BDPA Leadership Tip: Ignore the Excuse and Attack the Problem

It's important not to get hung up arguing about or debating the validity of excuses. Every BDPAer makes excuses at one time or another. It's better to ignore the excuse, and focus on the job at hand.

For instance, a BDPA volunteer tells you that he "would have finished the job but people kept interrupting me."

Wrong Answer: "Why did you let them interrupt you? And, by the way, who was interrupting you?"

Right Answer: "Fine. What is the status of the job now, and when will you be finished?"

The right answer keeps the discussion focused on the job, not the excuse. As a general rule, attack the problem and ignore the excuse.

Nonprofit Storytelling: 6 Tips for Interviews

By Merritt Engel

Ask any non-profit, and they'll tell you there's nothing better than a personal, heartfelt story to put a face on their cause. Far better than organizational blah-blah or sterile statistics, stories help donors (and future donors) learn an organization's personality. Stories help donors feel engaged in the work - and see the difference they can make in a real person's life. They empower the organization and its supporters to continue on. Messaging Shangri La!

But getting stories (good stories especially) is easier said than done. Here are a few tips we've learned from interviewing hundreds of people who have received help from charitable organizations.

1. Start with the End in Mind - Do your homework. Get the "story behind the story" from the program manager before you ever pick up the phone. Think of the story you want to end up with and backtrack from there to draft your questions.


2. Never Use the Word "Interview" - The word "interview" makes people feel like they're being interrogated by Woodward and Bernstein. It can cause anxiety and stage fright. Instead, ask if you can "chat for a few minutes about the assistance he/she received."


3. Talk Less, Listen More - Use the first minute or so to make the interviewee feel at ease-express your thanks. After that, zip your lips. Closed-ended questions will give you just what you might expect-one-word, dull answers. Ask questions like "what did the help mean to you?" and give people time to think about and respond to the question. Resist the urge to fill dead air as some of the best responses come when the interviewee is given the floor.


4. Veer from the Script - As mentioned in #1, a list of questions is always a good idea. But that said, it's a starting point. Listen closely to the interview, and be ready to jet off in another direction if needed. Use probing questions to get more in-depth answers.


5. Get Approvals - No surprises. That's our motto. After you've drafted the story, give the interviewee a chance to review for accuracy. Most make no changes, but it's better to know any problems before publishing it. Keep a paper trail-you might need it.


6. Be Prepared for Anything (and I mean anything) - Interviewing for non-profits is unique. You're talking to people who were-or are-in crisis. Don't be surprised if you encounter hostility, tears and any other emotions. Listen and be empathetic, but never say, "I know what you're going through." Most importantly, stay calm no matter what's thrown at you.

Source: Merritt Engel is Vice President of Merrigan & Co., a Kansas City-based agency that specializes in messaging for non-profit organizations.

The BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) seeks volunteers that can help us capture the story of past winners of the Jesse Bemley Scholarship, Bank of America Scholarship for BDPA Students and Eli Lilly Scholarship for BDPA Students. Please contact BETF by email or phone (513.284-4968) if you would like to discuss this volunteer opportunity.

10 Tips for Filling Volunteer Vacancies in BDPA

Guest Blogger: Dalric Webb (BDPA Cincinnati president-elect)

Recently, I took it upon myself to try and “connect the dots” and close the gap between vacancies in our local chapter board of directors and potential volunteers who expressed an interest in working within the chapter framework toward the goals of the organization. The individuals who expressed interest were all identified at our regular monthly program meetings but they could also come from any online community such as Groupsite, Facebook, LinkedIn Network, Pinterest or Twitter.
The guiding principle is simple -- Ask the question (“Would you consider taking a role in the chapter”) and then follow-up with those who answer, ‘Yes’!

Here are some pointers that can help us identify talented volunteer leaders for BDPA at local, regional or national level.  BDPA leaders seeking to fill volunteer vacancies:

1. Should have a personal and demonstrated desire to serve the organization.
2. Must have a vision for the future – and be able to articulate it. This vision needs to align with the BDPA purpose.
3. Should be able to point potential volunteers to a stable location (preferably online) that details the expectations of each role and which roles are vacant.
4. Must be familiar with each vacancy.
5. Must be able to listen to the expressed interest of the potential volunteer in order to suggest one or two open vacancies for their consideration (demonstrating that they have listened and heard the potential volunteer).
6. Must follow-up – this is CRITICAL.
7. Should expect several rounds of interaction; email exchanges, phone calls or face-to-face meetings to occur before the potential volunteer actually commits to filling a vacancy.
8. Should stay engaged with the potential volunteer – build a relationship and rapport.
9. Should follow-up after confirmation of acceptance with a public announcement and publication of the volunteer being appointed or accepting the new leadership role.
10. Should integrate the new volunteer into all planning and communication sessions (depending on the persons level of interest, this can start prior to actually appointment/acceptance).

This effort has to be personal! People don’t join BDPA for the benefits … they join for the relationship. It starts with the person making ‘the ask’. That leader needs to convey what they feel, believe, and want to build in BDPA with the potential volunteer.

Dalric Webb, president (2014-2015)
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

BDPA Joins with President Obama’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to Deliver President’s Volunteer Service Award

BDPA announced today that they have teamed up with the White House to become a Certifying Organization for the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD, a national program recognizing Americans who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to volunteer service. Established in 2003, the AWARD was created by President George W. Bush to give Presidential recognition to individuals, families, and groups who meet requirements for volunteer service, measured by the number of service hours performed over twelve months. [SOURCE]

BDPA is one of many organizations that have joined forces to deliver the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD and honor the volunteers who strengthen our nation. As a Certifying Organization for the AWARD, BDPA is responsible for verifying service hours, nominating potential recipients, and delivering the AWARD.

Monique Berry

“We are extremely proud to recognize our most outstanding volunteers with the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD,” said Monique Berry, BDPA President. “BDPA volunteers are role models in our community, donating their time, energy and talent to advance computer technology across the nation. The AWARD is our way of thanking these volunteers and inspiring everyone in our community to make volunteering a central part of their lives,” she added.

The AWARD is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, the group that helps to foster and encourage a culture of volunteer service and civic participation among Americans. The program is chaired by two-time Super Bowl Champion Darrell Green, with former U.S. Senators Bob Dole and John Glenn as honorary co-chairs. The Council is composed of leaders in government, media, entertainment, business, education, nonprofit, volunteer service organizations, and community volunteering.

BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and the late David Wimberly as an answer to minimal African American representation in the technology field. Today, BDPA is a nationally recognized technology-focused organization with 46 active chapters in the United States. They boast a diverse and varied membership, including programmers, analysts, engineers, managers, instructors, students, and entrepreneurs.

The PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD is within reach, even for those who have never volunteered before.

Monique Berry, BDPA President states, “There are so many ways to contribute, and every volunteer hour makes a difference in improving the quality of life for others. BDPA encourages everyone to get involved and to bring along your family, friends and neighbors. Together, we can strengthen America – one hour at a time.”

For more information about volunteering with BDPA, contact Zenia Lofton at vpms@bdpa.org or call BDPA on (301) 584-3135.

BDPA Philadelphia Chapter President Receives Local NAACP Honor

BDPA Philadelphia chapter president Eileen Gadsden was honored by the NAACP Philadelphia as one of 104 Most Influential Women at an awards ceremony held March 24, 2013 in Philadelphia.

104 deserving women were chosen from the ranks of elected officials, entrepreneurs, non-profits, civic leaders, educators, labor leaders, members of the clergy, media, health care providers, government agency leaders, corporate America leaders, community leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs. Eileen was commended for her work as a community leader.  Eileen shared the following comment about the honor,

"I was surprised, humbled, and overjoyed by the idea of sharing such an accolade with 103 talented, driven and accomplished women. I am truly encouraged and will continue the work of BDPA to inspire students and professionals to pursue IT and other STEM related careers to reduce the digital divide and to secure our place as innovators and decision-makers in this global marketplace."

I encourage BDPA members to do their part in honoring Eileen by making a secure online donation to her fundraiser that supports college scholarships for High School Computer Competition students in Philadelphia.   Eileen is one of the hardest working BDPA members in the nation.  Please visit her fundraiser and make a donation today!

For Non-Profits Seeking Funding, Remember the Power of One

According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS), over 1.5 million non-profits are registered in the U.S. While many of them receive assistance through corporate philanthropy and employee volunteer programs, in general all of them compete for a limited giving pool. So how can nonprofits stand out among all the noise, especially if you're a small, grassroots organization championing an under-served and mainly unnoticed population like foster children?

"One person, one volunteer, one company at a time," says Zaid Gayle, Executive Director of Peace4Kids (P4K), a South Los Angeles non-profit that provides programs and services for foster and at-risk youth from ages 5-18, and after they transition to adulthood until age 24. Because foster kids rarely have a permanent home or family, Peace4Kids is dedicated to empowering foster and at-risk youth by providing its own community as family. The P4K creed is that no matter where their foster kids are moved or what challenges are thrown their way, P4K wants them to feel that they will always have a family at P4K.

Read the rest of this Huffington Post article.

Microsoft Volunteer Manager

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is now one of the nonprofits that can benefit from the Microsoft Volunteer Manager. Thousands of Microsoft employees and alumni are using Volunteer Manager to find volunteer opportunities, record hours, and request matching funds.

I encourage Microsoft employees who volunteer in support of BDPA programs around the nation to register. You are already helping BDPA meet its needs ... why not let BDPA also benefit financially from your volunteer efforts?

Our understanding is that Microsoft will make a volunteer grant equal to $17/hour for every hour that a Microsoft employee documents via the Volunteer Manager! Our first approved volunteer is Kevin Robinson. Kevin documented the hours that he has volunteered in support of the BDPA Charlotte chapter's youth education program.

Who's next?

BDPA Member Michael Wulf Awarded Presidential Volunteer Service Award

We are pleased to announce that President Barack Obama recently awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award to BDPA Twin Cities chapter member Michael Wulf in recognition of his dedication and time commitment to community service in 2011.

The Presidential Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period.

I'm fairly certain that Michael Wulf will be in the BDPA Hall of Fame when it is eventually built. Bro. Wulf trained over 100 high school students ... including his two sons, Justin and Jordan ... in the past few years as part of the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. A number of the young people shared their testimonials in this video:





In fact, there are over 60 young people in the chapter's SITES program right now in 2012! The most beautiful thing is that students from prior years serve as 'junior instructors' responsible for preparing and delivering curriculum to less experienced students.

Use the COMMENTS section to share some BDPA-Love with Michael!

Connect With Monique: Get Involved and Raise Your Profile

by Monique Berry, president
National BDPA

Membership offers many opportunities for you to get involved in BDPA activities and raise your profile within the global technology community. Don't just join, join in!

Volunteering - Volunteering can give you great satisfaction and enjoyment while enhancing your professional and personal development, as well as providing benefit to others.

You can get involved by:

• Becoming a BDPA mentor;
• Helping to author new publications;
• Helping to organize meetings and events for your Local Chapter;
• Nominate yourself for a seat on one of the committees, including the Board of Directors;
• Promoting BDPA activities in schools, colleges, universities and in places of employment;
• Speaking at a Chapter meeting;
• Submitting research papers to the BDPA journals;
• Working on the conference team.

Local Chapters - With 45 local chapters, there is a community of BDPA members near you which provide a host of professional networking opportunities. The level of involvement is up to you. Simply go along to an event or get more involved by joining a committee and helping put together the program of events. You may even be interested in giving a talk - no matter the amount of time you can commit, your Local Chapter would be delighted to hear from you.

Message from National BDPA President

Monique Berry

Volunteering Counts

Your volunteer BDPA hours COUNT and so we want to count your hours...we will use this information to report to federal, state and local governments and for grants and other funding sources. Locally, by tracking the volunteer hours generated by BDPA volunteers, we demonstrate where the community needs are by your time and the dollar equivalent of your volunteer service. Collectively, these hours demonstrate what an asset BDPA volunteers are to their community.

We understand that reporting your volunteer hours may be a nuisance, but it is necessary and tells a meaningful story about all of you. Please click here to submit information and give the best estimate of the number of BDPA volunteer service hours for 2011 (last year).

Thank you!
Monique Berry, president
National BDPA

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

http://bit.ly/pb4Fbb
Deadline: November 1

If you've made a difference through volunteering over the past year, you could win $1,000 and a fabulous trip to Washington DC next May by applying for a Prudential Spirit of Community Award! Even more importantly, you could win recognition that might inspire other young people to follow your example. These prestigious awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial and NASSP, have honored nearly 100,000 middle and high school students at the local, state, and national level over the past 16 years solely for their volunteer work.

BDPA has hundreds of middle- and high-school students in its programs. I encourage you to share this information with those students or any others you know that are sharing their talents with others.

Health Care Service Corporation Names BDPA Foundation as a Blue Corps Community Partner

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) was accepted as a Blue Corps Community Partner by Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC). The success of this HCSC corporate volunteer program, known as Blue Corps, depends on the many BlueCross BlueShield employees who volunteer their personal time to support an array of worthwhile causes. Our hope is that together, we can build upon our heritage of making a positive difference in the lives of others, thereby helping to create a brighter future for us all.

This means that members of the HCSC who live in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma or Texas will have the opportunity to volunteer for BDPA and for every verified hour, HCSC will provide a matching donation of $20 per hour up to a combined possible total of $2,000 per year.

HCSC is also willing to post volunteer opportunities on their Blue Corps website. For any individual volunteering, the volunteers will submit a participation form that would need to be co-signed by the BETF executive director, chapter president or national vice president upon volunteer completion.

The HCSC Volunteer Plan coordinators are:


Illinois: Regina High, (312) 653-6000
New Mexico: Tamra Pena, (505) 291-3500
Oklahoma: Pia Lupeika, (405) 841-9525
Texas: Debbie Cox, (972) 766-6900

For more information, please contact:

Lydia Ashanin,

HCSC Director of Corporate Community Involvement:
Health Care Service Corporation
dba Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK and TX
5700 Balloon Fiesta Parkway
Albuquerque, NM 87113
Phone: 505-816-4292
E-mail: Lydia_Ashanin@hcsc.net

Do you have any members of the BlueCross BlueShield team working as volunteers in your chapter? If so, please reply to this post so we can figure out how to leverage this corporate volunteer grant program!

Can BDPA and GiveCamp Find a Way to Work Together?

Ricardo Wilkins is a blogger and BDPA Columbus chapter member. He recently had a blog post titled, 'Volunteers Are Kool' in which he introduced his readers to an event taking place around the nation called GiveCamp.

GiveCamp is a weekend-long event where technology professionals from designers, developers and database administrators to marketers and web strategists donate their time to provide solutions for non-profit organizations. Since its inception in 2007, the GiveCamp program has provided benefits to over 150 charities, with a value of developer and designer time exceeding $100,000 in services!



What is GiveCamp? from givecamp on Vimeo.

Many BDPA chapters seek ways to provide programs and services for their IT professionals members. How 'kool' would it be for BDPA chapters that are co-located with GiveCamp weekend events to partner with one another?

Is GiveCamp an idea you would like to see your BDPA chapter explore? What say u?

BDPA Washington DC Member of the Year * Louis Shack

Louis Shack, Technology Education Manager for DC Courts, combines his passion for computers with his passion to see youth reach their fullest potential. These passions have led him to volunteer with BDPA Washington DC chapter for the past five years. As a mentor, teacher and coordinator in the high school computer competition (HSCC) program, Louis has coached teams to achieve second and third place rankings in recent national BDPA HSCC championships (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009).

Through his efforts and the efforts of his co-volunteers they have seen the program expand from a handful of interested applicants to thirty youths annually. For his selfless efforts and dedication to the chapter's mission, BDPA Washington DC chapter proudly presented this year's Chapter Member of the Year award to Mr. Louis Shack.

Corporate America Values Skilled Volunteerism as a Means to Social Change

Increasingly, corporations regard workplace volunteerism as a means to effect long-term social change and are offering their employees skilled volunteer opportunities, an annual survey from New York City-based Deloitte finds. [SOURCE]


According to the 2010 Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey (4 pages, PDF), 84 percent of corporate managers believe volunteerism can help nonprofits achieve long-term goals. The survey also found that whereas 50 percent of respondents offered skills-based volunteer opportunities in 2009, 60 percent now report offering options for employee-selected projects, while 64 percent offer options that fit the companies' philanthropic focus. Top criteria for determining workplace volunteer activities include the potential to help mitigate a social problem, help a nonprofit organization function more effectively, help a nonprofit serve more clients, promote good corporate citizenship values, and enhance employee morale.

At the same time, the survey suggests that consistent communication, measurement, and accountability in employee volunteer programs are lacking. Fewer than half the corporations, for example, reported that they always discuss with nonprofits how the volunteer projects will help address short-term needs, create long-term social impact, or help the nonprofits function more effectively, while only 38 percent work with nonprofits to customize metrics to measure the impact of volunteer time.

"Nonprofit organizations are not just looking for more and more people to volunteer; they are looking for people who have specific skills and can help them accomplish sophisticated goals," said Evan Hochberg, national community involvement director at Deloitte Services. "The great news in the data is that companies have begun to look at volunteerism as a means to help accomplish social objectives, but that requires a different conversation than the one that might be had about organizing traditional, hands-on volunteerism events."

“Corporate America Gives Workplace Volunteerism a Strong Vote of Confidence as Means for Long-Term Social Change.” Deloitte Press Release 5/03/10.

Seeking Volunteer Leaders for BDPA Strategic Management Office

One of the most accomplished leaders in BDPA-nation is Curtis Jenkins. BDPA Philadelphia earned its first 'Chapter of the Year' victory under the leadership of Curtis who served as its president at the time. Curtis accepted a new leadership role as national BDPA VP-Strategy & Planning earlier this year.

Curtis is looking for three people interested in demonstrating leadership abilities to work with him in the BDPA Strategic Management Office. Sometimes African American IT professionals don't have a chance to demonstrate their leadership ability within Corporate America. That is one of the most powerful membership benefits of BDPA ... the ability to show your stuff in a national organization on a volunteer basis makes you invaluable as an employee within your company.

Anyhow, Curtis is looking for three department directors that will report directly to him:

1. Director, Chapter Compliance
2. Director, Intake and Analysis
3. Director, Strategic Methodologies and Metrics

Reply to this message or reach out to Curtis on (800) 727-2372 if you are interested in learning more about any of these three volunteer vacancies. In the meantime, you can learn more about the strategic plans and operations of BDPA by viewing the following slideshow:

BDPA Strategic Management Office (2010)

View more presentations from Wayne Hicks.

What are your thoughts on the BDPA Strategic Planning Office?

Find BDPA Volunteers in HandsOn Network

Krystal Cooper was on the 1991-1992 high school computer competition (HSCC) teams trained by BDPA Los Angeles. It turns out that she graduated from the same college (University of California, Riverside) as the BETF executive director. Cooper is currently an arts patron and visual effects professional who enjoys pop culture, advocacy and community service.

Anyhow, she contacted BDPA about Disney for a Day program created to inspire one million people to volunteer and celebrate volunteerism with a free ticket to a Disney theme park.

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) ended up participating in this program through the HandsOn Network. HandsOn Network provides a remarkable process for any BDPA chapter to identify volunteers.

BDPA Orlando was the first chapter to take advantage of this program. Chapter president Pablo More wrote,

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BDPA Orlando signed up thru the BDPA Foundation to participate in the Hands on Network Give-A-Day-Get-A-Disney-Day program. This program has been very successful for us in getting volunteers for various program meetings as well as for next month's Black Family Tech Awareness Week activities. We have received more than a dozen responses from potential volunteers in the first 2 weeks of the year. I would like to thank John Malonson, BDPA Los Angeles chapter President, for making us aware of this program, as well as Wayne Hicks (BDPA Foundation) for coordinating this fantastic program!

I encourage other chapters whom are in need of volunteers to take a look at this program and also search out other similar programs in your area that can be utilize like this for volunteers. I believe that we will see this model replay itself with other non-profit organizations and private enterprise giving the economic climate and the call for more community action and volunteering to help our neighbors and those less fortunate.

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So far we have three chapters -- Los Angeles, New York and Orlando -- participating in this program. Who's next?

MLK Technology Challenge Day

On January, 18, 2010, people of all ages and backgrounds will come together to improve lives, bridge social barriers, and move our nation closer to the “Beloved Community” that Dr. King envisioned.

Dr. Martin Luther King devoted his life’s work to causes of equality and social justice. He taught that through nonviolence and service to one another, problems such as hunger and homelessness, prejudice and discrimination can be overcome. Dr. King’s teachings can continue to guide us in addressing our nation’s most pressing needs -- poverty, economic insecurity, job loss and education

The MLK Tech Challenge is working to connect IT and web professionals who are willing to volunteer their time with local schools to help them meet their technology needs.

I hope that all BDPA members will Get HandsOn! and find a way to make your MLK Day "A Day On, Not A Day Off!"

How will you choose to spend your MLK Day? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below!

Message from Richmond Chapter Past President

BDPA Richmond chapter past president Jackie Pryor shared a passionate plea for more of us to volunteer in support of our youth education programs. Another past president of our Richmond chapter, Annette Yates, was moved to share her thoughts on BDPA volunteerism:

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Good Morning BDPA Members and Non-BDPA Members and Jackie,

Of all the posts I have seen this year I must say this is my favorite and I am sure those of you who know me, know why. This post captures the true vision and mission of BDPA Richmond.

It was through volunteer service at the elementary, middle and high schools in Richmond and the college campuses at Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State University, Old Dominion University and Virginia Union University that helped me understand my role in BDPA Richmond. Through that knowledge and the self awareness that materialized, I realized that I had something to give others. From that day on, I was determined to give my heart and soul to ensuring that the students and BDPA Richmond members that I met, mentored and coached were exposed to as much knowledge about community outreach, networking, mentoring and giving back as I could.

In that vein, I witnessed the BDPA Richmond chapter explode with enthusiasm for helping others and that is what sustained this chapter for this long. Believe me I did not do this alone, I was merely one of catalyst that ignited the flame in many others along the way.

As Jackie said, it is time to get back on track. Just as you could see below realization was enhanced by just being with the students for a short period of time. She is conveying to you that these students need us. With their varied situations of knowledge and preparation for the future we all can make a difference. The only way you will get the giving back bug is to get into these schools and college campuses to see the need and know that if we all band together we can make a difference.

Today, I am still in touch with many of the students. It is because I know I made a difference in their lives. They have been reaching out to me via email, on Facebook and LinkedIn. You can just imagine what a surprise and how refreshing it is for me, after being in BDPA for almost 20 years to still have these young people contact me. This shows me that it was all worth my efforts. We are all in harder economic times but giving back to our youth only costs our hearts.

The current BDPA Richmond administration is working very hard but they cannot take the chapter to the next level without some additional support. Although I am now residing in Phoenix, through the use of technology I am still helping where I can though knowledge, sending fundraising information to my vast network, being a part of various committees to do what I can from here. I am so vested in knowing the potential this chapter has that I recently renewed my membership for the next 5 years.

To add to Jackie's plea, I would like to ask that you please consider stepping up to the plate. It is not for the adults in the chapter, but for the community outreach programs that we are making a difference with in our communities. If you feel you do not have the time to donate please don't forget that all of the education programs could use financial support.

Our President of the United States has been asking ALL of you for almost a year to step up your volunteer actions. This is such a worthy avenue to do just that!!

On behalf of BDPA Richmond, please share Jackie's message and mine if you like with others so that we can continue to make a difference in the Richmond, Virginia communities.

This email is being sent to all of my Virginia networks because I do believe that BDPA Richmond chapter can make a bigger impact if WE ALL help in some way!!

Please send an email to execboard@bdparichmond.org to learn more about the organization, to volunteer your time or make a donation to one of the education programs.

Thanks!
Annette Yates, Owner
Curves South Mountain
(602) 470-4500

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Jackie and Annette have laid out a powerful message for Richmond chapter that probably applies to the other 44 BDPA chapters around the nation. What say u?

Callie Herd is Profiled in FedEx's Diversity Appeal

We are proud to see that one of our guest bloggers, Callie Herd (shown in the photo with BETF executive director Wayne Hicks), is featured in FedEx's Diversity Appeal for her passion as a volunteer.

Callie is a BDPA Memphis chapter member and her blog is focused like a laser on Planning and Preparing for College Scholarships, and Internships.