BDPA iRadio Show - September 27, 2011

The BDPA iRadio Show creates a vibrant communications platform that speaks to all BDPA stakeholders.  We were very pleased with the insights offered by our diverse guests on the September 27th show.  

Listen to internet radio with BDPA on Blog Talk Radio

The guests were:

1. Todd Q. Adams, Co-owner, Visibility Marketing - Todd is a long-time BDPA member who served for many years as an officer within our Cleveland chapter. He is now a subject-matter expert on Smart Grid technology. He wants to share how this technology is important for people of color as we move further into the 21st century.
2. Paulette Johnson-Davis, VP-Member Services, National BDPA - Paulette is a long-time member of BDPA. She served in a number of leadership roles at local and national level including BDPA Greater Columbia chapter president and National BDPA VP-Member Services. It is worth noting that her local chapter (Greater Columbia) brought over 20 middle- and high-school students to the 2011 BDPA Technology Conference. Paulette delivers remarkable programs and services that directly benefit the student and adult IT professionals in BDPA. In addition, she is the primary point of contact for BETF on all national grant-writing efforts. She has a remarkable story to share with the iRadio audience.
3. Wanda Gray, Chapter President, BDPA Cincinnati - Wanda Gray is a long-time member of BDPA Cincinnati chapter. She is currently serving a 2-year term as chapter president. In the past she served as VP-Membership Management for the chapter. Wanda has been an entrepreneur … with both a software development company and a soul-food restaurant. She has successfully grown her chapter over the past few years and can share some genuine ‘best practices’ with the BDPA iRadio Show audience.
4. Lahesha Williams, Founder, Career Help for Christians - Lahesha was president of BDPA-Devry chapter in Chicago. She later became active with the BDPA Chicago chapter. She was the guiding light in effort to create a Student Empowerment Retreat for BDPA Chicago student members. She has a unique perspective on BDPA and on how technology can impact the lives, careers and future of young people in the Black community.

Our host for this show is Franne McNeal.  The technical advisor is John Malonson.  The show is sponsored by the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation.

Are Black Folks Listening to Obama?

Todd Q. Adams

Todd Q. Adams is a long-time BDPA Cleveland chapter member. He is also a sustainable communities strategist with a focus on public interest projects in the areas of Smart Grid, public safety, transportation, education, and Health IT. He shared a strong message for all African American information technology (IT) professionals ... including those of us in BDPA. I encourage you to read and consider what Todd has to say. Use the COMMENTS option at the end of this blog post to share your thoughts.

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During the recent State of the Union address, President Obama stressed the importance of education and TECHNOLOGICAL innovation. As he has done numerous times in prior speeches, he stressed the importance of a Smart Grid, additional research funding for technological innovation, and universal broadband availability.

I have found, even among IT professionals, very few Black folks that have read the President's National Broadband Plan. This plan outlines an economic development strategy for America that focuses on Energy Management, Health Care, Smart Grid and Education. Physical infrastructure (fiber, wireless, 4G, etc.), increased broadband access in under-served areas (yes, much of this is us), and policy are all part of the three-legged stool. It seems to me that we are just walking past the stool and viewing it like a museum.

Does it even resonate with us that billions of economic stimulus dollars have been targeted for technology infrastructure development, Health Information Technology, and digital literacy training? As a Black man working actively working in the broadband and Smart Grid arenas, I can tell you that the ship set sail, and we are standing at the dock with luggage. It pains me to be among less than 50 Black folk at conferences of over 10,000. I literally see more Korean vendors at Smart Grid conferences than I do Black folks. I see deals get done, policy staged, and partnerships brokered constantly. Yet, Black technology professionals still give me the deer-in-headlights look when I mention Smart Grid, broadband, interoperable communications, etc.

Since we are the technology leaders of America, we have to do more. Official positions relative to policy, case studies, advocacy, strategic partnership development to name just a few. The National Broadband plan essentially establishes a strategy for America's transition into the new economic reality. Is it an accident that Cisco, IBM, and Google are spending astronomical amounts of money in the Healthcare and Smart Grid areas? Colleges are changing the curriculum. Laws and policies have been changed. Even climate change and environmental justice are linked to all of this, but that is another discussion.

Obama even stated during his speech that the job market of our parents is dead and gone! Was anyone listening? We have to get moving yesterday. I cannot stress the urgency enough. Please note that this is stated in a spirit of love and passion - not judgment.

Please read the National Broadband plan at http://www.broadband.gov/plan/

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You've read what he has to say. What say u?

Where is BDPA When It Comes to Innovation? Todd Q. Adams (Cleveland)

Todd Q. Adams is a longtime member of BDPA Cleveland chapter. He shared his thoughts on the open-ended query, Where is BDPA When It Comes to Innovation?:

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Ironically, I have engaged a few long standing BDPA members on this very subject. There is this undercurrent of members that believe that BDPA is entrenched in a paradigm that has come and gone. I tend to agree. The discussion of innovation usually takes place within a "technology vacuum"

First of all, the business and technology landscape is forever changed. It is no longer just about innovation. Public policy is changing the technology landscape forever. The Smart Grid, meaningful use of electronic health records, and interoperable public safety communications networks are being driven home by the Obama administration. Billions of stimulus dollars being allocated for technology, and I am astounded by the lack of awareness among black IT professionals. Yet, we can't get past discussions about resume writing and the next release of some vendor software.

Policy determines where broadband infrastructure is deployed, how funding is allocated, and public-private partnerships. The next generation of applications and services are going to empower the consumer in ways that we cannot imagine. BDPA can impact the quality of life for consumers of color for decades to come. The truth is that we are missing the boat.

As a business owner providing consulting services on a fiber-to-the-home initiative in Cleveland, I am the lone brother as usual. I am finding that among BDPA members in general that we are unable to "connect the dots". Verizon and Google are pushing fiber-to-the-home, Cisco is emphasizing home energy management, and IBM is constantly advertising about its Smart Cities initiative. There is a common thread to all of this stuff. Technology is these cases only serve as an enabler to finding more ways to get into your pockets. I am witnessing 20 something year olds of every other persuasion establish some entrepreneurial niche in these spaces. BDPA should also seek to foster such innovation.

I have a case of selective amnesia. All the traditional teachings of job search, climbing the corporate ladder, resume preparation, etc. - I have forgotten them all. If we are innovative, then we will begin to define the landscape. That means out of the box thinking, strategic alliance development, and truly embracing global opportunities.

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Bro. Adams shared his candid thoughts on the issue of Innovation and BDPA. Can we have an online dialogue? What say u?