Message from the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb

BDPA Cincinnati chapter members,

As we begin our celebration of Black Family Technology Awareness Week, I would like to encourage each member of our chapter to get engaged with community efforts in and around your communities. Together we can accomplish miraculous works!

Your BDPA Cincinnati chapter is strong and growing, but we still need more hands on the oars of this mighty ship as we sail towards the great destinations of giving back, networking, professional development, leadership, and mentoring. Please consider taking either a role on the board or volunteering your time to assist with the many areas where we are working 'from the classroom to the boardroom'. You can view a list of the open board positions here.

We have a lot going on in the weeks ahead!

• February 19, 2014 - We will hold our monthly program meeting on this date. Please sign up to attend this highly interactive and informative session. This month we have the pleasure and honor of hosting Christopher Bomar (president and founder, Boomarang Data Backup and Security) who will lead the discussion on Cyber Security. At this meeting we will also honor the chapters’ 2013 High School Computer Competition team.

• Feb 22, 2014 - Our youth technology computer camp kicked off on January 11th with almost 20 high school students focused on a STEM based curriculum.  We are inviting the entire Cincinnati community to visit our computer camp to see our young people in action!  We will be joined on this day by a leader from Procter & Gamble who is recruiting for this year's Resident Scholar Program.

I’d also like to ask for your feedback.

• How is your BDPA membership working out for you? 
• How can we improve the value of your membership? 

Send me a note or pull me to the side at the monthly program meeting. This is YOUR chapter! Are you feeling engaged?

Finally, I encourage you to take a few minutes to look around on BDPA.org. In particular, take a look at the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter pages. Are they informative, relevant, accurate, and professional? What are your thoughts on improving the look and feel of our web presence?

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter
(513) 549-6991

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Black Family Technology Awareness Week (New York)

BDPA New York chapter is truly reaching out to the community in their effort to provide access to technology education for everyone. This was never more evident than earlier this year when the chapter had the most powerful BDPA program in the nation during Black Family Technology Awareness Week (BFTAW).

Here is a video review of the chapter's BFTAW program:





I encourage all chapters to make the commitment now for the 2012 BFTAW program. It should be something we engage in within all 45 local BDPA chapters. For now, we congratulate BDPA New York chapter president Renetta English and the chapter BFTAW chairperson Damon Holmes for what they accomplished this year! Well done!

Black Family Technology Awareness Week Celebrated in New York City on Feb 26

BDPA New York chapter is proud to host Black Family Technology Awareness Week (BFTAW) events on Saturday, February 26. The chapter's BFTAW committee chair Damon Holmes shares the logistics about the event:





I hope that all of our New York area blog readers will make plans to attend!

Message from New York Chapter President

Dear BDPA Family and Friends,

One national mandate for BDPA chapters is to ensure that we participate in Black Family Technology Awareness Week (BFTAW). Thanks to our sponsors, National Grid, our chapter “showed up and showed out” to deliver to our community an outstanding 2010 BFTAW program.

Leading up to BFTAW, on February 4th, BDPA member and Yahoo! Engagement Manager, Eric Hamilton, joined us to deliver an outstanding presentation titled "Social Media Branding in the Age of Obama". The technology students of Winthrop Beacon and Bildersee Community Centers, located in Brooklyn, NY, loved his presentation. BDPA-NY thanked the students for participating by raffling his new book of the same name, “Social Media Branding in the Age of Obama”. Also a new member joined that evening - Welcome Aboard Ike Jurawan.

For our February 13th BFTAW Program, our Master of Ceremony was BDPA-NY’s Alain Leroy. He opened the program by sharing his experience of going from the classroom, as a former participant of HSCC in 1989, to the boardroom, as a current employee of WellPoint, a position he obtained through attending the 2009 National BDPA Conference Career Expo.

Highlights of the 2010 BFTAW program were:

• Presentation by our sponsor, National Grid, on their Products and Services, presented by National Grid employee and former BDPA National President Renee McClure.
• Presentation by BDPA member, Roxanne Clinton on "Netsmartz: Internet Safety for Our Youth". The purpose of this workshop was to increase children's safety awareness and self-confidence whenever they go online, enhance their ability to recognize dangers on the Internet and increase communication between adults and children about online safety.
• Panel Discussion on "Cost Effective Solutions for Business Owners", with panelists Eric Hamilton, Founder, The Web Academy, Maisha Walker, President, Message Medium, and Eula M. Young-Guest, COO, Griot's Roll Film Production & Services Inc. and expert in On-line Marketing, Video Consultant & Public Relations Social Media expert. The discussion allowed business owners the opportunity to share with National Grid and the community how they use technology to build and support their businesses.
• Lieutenant Commander Daniel Ortiz of the United States Navy shared with our audience more about US Naval ROTC scholarship programs as well as the discussed the exciting engineering and technology careers that the U.S. Navy offers.

Another highlight was the BDPA-NY Youth Technology Showcase. The goal of this presentation was to introduce to our community some of the exciting science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) projects that our youth participate in. We started this part of the program by introducing teams who are participating in the US FIRST 2010 Competition. The students of Eagle Foundation Academy are high school students who participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition by building a robot of their own design. The Girl Scouts of Westbury/New Cassel are middle school students, who participate in the FIRST Lego League, by designing, building and programming robots using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technology. Both teams are currently preparing for the upcoming FIRST competition and we were fortunate to have them for stop by and share their robot experiences.

BDPA SITES students presented their experience with BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) and IT Showcase. New York SITES students shared their experience of earning Bemley Scholarships with their 5th place performance at the 2009 National HSCC championships held in Raleigh NC. They also shared their experience attending the Teragrid Computing Conference. Also one student shared and described his experience being a student intern at UBS at their Stamford, CT location.

Finally, there was a technical presentation given by the 2009 BDPA IT Showcase winners from BDPA Northern Delaware. This dynamite team demonstrated their research and theories on advanced computing topics. Audiences were floored by presentations on topics such as Microprocessor meets Athletics Performance; Global Warming Impacts and Solutions (Saving the Polar Bear through Technology); and Buildings Wobble But They Don’t Fall Down (Skyscaper Swaying)

The day was phenomenal and I have to give a special acknowledgement and BDPA hug to:

• Community Leaders: - Ramon Ray, Technology Evangelist and author of "Technology Solutions for Growing Businesses”; William Diaz and Jim Harrison of Eagle Foundation Academy; and the Disney “Give a Day, Get a Day” Volunteers, who gave their time and talent to assist with the program
• BDPA Leaders: - National Grid Corporate Champion and former BDPA National President, Renee McClure Mills; Karen Smith, BDPA Northern Delaware President, who drove her SITES students after a snowstorm that crippled much of the East Coast; Eric Hamilton, who doesn’t hesitate to volunteer as a speaker and presenter; Roxanne Clinton - many, many thanks for stepping in to present on Netsmartz workshop; Councilman Coram Rimes, BDPA New Jersey President -- When I shared with him a story about one of our HSCC students, who couldn’t afford a computer at home and was saving his money to buy one for college in the fall, Councilman Rimes stopped by and delivered a brand new laptop for the student; BFTAW Chairpersons, Damon Holmes and Cheryl Nedwell, for organizing this year’s event; and the BDPA New York Executive Board for ensuring that the program was a success.

Thank you all once again. Please visit us on Facebook or Fotki to see pictures of our events. Also please come out to network with BDPA members and other IT Professionals at our upcoming Meet-N-Greet at B. Smith’s Restaurant on February 24.

If you are interested in learning about how you can volunteer or sponsor an event in the future, please send an email or call (212) 802-5341 or visit our website.

With BDPA Love,
Judaea Yarde Lane, President
BDPA New York
“Taking BDPA to the STEM Level”
phone: (212) 802-5341

City of Philadelphia Awards Community Service Proclamation to BDPA

BDPA Philadelphia chapter was recently honored during a ceremony at City Hall. The Mayor's Commission on Technology recognized BDPA with a proclamation from the City of Philadelphia for contributions in planning the 10th Anniversary of Black Family Technology Awareness Week (BFTAW).

Hayward West (5th from the left in the photo), the chapter’s president-elect accepted the award on behalf of the chapter. BDPA Philadelphia chapter is committed to shaping the lives of future generations by demonstrating the importance of careers in math, science, engineering and technology fields.

"We are very pleased to join with the City of Philadelphia in its efforts to cultivate the next generation of inventors, scientists and engineers.” said Monique Berry, President of BDPA Philadelphia. “Our goal is to get minority youth interested in technology by showing them how challenging, fun and exciting the field of IT can be."

BDPA events during 2009 BFTAW included local school visits, family technology night and The Legacy event at the African American Cultural Center.

This Week in BDPA (Feb 15-21)

BDPA has 51 chapters around the nation. There is almost always something going on in the efforts of BDPA and the BDPA Foundation to advance the careers of African Americans in the IT industry. Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the BDPA CollectiveX Calendar:

• Feb 15-21: Nationwide - Various, 'Black Family Technology Awareness Week'
  
• Feb 15: Cleveland - Networking, 'BFTAW: Kickoff Event'
  
• Feb 16: New York - Networking, 'BFTAW: Kickoff Event and Education Forum'
  
• Feb 17: Networking - Seminar, 'BFTAW: Technical Data Center Tour'
  
• Feb 17: Cleveland - Workshop, 'BFTAW: Computer 101'
  
• Feb 18: Wash DC - Networking, 'BDPA Day on the Hill'
  
• Feb 18: Cleveland - Networking, 'BFTAW Kickoff Event'
  
• Feb 18: Wash DC - Networking, 'BDPA Day on the Hill'
  
• Feb 18: Cleveland - Teleconference, 'Employment Challenges and Opportunities (Session #1)'
  
• Feb 18: Phoenix - Seminar, 'Diversity & Computing Talk'
  
• Feb 18: Cleveland - Teleconference, 'Employment Challenges and Opportunities (Session #2)'
  
• Feb 19: New York - Seminar, 'BFTAW: Driving Your Business Thru Technology'
  
• Feb 19: Columbus - Program Meeting, 'How Social Networks Can Build Your Career or Business'
  
• Feb 19: Cleveland - Seminar, 'Virtual Networks'
  
• Feb 19: Atlanta - Webinar, 'Improving Relationships in Your Organizational Zoo'
  
• Feb 20: Baltimore - Seminar, 'The Prime III Voting System Project'
  
• Feb 21: Cleveland - Seminar, 'BFTAW: Game & Technology Fair'
  
• Feb 21: Richmond - Seminar, 'HSCC Kickoff Meeting'

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the BDPA CollectiveX Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

Please make tax-deductible online donation to the BDPA Foundation in honor of Black Family Technology Awareness Week. Do it now!

Black Family Technology Awareness Week (February 15-21, 2009)

One of my favorite personalities in the IT industry is Tyrone Taborn. He was a member of the National BDPA Board of Directors back in the day. He runs the Career Communications Group (CCG) in Baltimore. CCG founded Black Family Technology Awareness Week (BFTAW) over a decade ago.

Many BDPA chapters host BFTAW activies in their local area. While the agenda for National Black Family Technology Awareness Week lists the activities on a specific day, you are free to hold any activity at anytime within the month of February.

• Black Family Technology Sunday
  
• Business Empowerment Day
  
• Family Technology Day
  
• Tech Health Day
  
• Tech Education Day
  
• Discover Technology Day
  
• Technology Leaders Day
  
• Black Engineer of the Year Awards celebration

Grants (in-kind and cash) are still available. You can request information from CCG (410.244-7101) or National BDPA (800.727-2372).

Are you aware of any BFTAW activity in your city?

Laptop Raffle and Workshops at 'Families in Technology' Day (New Jersey)

I have to smile when folks ask me what BDPA is all about. I've been a member of the organization for over 20 years. I see what is being accomplished in our 50 chapters on a regular basis. BDPA New Jersey is the 11th largest chapter in the nation. BDPA New Jersey, BDPA Education & Technology Foundation, Merck & Company and Prudential worked together to obtain up to 200 laptop computers to raffle off to students later this month.

The 5th Annual 'Families in Technology Day' hosted by BDPA New Jersey and the New Jersey Institute of Technology takes place on May 31, 2008. The theme for the day is 'Technology Awareness = Community Empowerment'. There will be technology workshops and other activities sponsored by Public Services Enterprise Group, Microsoft and UBS Investment Bank.

Students in grades 3-12, accompanied by their parents are eligible for the FREE LAPTOPS!

Students must submit a paragraph on how they can benefit from the use of a laptop. The paragraph must consist of at least four sentences. Originality, sincerity and good grammar are important. Paragraphs must be emailed to BDPA New Jersey chapter by May 23.

We encourage you to attend this remarkable event if you have time or inclination. Here are the logistics:

Date: Saturday May 31, 2008
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Location: New Jersey Institute of Technology
Kupfrian Hall
University Heights
Newark, NJ 07102

There will be technology workshops for everyone 'from the classroom to the boardroom'. Informative lectures, cultural entertainment and other giveaways will fill the day for all attendees. Also, it is worth noting that continental breakfast & lunch is available for all attendees.

You can RSVP or ask any more questions by email or phone (888.203-5073).

Black Family Technology Awareness Week (Baltimore)

Soulclap to Mario Armstrong for sharing update on a great event in Baltimore, MD. Bro. Armstrong is a syndicated technology talk show host (XM radio ch. 169 M-F 9p-10p EST / Sat. 3p-5p EST), tech media entrepreneur and public speaker.

Mario wrote,

---

"Wayne, great to hear from you! Wanted to make sure you and the BDPA folks are aware of this Saturdays major Black Family Technology Awareness event, entitled 'Dream, Create, GO!' - a technology event and inspirational tech show for youth.

It's Free, open to the public and a great way to inspire, educate and entertain middle & hi-school aged students as to why they should pursue academics and careers in science, technology, engineering and math. This is not a boring lecture but an interactive event with a dj, light show and hands-on demonstrations. This Saturday we are changing kids lives and giving them the excitement and the roadmap to be a success in tech fields."

---

It's all happening this Sat. Feb. 16th at the Baltimore Convention Center from 10:45a-1pm. Download or view the event flyer or visit the website for more details.

Let us know in the COMMENTS area if you are participating in BFTAW events in Baltimore or anywhere else in the nation this month.

Technology Awareness Workshops (Southern Minnesota)

Black Family Technology Awareness Week activities are taking place all over the nation. BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter ... home of the defending national HSCC champions ... is sponsoring an event open to the whole community in Rochester, MN. The BTFAW events include:

• PC Project and Giveaway
• Fire Department
• Police Department - Mobile Command Post Station
• BDPA Southern Minnesota Workshop
• IBM Persvasive Technologies (including Ruggedized Thinkpad)
• Lego Mindstorm Robotics Workshop
• Mayo Clinic Technology Workshop
• U of MN APEXES - Electricity/Electronics Circuits & Robotic Arms
• Quiz Bowl
• All Day Raffle Drawings & Prizes

The logistics of the event are:


Hawthorne Literacy Center
704 4th Avenue SE
(507) 287-1475

Date: Saturday, February 16
Time: 9 am - 2 pm
For more information you can reach out to Tabby (507.253-1572), Chinwe (507.253-6634) or Toni (507.253-6660).

BFTAW Grant Awarded to BDPA Atlanta Chapter

The tenth annual Black Family Technology Awareness Week (BFTAW) will be celebrated February 10-16 with the assistance of community organizations, schools, clubs, and corporations throughout the country. BDPA Atlanta chapter was chosen as one of 25 elite organizations to receive a grant from Career Communications Group, founder of the Black Family Network. In addition to the grant, the organization will also receive a Black Family Network technology planning kit complete with technology teaching tools and Black Family Technology give-a-ways.

Grant recipients were chosen from scores of program proposals seeking to empower African American participation in the global technology-driven economy. Education, employment, healthcare, national security, and every facet of life are impacted by digital technologies. As a result, African Americans should focus on seizing the power and potential of technology so that they are equipped to succeed in the global economy.

BFTAW is a nationwide public service program geared towards educating and empowering black families through technology. During the course of the week, the nation’s community leaders will highlight technology’s ability to open doors to information, education, and opportunities. Additionally, the importance of technology in everyday life, now and in the future, will be stressed during the thousands of programs throughout the country.

This year’s nationwide week long program will culminate with a coordinating conference, Black Family Technology Empowerment Weekend, at the Baltimore Convention Center. This year’s event will be hosted by NPR’s Mario Armstrong and will be held in conjunction with the Black Engineer of the Year Award Conference.

According to Tyrone Taborn, US Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine publisher and CEO, "The Black Family Technology Awareness Campaign was never about simple Internet access and mere computer ownership, but rather about African Americans becoming true beneficiaries of the many assets of technology and all it has to offer."
The US Navy, EMC, and IBM are proud BFTAW sponsors.

Click here for more information about how to join the campaign or contact Nuria Alveraz on (410) 244-7101.

Black Family Technology Awareness Week

The National Black Family Technology Awareness (BFTAW) Campaign, will celebrate the tenth annual Black Family Technology Awareness Week (BFTAW), February 10 -16, 2008. BFTAW is a national public awareness campaign designed to encourage more African Americans to incorporate technology into their daily lives. Partners and corporate supporters for this year's campaign include the IBM Corporation, EMC, US Navy, Lockheed Martin Corporation, BDPA (Black Data Processing Associates) and NACME (National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering).

Over the past nine years, more than 200 cities across the country hosted activities that not only assisted communities in getting online but also helped African Americans become more competitive by exploring technologies that will enable them to access and leverage key information from virtually anywhere. Professional and community organizations, including churches, youth groups, schools, clubs, corporations, and senior citizen centers, hosted a variety of programs designed to highlight the potential of new technology. In fact, in February of 2007, over 700 technology-related events with over 40,000 participants were held across the country. Over 38 million impressions were made through the media, direct mail, educational outreach efforts, and direct program participation.

This year's Awareness Week will culminate with the Black Family Technology Empowerment Weekend, to be held at the Baltimore Convention Center as part of the Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference, February 16, 2008, in Baltimore, MD. The event will be hosted by NPR personality Mario Armstrong.

Tyrone D. Taborn, US Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine publisher and CEO, says, "The Black Family Technology Awareness Campaign was never about simple Internet access and mere computer ownership but rather about African Americans becoming true beneficiaries of the many assets of technology and all it has to offer."

Tyrone Taborn was a contributing author for The Covenant With Black America, the New York Times best seller compiled by PBS-TV's Tavis Smiley. According to Taborn, economic empowerment for African Americans is a major factor in the "digital game." As a community, he says, African Americans must make sure they not only grow in knowledge and access but also learn how that knowledge and access can generate revenue for their families and ultimately empower the communities in which they reside. Taborn says there are many facets to the "Digital Divide," including but not limited to computer ownership and Internet access; the quality of one's Internet connection; production vs. consumption of technology; computer literacy and skill level; employment in technical jobs; and ownership of Internet and other technology-related enterprises.

Many of those critical of the attention being given to the "Digital Divide" point out that merely having a home computer will not build the many skills needed to compete in the extremely advanced, competitive, and prosperous digital world. Instead, the computer soon will be compared to other high-tech items such as cable television and the cellular phone.

But participation of African Americans in the "Digital Revolution" makes good economic sense. Studies suggest that those who embrace technology generally have higher incomes. Research shows that, compared with the African American community as a whole, those online are 73 percent more likely to live in a household having $50,000 or more in total income, 88 percent more likely to hold a college degree, and 90 percent more likely to own stocks or other market investments.

For more information about BFTAW including information on how your community can apply for a BFTAW grant, or contact CCG's Director Technology Awareness Programs, Nuria Alvarez.

What is your view on the Black Family and technology? Do we still have a digital divide?