #BDPAFuture

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud of our effort to raise funds for National BDPA. We encourage you to follow the lead of Terry Morris by using our BDPA Future account. We're proud that Vincent Shorter supported BETF's efforts with his video:



I encourage BDPA supporters to make a secure online donation to the #BDPAFuture Crowdrise effort. We seek to raise $250,000 by the end of March and we need your help. Doable?


Thursday, January 18, 2018

BDPA Welcome Walgreens Sponsorship Highlighting Diversity and Inclusion


Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Walgreens joined National BDPA as a diversity and inclusion sponsor with its basic corporate sponsorship package by BDPA Job Board (www.ITDiversityCareers.com), corporate memberships and web banner and hosting the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) held in Chicago. Walgreens is the second-largest American pharmacy store chain in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  A commitment to continuously improving diversity and inclusion has always been part of Walgreens DNA, and these values remain central to their cultural beliefs. By embracing and leveraging the rich diversity of Walgreens’ team members' backgrounds, experiences and insights, Walgreens is uniquely positioned to be the first choice for health and daily living for everyone.

Terry Morris, BDPA newly elected National President stated, "Walgreens and BDPA emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and the commitment to improving our communities. BDPA thanks you for your partnership and your daily assurance that diversity matters."

BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and David Wimberly to close the digital divide for underrepresented minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). BDPA has over 40 chapters nationwide with more than 2,500 STEM professional and student members. BDPA offers over $100,000 in scholarships annually to hundreds of high school and college students who wish to pursue STEM careers.

BDPA Chicago President Reggie Rush stated, "Walgreens diversity and inclusion efforts will continue to make room to support the technology community efforts BDPA has for 2018 and beyond!"

For more information on the 2018 National BDPA Technology Conference and Career Fair or a sponsorship, contact BDPA’s corporate sponsorship at (301) 584-3135 ext.108 or corpsales@bdpa.org. Also, please visit www.bdpa.org.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

BDPA Commends BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan Bronze-Level Sponsorship

BDPA recently commended #1 ranked BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan (BCBSM) for their bronze-level sponsorship of the 2018 National BDPA Technology Conference and Career Fair to be held August 9-11 in New Orleans, Louisiana. BCBSM has been recognized for their commitment to diversity and inclusion on the DiversityInc Top 11 Regional Company List. The DiversityInc benchmarking survey assesses a company’s performance versus all competitors overall and in four key areas of diversity management – Talent Pipeline, Talent Development, Leadership Accountability and Supplier Diversity. This year, BCBSM is the proud recipient of esteemed recognition and prominent awards related to its Diversity & Inclusion efforts including the 2017 Corporate PACEsetter Award.

“2017 was a banner year for BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan’s Diversity & Inclusion programs. As a result of our initiatives and policies, partnerships across the company, employee and leader engagement, and BlueCross’ Employee Resource Networks in promoting an inclusive culture, BCBSM continues to make great strides in furthering a diverse and inclusive culture. BDPA continues to play a crucial role in developing STEM and IT professionals while providing a healthy pipeline of diverse candidates to address the growing demand for technology professionals,” said Angela Williams, Director of Information Security at Blue Cross BlueShield of Michigan. “BlueCross is proud to support an organization that has been a pioneer in leading the upward success of their members ‘from the classroom to the boardroom'.”

BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and David Wimberly to close the digital divide for underrepresented minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). BDPA has over 40 chapters nationwide with more than 2,500 STEM professional and student members. BDPA offers over $100,000 in scholarships annually to hundreds of high school and college students who wish to pursue STEM careers.

Terry Morris, National BDPA President said, "Like BDPA, BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan is concerned with developing opportunities for a diverse and inclusive technology work environment. We thank you for your commitment to the BDPA partnership and your consistent effort to enable opportunities for diverse talent.

For more information on the 2018 National BDPA Technology Conference or a sponsorship, contact BDPA’s corporate sponsorship at (301) 584-3135 ext.108 or corpsales@bdpa.org.  Also, please visit www.bdpa.org.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

2018-2019 National BDPA President is Terry Morris (Eli Lilly and Company)

BDPA is pleased to introduce Terry Morris as the BDPA National President! Terry Morris has been a leader in technology at Eli Lilly and Company and an Indianapolis community servant since arriving nearly 17 years ago. At Lilly, he has been a strong technology advocate and leader in transitional areas such as Next Generation Develop. In addition to his core responsibilities, he has been a champion and leader in the people development and diversity efforts of Information Technology.

Terry, a Florida A&M University graduate, has been very engaged in various civic entities, such as Mt. Zion Apostolic Church where he serves as a trustee and leader for strategy and operations. Terry has been a member of BDPA for a decade, and most recently served as the Indianapolis chapter president (2014-16), helping to raise over $100k for high school and college student scholarship and program sponsorship. Terry has also been helping to transform the Indianapolis community by servicing on the Board of Directors for the Center for Congregations and the IUPUI Informatics Diversity-Enhanced Workforce Advisory Board.

Terry’s plan and vision for BDPA in 2018 are geared to both strengthen and transform BDPA by reshaping the experience of its constituency.



BDPA’s priorities are all about new experiences, growth in our strategic partnerships, and a strengthened operations. These goals can only be accomplished by transforming the way that we engage. Terry’s new endeavors such as tech talks, leadership discussions, and career dialogue on the 2nd and 4th Friday’s of every month do just that. BDPA is excited for the growth and transformation that lie ahead under the leadership of its new National President.

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Grant Proposal: Rhode Island Foundation (BDPA Rhode Island)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked closely with the officers of the BDPA Rhode Island chapter to submit a grant proposal to the Rhode Island Foundation seeking $10,000 for the 2018 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. Our proposal was sent to the Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund. We should get an answer within three (3) months.

BETF is willing to work with any of the 46 local BDPA chapters to obtain the funding that they need to successfully deliver their 2018 SITES program. Simply reach out to the BETF executive director if you have questions or wish to discuss further.

Friday, January 12, 2018

Grant Declination: L Brands Foundation (BDPA New York)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) works hard to seek out grant funds to support BDPA programs on a local and national level. Sometimes we are successful, however, more often than not we get turned down. We share the information with you in either case. It is part of our commitment to be transparent to our donors and supporters.

BETF and BDPA New York worked together on a $5,000 grant proposal that we submitted late last year to the L Brands Foundation. We were disappointed to learn that our request has been turned down.

Here is the declination message that we received:



Dear Mr. Hicks,

Your request to support the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program of the New York Chapter has been received by L Brands Foundation. Because the level of community need far exceeds the funds available for grant-making, the Foundation faces many difficult choices. Unfortunately, your request was not fulfilled because it was not competitive against the other applications received or did not fit within our philanthropic focus outlined on our website. Thank you for your interest in L Brands Foundation and thank you for your efforts to improve your community.

Sincerely,
Janelle N. Coleman
President


BETF will continue to seek out funding sources that will smile favorably on our request for funds. Let us know if you have any thoughts or suggestions...

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Grant Declination * New York Life Foundation (BDPA New York)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) works hard to seek out grant funds to support BDPA programs on a local and national level. Sometimes we are successful, however, more often than not we get turned down. We share the information with you in either case. It is part of our commitment to be transparent to our donors and supporters.

BETF and BDPA New York worked together on a $5,000 grant proposal that we submitted late last year to the New York Life Foundation. We were disappointed to learn that our request has been turned down.

Here is the declination message that we received:


Dear Mr. Hicks,

Your organization does not fit the Foundation's focus or geographical area.
Furthermore, we don’t accept unsolicited requests.

However, there may be an opportunity for funding through the Educational Grant Program "Aim High," which the Foundation funds. Click here for details of the program, application and contact info for questions: https://www.newyorklife.com/foundation/afterschool-alliance.

I've also included a FAQ sheet for your information.

Best of luck in finding the funding you're seeking.

Denise Zayas, Office Manager
New York Life Foundation



BETF will continue to seek out funding sources that will smile favorably on our request for funds. Let us know if you have any thoughts or suggestions...

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Message from National BDPA President (January 2018)



BDPA’s Future is now present. #BDPAFuture is our national platform and how we will be presenting our 2018 goals: Create New Experiences, Grow Strategic Partnerships, and Build a Stronger Operational Foundation.

Terry Morris
The Digital economy is here and BDPA and its membership will play a key role in how tech is developed around the world. To make this real, we must increase exposure of high tech innovations and real-world applications. We must also empower our membership and friends with the leadership skills and career passion necessary to thrive in this vibrant landscape.

We are introducing BDPA Digital as our capability to articulate the evolution of IT and Business Trends occurring in the Digital Landscape. These trends include Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, Robotic Automation, Wearables, Internet of Things, and Blockchain. These digital trends are built on an IT foundation of Security, User Experience, Operations, and Solution Delivery.

In addition to the BDPA Digital capability, we are launching a new focus on Leadership and Career Development. Many of our members have great skills and knowledge that need to be leveraged to the extreme of their potential. To aid your ability to reach your potential we are creating some focused attention on building your leadership foundation, including communication, influence, political awareness, performance management, etc...In addition, we are bringing a focus on career development to help our members chart and navigate the roadmap of their future whether they have corporate, non-profit, or entrepreneurial aspirations.

Our National Technology Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 9-11.
We have also created two new channels to develop and expose our member to the tools and resources they need.
  1. Leadership/Career Talks - On the Second Friday of each month from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm we will have leadership skills or career development talk aimed at helping you reach your full potential. This content will also be delivered by a strategic partner or experienced BDPA member.
  2. Tech Talks - On the Fourth Friday of each month from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm we will have a tech talk from the High Tech industry or one of our BDPA members with deep experience in one of the BDPA Digital areas of focus.

In addition to what has already been shared, we are launching communities of practice in entrepreneurship, analytics, Security, and others over time. Stay tuned for additional press releases and posting about these new areas of focus.




For your youth and college students, we are looking to build upon the successes of our “Classroom to Boardroom” motto by enriching our current experiences (ie Mobile App Showcase, IT Showcase, HSCC, and YTC) using the BDPA Digital framework. We will be leveraging strategic partners in High Tech and Academia to created a  modern and standardized experienced around the country. We are also reinvesting in our college chapter construct to create more continuity and opportunities for students, schools, and corporations alike.

BDPA is a great organization with a rich and profound legacy. We appreciate the sacrifices, investments, and efforts of our founders (David Wimberly and Earl Pace), previous national and local leadership, sponsorship, and of course the many members and students around the country.

BDPA has been primarily a membership and volunteer-based organization.
This construct has made it difficult to always deliver consistently at optimal levels. However, with the increased focus on value to membership and stakeholders, the organization is poised and ready to experience #BDPAFuture now. The time to get engaged and stay engaged with BDPA is NOW!
  • If you aren’t a member, JOIN US
  • If you are a member, ENGAGE WITH US
  • If you are a partner, SUPPORT US



Click here for a welcome video from National President, Terry Morris.

Monday, January 1, 2018

Message from BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Happy New Year BDPA Members, Sponsors and Supporters!

Frank Hill
As incoming BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President, I first want to thank the chapter board of directors, led by Na'Shawnda (Mitchell) Peterson for continuing the tradition of strong chapter leadership. I would also like to recognize and thank Debbie Sanders for continuing in the vital role of VP-Finance for another term. I commit to continue the long history of BDPA service to the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky community during my term.

Over the years since I joined BDPA, I have observed that the organization has contributed to the professional growth of members through mentorship and developmental opportunities. I have seen reserved individual contributors develop skills in BDPA and rise to dynamic leadership roles in Corporate America.

I am particularly gratified by the growth of our student population through the Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) programs. I have personally seen how the BDPA experience has helped our students gain access to highly competitive education and technical opportunities. The following are a subset of recent SITES student achievements:
  • Yaw Asante led our National Competition Team and completed a software development internship at Children’s Hospital Medical Center last summer. Yaw received multiple BDPA scholarships. Yaw is currently attending Princeton University majoring in Computer Science.
  • Hasani Harrigan graduated HS 2016; attending Tuskegee University; majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Hasani received multiple BDPA scholarships. Hasani was awarded the University of Southern California Summer Research fellowship in the summer of 2017. 
  • Mouhamadou Guisse graduated HS 2016 with a scholarship to Ohio State University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering
  • Adam Goines graduated HS 2016; attending University of Dayton majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Adam won the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship which provides for funding Bachelors through PhD
  • Hadiya Harrigan graduated HS 2015; attended Tuskegee University; received multiple BDPA Scholarships; recognized as one of the top 25 high school women in technology nationally and recognized as one of the top 10 Girl Scouts in the world for her Gold Project. Hadiya received internships from General Electric and Procter & Gamble.
  • Kamin Johnson graduated HS 2013; graduated Full Sail University with degree in Game Development; currently Software Game Developer at Even Holdings Inc. in Austin Texas.
  • Chidima Okafor graduated HS 2013; attended St Louis University; Completed BS double major in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Chidima is currently attending graduate school at the University of Cincinnati.
In a technology driven society, BDPA’s role is increasingly important to ensure that minorities gain access to the mentoring and training required to be successful in STEM related careers. I look forward to meeting all of you to formulate and execute strategies to further propel our community “From the Class Room to the Board Room”.

Have a great day!
Frank Hill, president
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter