Scholarships for BDPA Student Members to Aggressively Pursue

This is list of scholarships provided by Fred Smith (National BDPA VP-Strategy & Planning). Our hope is that all BDPA student members will aggressively pursue these scholarship opportunities.

Scholarships

View more documents from Wayne Hicks.

Please let us know if know of other scholarships we should be adding to this list or to our website.

Message from New York Chapter President

Seasons Greetings!

I want to personally and humbly thank everyone for a wonderful and exciting year. As President of the BDPA New York Chapter, I have the opportunity to meet and work with a diverse group of phenomenal volunteers from a variety of industries and who all have one thing in common: A passion for giving back and building our future global technologists and for promoting diversity within Information Technology.

Thanks to your wonderful support, our organization was able to stand by our 2009 theme, "Dare 2 Share" and come together to sharpen the technical minds of our key stakeholders. Thanks to our BDPA New York Executive Board Members, our many accomplishments for 2009 include:

• Our HSCC team came in 5th place at the 2009 NBDPA Conference
• Our HSCC team placed 2nd at the Regional HSCC Competition at Bowie State University
• Our SITES youth 2nd placed 2nd in the IT Showcase at the BDPA Regional Conference
• Our students also attended the Teragrid Computer Conference in Arlington, VA
• Two BDPA student members worked at UBS corporate offices in Stamford, CT
  as summer interns
• Our monthly program meetings featured excellent presentations on topics such as Web Analytics, Unix, A Very Long Love Affair, Social Networking, Trends in Web
  2.0 and Cloud Computing
• Membership drives, including events such as our BDPA New York chapter Meet-n-Greet, Sing, Harlem, Sing theatre outing, and Book Signing featuring two local authors
• Submission of our 2008 Chapter of the Year book to National BDPA headquarters
• Our newsletter, Humanware, was published four times this year.
• We partnered with other nonprofit organizations to participate in events such as No Limit Career Day and Sisterhood: United we Inspire
• A wonderful Scholarship & Recognition Awards Ceremony, in June, thanks to our corporate sponsor UBS

We are already planning for an exciting 2010! BDPA is a volunteer-based organization and we are always looking for members who want take an active role and have a desire to give back. In the words of Mary McLeod Bethune "Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough." If you want to be a part of something great ... Now is the Time, the Momentum is Here, BDPA is the Conduit.

Sincerely,
Judaea Yarde Lane, President
BDPA New York Chapter

Take Five: Rick Leggett (Triangle)

There have been hundreds of chapter presidents in the 35-year history of BDPA. In my opinion, Rick Leggett is would rank in the all-time Top Ten of BDPA chapter presidents in our history. In 2005, he took a small and forgotten BDPA chapter located in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina and turned it into a outright powerhouse. The chapter is currently the 2nd-largest in the nation ... and it recently hosted a highly profitable and critically-acclaimed national conference.

Rick agreed to participate in our Take Five interview series:

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1. How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - During the mid-90's, BDPA representatives were featured on a television series (Excellence By Choice: The Television Show for College Bound Students) that I created and produced in Washington, DC. The show exposed students and viewers to higher education and Career opportunities. I became aware of the organization after researching information about national organizations in technology. We invited and featured BDPA representatives on the thirty-minute show to expose students and viewers to careers in IT. High school students served as host & production crew of the highly acclaimed weekly tv series, assisted by industry professionals.
   
   In 2002, some IT colleagues asked me to attend an informational meeting about an effort to re-establish a BDPA chapter in the Triangle (NC) region. They were aware that I had launched a model economic development initiative, known as City-wide Technology Enrichment Program (CTEP), a comprehensive computer literacy, academic enrichment, informational and workforce development program serving 10,000 residents (youth, adults, and senior citizens). While serving as it's Executive Director, CTEP had been nationally and internationally recognized as well as replicated around the world.
   
   During the meeting I agreed to provide seed capital, meeting location, computer lab and additional resources to re-establish the Triangle Chapter. I was later asked by (then) National BDPA president Wayne Hicks to lead the effort to rejuvenate the Triangle Chapter after the chapter's current president was facing imminent military deployment. We only had about 5 or so members at the time. I reluctantly agreed to the task at hand given my other significant responsibilities, but appreciated the importance of BDPA's mission.


2. What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - Another avenue to serve God's will. Our chapter's creed is "Impacting our communities through IT". We’re making a significant impact in the community through our chapter monthly Professional, Technical and Personal Development Series; Collegiate Speakers Series; Project Management Professional Study Course; SITES/HSCC Saturday Technology Academy for area high school students; in addition to, the Durham Technology Expo held during Black Family Technology Awareness Week; partnership with the City-wide Technology Enrichment Program; the Dewayne Washington Foundation to help area high school graduates receive laptop computers and printers for college, as well as, providing volunteers for Science and Technology Day at local public Middle Schools.
   
   BDPA Triangle Chapter consistently holds monthly chapter meetings, with high-quality presenters at a great facility at the First Flight Venture Center located in Research Triangle Park, NC. We’ve developed strong strategic alliances (such as Council for Entrepreneurial Development, Raleigh-Durham Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, Carolina Minority Suppliers Development Council) and relationships with corporate sponsors (such as North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, Credit Suisse, Compuware, RBC Bank, GE Healthcare, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, IBM, Cisco Systems, AT&T and others).
   
   We’ve proudly embodied the BDPA mantra: “From Classroom to the Boardroom”. Working with a dedicated and talented team, we’ve increased membership to (200+) and (Ranked #2) nationally; developed and maintained working relations with area organizations; showcased membership & businesses in newsletter; supported local & regional area businesses; facilitated contracts & job opportunities for members; facilitated student internship opportunities for members; and trained & exposed youth to advanced technology; and of course, we’re proud to have been host to a first-class, successful annual National BDPA Technology Conference in the organization’s history.


3. Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - There has not been any one in particular. I've been very blessed throughout my life, having had an array of prominent mentors and exposures. Early in life, we were instilled with values that we'd have a big job to fill and our role was to carry the torch of those great warriors before us who'd paved the way for us. God continues to prepare, guide and use me and many others to do his work. As they say, "it's not about the destination, its about the journey".


4. Who is your hero and why? - As I've said before their are many who suffered and struggled for us, shedding their blood and tears to pave the way for all of us. Those untold heroes & sheroes positively impacted our lives. It's important that we carry-on that legacy. We also must instill in our youth that they are connected to this journey and its their's too. As an extension of us, they too serve a vital role to collectively succeed for the continued enrichment of each generation to come.
   
   People like my grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, uncles and aunts, extended family, along with numerous others come to mind as my hero/shero. They and others were most influential in my life, and certainly played an integral role in shaping my life in addition to many others. People like affirmative action pioneer Dr. Arthur Fletcher whose initiatives paved the way to changing America’s employment, education and business opportunity culture forever. The late Dr. Fletcher served as former Deputy Secretary of the U. S. Department of Labor, advisor to four United States Presidents, and one of the nation’s foremost economic development advisors as well as one the most influential Americans of the 20th Century. I can name many others who were and still remain my hero. Each and every one made a significant positive impact on our lives.


5. Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - I always felt BDPA has the potential to be the most influential African American organization in the world. The vast talent pool within the organization is incredible. BDPA members are running Corporate America, Governments, Communities and beyond. Its vital that we pool our resources to have mechanisms in place to impact the lives of our youth and communities in a most positive manner. Its imperative that we maintain our own engines to drive our own destiny, thus being not be so dependent upon others. The BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) serves as an important channel for us to achieve this goal by providing our youth financial assistance for higher education through scholarships in addition to support for our local chapters' initiatives.

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Rick proved that you can build a BDPA chapter with both quality and quantity if you stay focused on the organization mission and if you deliver measurable programs and services to your members and community.

What did you think of Rick's response?

2002-2009 SITES Overview (BDPA Southern Minnesota)

BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter has a powerful history of success in the National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) from 2002-2009. This slideshow documents the elements of that success.

BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter president Nat Calvert created this slideshow.

2002-2009 SITES Overview (BDPA Southern Minnesota)

View more presentations from Wayne Hicks.

Message from Chicago Chapter President

Crossposted: Blacks Gone Geek

Seasons Greetings from BDPA Chicago Chapter!

As we all prepare for the new year, we think about ways to help others have the opportunity for a better life.

In our case, we have the annual Awards Banquet to recognize the BDPA Chicago Chapter volunteers that spent the year supporting the organization to educate our youth and IT Professionals.

We also recognize our corporate sponsors for the financial and volunteer resources provided to us, even during the economic challenges faced during this year.

We would like to personally invite you to join us on January 23rd to celebrate the accomplishments and generosity of our members and supporters.

We had a wonderful event last year and plan to have the same amount of positive energy generated by our guests this year.

Please visit our website for more information and to purchase tickets for the 2010 Awards Banquet

Have a Happy Holiday!
Rhonda Boyd, president
BDPA Chicago Chapter

Take Five: John Malonson (Los Angeles)

I have a special place in my heart for the BDPA Los Angeles chapter. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and my mom, Liz Hicks, is a past president of the chapter. As such, I am pleased that the chapter is now being led by John Malonson. He represents the new generation of BDPA leadership. I look for great things from John and his leadership team on the west coast.

He was kind enough to participate in our Take Five interview series.

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1. How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - In 2003, I began looking for an African American organization with a focus on Information Technology. Needless to say, my journey started with Google. After being pointed in the right direction, I've been a member of BDPA ever since. It was never my intention to sit back and be a passive member. I knew the value that I brought to the table and welcomed the opportunity to give back to my community. Before assuming the role of President, I actively got involved with my local chapter by serving as the HSCC Coordinator/Instructor from 2003-2008.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - The most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA is being able to bear witness to lives made better via access to information and technology.
3. Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - A definitive moment in my life was my freshman year in college at UCLA. The year was 1995 and this thing called the "Internet" was moving fast and freely (via T1 connections) on college campuses while the rest of world moved sluggishly at 28.8k speed. Most people assume that I majored in Computer Science or Engineering; however, I actually majored in Psychology. After having access to all the world's information in an instant at my fingertips, I immediately knew which direction my career would take and I haven't looked back since.
4. Who is your hero and why? - I honestly don't have a lone hero or one person that I look up to. I'd have to say that my heroes are those that came before me; both sung and unsung. It is because of them that I can hold my head high, befriend almost anyone of my choosing, and have access to all the opportunities that life has to offer.
5. Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - I'd like those considering donation to BETF to view it as an "investment" in our young leaders. If you need to check the ROI of your investment, the testimonies are there for public viewing. Although I've volunteered thousands of hours during my tenure with BDPA Los Angeles, I donate.

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BDPA Los Angeles chapter is aggressively marketing itself via a variety of social networks that include Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Network.

What did you learn from John's interview? Please share some BDPA-Love with John as a response to this post!

Black Web 2.0 Interview with Michael Powell

Black Web 2.0 is a blog that all BDPAers should be reading on a daily basis. One of the creative forces behind Black Web 2.0 is Angela Benton. I met Angela at the 1st annual Blogging While Brown conference in Atlanta GA a couple of years ago. I'm pleased that she is currently serving as a virtual volunteer with BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF).

Angela conducted an interview with former FCC chairperson Michael Powell. Please take a moment to listen to this interview:

Black Web 2.0 Interview with Michael Powell from blackweb20 on Vimeo.

Mr. Powell talks about Internet, net neutrality and broadband access. I must admit that I didn't much like Powell when he led the FCC back in the day. However, I appreciate him for taking time to share some thoughts with Black Web 2.0.

What are your thoughts about Mr. Powell (in general) and this interview (in particular)?

HSCC Testimonial: Ramala Andemariam (Cincinnati)

Originally Posted: 12/18/2008

I have been a member of BDPA for over 20 years. One of my proudest BDPA accomplishments was working with others to revive BDPA Cincinnati chapter in 1999. BDPA Cincinnati chapter went on to train hundreds of students in web development, presentation skills, project management skills and computer programming over the next decade.

One of those students is a remarkable young brother, Ramala Andemariam. Ramala participated in the BDPA Student IT Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in 2003-2005. Ramala is currently a senior at the University of Cincinnati. He is very active with the Ethiopian Student Association.


Ramala shared his thoughts about BDPA when he was 16-years old. He recently updated his testimonial:

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I remember when I first started BDPA. I was in 10th grade and I got some information from my web design teacher about BDPA. I've been interested in making websites for a while and I was also learning it on my own so this was a great opportunity for me to find out what this organization offered. I talked to my father about it and went to the testing with him. There I saw many others that have come to do the same. After being accepted into the first phase, I was excited to learn what they offered. Ultimately, I ended up going all the way through to being on the competition team. It was the most exciting thing I've done at that time. I love to compete and BDPA gave me the perfect setting to do just that.

Throughout my BDPA journey, there were a lot of opportunities for me to learn and experience new things. The Saturday sessions we had were the most educational for me, specially during the first year. I always looked forward to every Saturday with BDPA. Being able to learn new things, work with other people that had the same interest, and meet new people were among the many things I experienced with BDPA. Going to different cities and competing was also one of the highlights of the program. I loved those Fridays that we spent locked in the competition room coming up with ways to solve our competition problem with limited time. I loved the time we spent playing pranks on one another that Saturday night before our departure. There were many experiences that helped me grow as a person while in BDPA.

My initial interest in technology was what guided me to join BDPA. Once in BDPA, I learned a lot of things that helped me succeed in college. Being an IT major, there was a lot of knowledge that transfered directly to my daily school work from those BDPA classes. It is by far the best educational and fun experience I've had to date. I recommend it to everyone that has the chance to join. BDPA is the best family you can have outside of your current one. I regret not knowing about BDPA earlier but it will always have a special place in my life. Thank you for those that took their time out to educate me and influence me in a great way. Thank you BDPA!

Ramala Andemariam
Member, BDPA Cincinnati Chapter
Student, University of Cincinnati (Class of 2010)

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Please take a moment to share your thoughts about this testimonial in the COMMENTS option below. Is your BDPA chapter identifying and supporting its HSCC Alumni?

Social Media Revolution

It still amazes me that there are BDPA leaders who think that social media is a fad. I encourage all BDPA leaders to check out this video to get an idea of the impact that social media is having on our society.



Can we afford to continue ignoring impact of social media? Or is it time for us to figure out how to harness the power of social media to meet the mission of BDPA. What say u?

Microsoft Seeks to 'Elevate America' with Free Training

Microsoft is committed to strengthening the U.S. economy and increasing global competitiveness by improving access to education and workforce-readiness skills required for twenty-first-century jobs. The initiative is being done in a phased state-by-state approach. The second component of 'Elevate America' available online immediately, is a Web site designed to help people with the basics such as creating a resume and send e-mail.

"Millions of individuals don't have the technology skills needed in today's economy. Through Elevate America, we want to help workers get the skills they need to succeed," Pamela Passman, Microsoft's VP for corporate affairs.

As part of the Elevate America program, Microsoft is working with state and local governments and hopes to offer 1 million vouchers for e-learning and certification classes.

I am interested to hear from any BDPA member or chapter that is actively engaged with this program.

Election Results: BDPA Charlotte (2010-2011)

BDPA Charlotte chapter was created in September 1988. The chapter has a rich history of leadership in the BDPA community. The legacy of the chapter will continue into 2010-2011 based on recent election results.

• Chapter President, Julius Clark (Wells Fargo)
• Chapter President-Elect, Markus Beamer (Bank of America)

Julius Clark wrote,

"I am happy to announce that Markus Beamer, current VP of Strategy & Planning, was elected as the 2010-2011 President-Elect for BDPA Charlotte. Markus has been a dedicated member of the BDPA Charlotte family, most notably as trainer for the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) program. Markus has demonstrated a strong passion of educating the next generation of students and walks the talk of our creed; “Advancing Careers From the Classroom to the Boardroom”. Markus is a rising leader in the IT industry who also has a tremendous passion for developing online video/strategy games in his spare time. Markus is a very talented individual and will serve the Charlotte community well."

Markus Beamer wrote,

"My name is Markus Beamer. I was born in Tacoma Washington but was raised in Columbia South Carolina. I come from a family of 4 boys and 2 girls and thus am used to a very hectic environment. “Never a dull moment” is certainly the motto for our home growing up. That’s probably why 11 years ago I turned to technology for a career, “Never a dull moment” sums up its progress quite nicely.

During my college years, at the College of Charleston, my first exploration into technology was as a web developer for a software licensing firm. I started out typing HTML and Javascript into a simple notepad window. Through the years I touched upon CSS, Java, Visual Basic, PHP, mySQL, Photoshop, Access, Oracle and MS SQL Server in that exact order. However, I find it quite amusing that to this day when I want to write a bit of code I reach for my notepad application first ... no matter the language. Needless to say, I found a love in technology. No matter how much I knew, I never was bored, as something new was but a day away. Change was always going to come.

Of course change can come when you grow the family. Currently my family is in Charlotte North Carolina. I am the lucky husband to one fine lady and the proud father of two rambunctious boys. I am happy to say that my household carries on the tradition of “Never a dull moment”. My oldest son is crazy for electronics and all things technical. My youngest son is definitely the outdoor, rough and tumble kinda fella. They both attract their fair share of friends and our house has become the “neighborhood” house. (much to my wife’s dismay!)

I currently work at Bank of America as a Business Process Consultant. When asked, I tell friends and family that my role is to help “leadership” make the best use of technology and in truth this is what I do. However the role affords me much more than that, I am at a crucial nexus where the needs, desires and ambitions of the business meet the calculations, formulas and algorithms of technology. It’s a great place to be and I don’t think I’ll change it for some time to come.

But…

At times one gets bored with the day to day. It is in those times that I turn to my hobby of game building. Like most hobbies it is silly yet fulfilling. I build small games that can be played in a browser; my specialty is to build them with JavaScript so they do not require any plug-ins or downloads to play. Sometimes the games are role based, sometimes they are card based, other times they are …different. I have been doing this since 1999. I laugh when I think of the number of games I have written and thrown by the wayside (at last count 24). But that is what a hobby is…a wasted time that allows the mind, body and soul to reset.

I hope that having learned a little more about me, you will reach out and shake my hand. I am always happy to meet new folks."

I hope that you will take a moment and share some BDPA-Love with Markus and Julius as they embark on this remarkable journey!

DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition

The 24th annual DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition is underway and is accepting entries now through January 31, 2010. Designed to inspire young people to excel in scientific writing, the competition invites students in 7th through 12th grade to research and write a 700- to 1,000-word essay about a scientific discovery, theory, event or technological application that has captured their interest.

Essays are judged on mechanics and conventions; ideas and content; organization; style and creativity; and voice. Winners receive savings bonds up to $5,000 and an expenses paid trip to Walt Disney World and the Kennedy Space Center.

The program also rewards the unique contributions of the teachers of the winning students with trips with winners, $500 education grants, and sponsorship to attend the 2011 NSTA National Conference on Science Education in San Francisco. Created to honor the Challenger astronauts, this competition is a great way to get students to push the limits of imagination and discovery.

Election Results: BDPA Atlanta (2010-2011)

BETF joins with others in congratulating the winners of recent BDPA Atlanta chapter elections:

• Chapter President, Carter Hill (Turner Broadcasting System)
• Chapter President-Elect, Felicia Jones (Macy's Inc.)
• Chapter VP-Finance, Thyrsa Gravely (Deloitte)

BDPA Atlanta, 4th largest chapter in the nation, has been well-served by outgoing chapter president Teresa Williams. Teresa led her chapter to a number of chapter awards and superb performance from the chapter's high school computer competition team. Teresa will remain on the chapter's board of directors in her new role as the immediate past president.

I encourage you to use the POST COMMENT option below to share some love with these BDPA leaders as they prepare for their new roles within the Atlanta chapter.

Take Five: John Eckenrode (Baltimore)

John Eckenrode is the president and founder of CPSI. John has vast experience as an employee and contractor, having progressed through the ranks from programmer to project manager. I met John when his company hosted a quarterly meeting for the National BDPA Board of Directors. I've worked more closely with John over the past year in his role as a director of the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF).

John was kind enough to respond to our Take Five questions:

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1. How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - Through the strong leadership of one of our long time contractors, Denise Holland. Denise was passionate and persistent in getting me involved with our local chapter and in national events.


2. What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - By far, the High School Computer Competition (HSCC). I believe some of the most valuable experiences we can give our young high school students are those which involve "success, we did it, wow, I learned something, it's a big world out there, etc." The HSCC fits this bill AND is very "grass roots" in that most of the money contributed to the chapters goes right to the students expenses for the program.


3. Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - Helping lead the fight in Maryland to repeal the computer services sales tax the legislature passed in 2007. I, along with many others, worked very hard to win the repeal. This effort was one of my most rewarding professional experiences.


4. Who is your hero and why? - I don't have any one hero, but rather a list of people over time, all very wise and learned individuals. Some of them include biblical characters like Moses, King Solomon, Jesus Christ, and the Apostle Paul. From a public service perspective, I consider Abraham Lincoln, FDR, and Ronald Reagan to be my list of the top three presidents, as well as Winston Churchill. From a business perspective, I most admire Jack Welsh (GE), Bill Gates (MicroSoft), Sam Walton (WalMart), Ray Kroc (McDonalds), Tom Watson Sr. (IBM), and a few others. As far as authors go, my top three are Jim Collins' "Good to Great", Machiavelli's "The Prince" and Sun Tsu's "The Art of War", written over 3,500 years ago.


5. Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - Our children are our future. We need to make a difference one child at a time.

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What are your thoughts about John's answers?

Grant Proposal: Duke Energy Foundation

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) and BDPA Charlotte chapter submitted a $15,050 grant proposal to the Duke Energy Foundation. Duke Energy Foundation seeks to support programs focused on science, technology and mathematics -- and that is a remarkable fit for our Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program.

The Duke Energy Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in communities they serve by sharing their time through volunteer efforts, their expertise through leadership and their financial support through grants to charitable organizations.

Grant requests are reviewed at a regional level and considered in the context of the needs of the community and in alignment with their areas of focus.

We anticipate having an answer on our grant request within the next 60 days. Wish us luck!

BDPA Cleveland Chapter Supports IT Corps Program

BDPA Cleveland Chapter Supports IT Corps Program. This 3-part video was taken by Henry Ford at the Community Meeting hosted on 11/17/2009 by BDPA Cleveland chapter. This 3-part video features a comprehensive overview of the BDPA IT Corps by Ademola Solaru and Norman Mays.

Part 1-of-3



Part 2-of-3



Part 3-of-3



I hope that other chapters are discussing the BDPA IT Corps. Our goal is to have BDPA students from around the nation added to the BDPA IT Corps in 2010. Are you interested in learning more?

BDPA Legacy: Norman Mays

Originally Posted: December 11, 2007

BETF-Blog Readers, one of our goals is to provide a repository of information about our BDPA legacy. We hope that reading about our heroes and sheroes of BDPA's past you will be encouraged to help raise money to fund scholarships and youth education programs for our future legends. Please consider clicking here to make an online donation today.

Today we share information about a prolific BDPA leader who founded BDPA chapters in both Washington DC and Cleveland OH. Norman Mays served as the 2nd national BDPA president in 1981-1984. He led the annual conferences held in Philadelphia (1981, 'Growth Through Professional Association'), Detroit (1982, 'Entrepreneurship: A Successful Attitude'), Newark (1983, 'Rise to the Challenge') and Cleveland (1984, 'Information Processing: A Vote for the Future').

Norman is a native Clevelander who graduated from the "old" Glenville High School in January 1959. In August 1959, he entered the US Army where he served for 20 years, specializing in administration, military intelligence and computers. During various assignments, he attended several colleges and began the national expansion of a professional computer organization. Upon retiring from the service in 1979, he spent ten years in the corporate world. Tiring of corporate downsizings, and recognizing the need to have a "safety net", he became an entrepreneur. Norman is currently doing his thing within the financial services industry in Cleveland.

BETF-Blog Readers, Norman is a brother with immense passion for BDPA. He is writing a book on BDPA history. He envisions a televised documentary with BDPA leaders, past and present, talking about the magic of our programs and services.

Norman had a "eureka" moment at a presentation by the Ethiopian Minister of Finance at the 2007 national BDPA conference held in Washington DC when BDPA was challenged to develop an 'IT Peace Corps' ... ambassadors from an advanced nation providing services, developmental support and clarity in IT to the underdeveloped world. Norman wrote,

"We live in an increasingly connected global village, and as an IT organization, we observe many enterprises adapting to the challenges and opportunities of globalization. Without changing BDPA’s core mission, but to expand it, one such intersection of opportunity to impact BDPA in remarkable and unprecedented ways has been presented to us."

Norman accepted the challenge by teaming with Dr. Ademola Solaru to create a proposal that would aggressively move BDPA into the African continent. The proposal is currently under review by the National Executive Committee. I encourage any of you with interest in the book, documentary or IT Peace Corps to reach out to Bro. Mays in the COMMENTS section below.

HSCC Testimonial: Julia Josefina Berg (Boston)

Originally Posted: Dec 13, 2008

There are times when BDPA leaders begin to doubt the sanity of our involvement in a volunteer organization. We give our time, talent and energy and we wonder if our efforts are making a difference.

That is the reason that BETF continues to seek out and share these High School Computer Competition (HSCC) testimonials. Sometimes we simply need to reminders about the impact of BDPA programs directly from our HSCC students.

Here is one that lifted my spirits from Julia Josefina Berg. She is currently a senior at Worcester Polytechnic Institute who is very active as webmaster for the school's Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) chapter. She was a member of the HSCC team trained by BDPA Boston chapter in 2004. She shares her thoughts on the impact that the HSCC training and competition had on her life. I hope you enjoy her testimonial as much as I did:

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"You have eight hours to create an online DVD rental store. You will be judged on teamwork, solution elegance, unique Graphic User Interface (GUI), and the completeness of the application. You may use your choice of Sun Microsystems Java Technology, Microsoft ASP, Open Source Software PHP, or Microsoft.NET, as your database technology. READY..SET..GO!"

The doors were closed and locked shut. Suddenly there I was...a tiny Latina from Boston in a large, strange, hotel ballroom in Dallas, Texas. The room was packed with adolescents, separated by state into small groups and assigned to computer stations. Even after six months of Information Technology (IT) training, I knew my knowledge from school courses and my creativity were about to be pushed to the
limits.

I remember looking around the table and the adrenaline rush that streamed through my body. Never had I been so proud of my peers and myself. There we were - the first team from Boston in over ten years. Yet we were not only representing Massachusetts, but also our own native countries, Chile and Pakistan. As the three finalists, we battled our way through programming boot camp and won our regional competition to gain a spot for the national contest. The long Saturday classes, the trip across the nation, the individual quiz bowl, and now the eight-hour programming contest! This was actually fun for me - what once was overwhelming was now a natural routine. Fingers typing, ideas flowing, this was what I was meant to do.

The first time I learned of Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) I was a high school freshman and was thrilled to have IT training with other motivated teenagers. Yet I never expected my mentors and teammates to become like family. I had attended class expecting to be an outcast, the same frustrating sensation I often met in the computer classroom. Despite living in a diverse community, I constantly found myself the sole racial minority and the only girl. Here at the competition I was not the only one who had felt lonely in her endeavors. We had all come out on top, the underdog role only motivating us to work harder.

At the national conference I had the honor of meeting Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to venture into space, and a role model for women in technology worldwide. Her words have stayed with me ever since. She said, "I had to learn very early not to limit myself due to others' limited imagination."

That is what BDPA helped me to realize: where you are from and the culture you are raised in has a lasting impact in establishing your identity, but should not limit your success. Dr.Jemison taught me that you could both keep your ethnic pride, as well as make your mark in this world. BDPA was about more than striving for equality in the IT field, but aiming for the top.

And... Time! Suddenly it was all over. The eight hours of grueling mental stimulation had knocked me out like no other experience. Depleted, I removed my sore fingers and wrists from the keyboard and fell back in my chair. The scene itself was spectacular; hundreds of minority adolescents brought together for a common goal - to show the world that we were the future IT leaders.

I left that Texas ballroom with the confidence to succeed. For the last four years I have dedicated myself to fulfilling my own dreams. I started a web design company and have worked with major organizations such as the Museum of Science and Intel Computer Clubhouse, a global organization that gives minority children the opportunity to learn computer technology. I hope to guide them like BDPA guided me, by following the trails blazed by influential pioneers like Mae Jemison. Why not go for it?

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Please take a moment to share your COMMENTS with Julia about her remembrances. Afterwards take a moment to think about ways that you can help BDPA create more love for technology in young people. How can you help?

Message from Greater Tampa Bay Chapter President

Next Thursday is our final meeting of the year -- and what a year it has been! Here are a few highlights:

• Partnerships with Computer Mentors Group, Lives Under Construction, Univ of South Florida, the US Air Force Academy and Upward Bound


• First Annual Golf Charity Event with Computer Mentors


• At-Risk Youth: Student Computer, Biz and Life Skills Training (15 students)


• Three Students Participated in Annual High School Computer Competition


• First Annual Greater Tampa Bay Youth Awards Breakfast (30+ students given certificates or plaques)


• Initiated ACT, SAT College Prep Training led by Manish K.


• Helped members find consulting, part time & full-time jobs during the tough economic downturn

For our final meeting we will outline strategic plan for 2010 and highlight key dates. We will need assistance for:

1. Training midschool and high school students in computer tech, health and fitness, biz and career/life skills each Saturday morning from 9 to 12:00 noon (can alternate instructors so each of us would only have to train 1 or 2 times per month)


2. March Golf Charity Event - Need volunteers to help with planning and operations the day of the event as well as players for the tournament
   
3. ACT, SAT College Prep - Need volunteers to assist with online and some face-to-face training/mentorship for at-risk high school students

Finally, we sent out the following email to students and parents of college bound students:

BDPA & Computer Mentors Group Partner with US Air Force Academy and Air Force ROTC for College Scholarships (DEADLINE: 28 FEB 2010)

Dear Students and Parents:

First, I want to thank you for supporting Computer Mentors Group and BDPA and making 2009 an unqualified success even in the midst of the challenging economic recession. And it looks like we are finally seeing positive economic signs and the return of jobs. Now to the matter of college opportunities.

Earler in the year, we mentioned to many of the parents and students that there are amazing scholarship opportunities worth pursuing, but you need to remain active and move fast. We have an arrangement with Academy Admissions (US Air Force Academy (USAFA) / ROTC / Prep School) to support our Greater Tampa Bay Area students who wish to pursue college. Open enrollment for USAFA begins online now.

Here's what you need to do to get started:

Go to http://www.academyadmissions.com/, type Summer Seminar in the Search window (top right), and then click the link click here half way down the page. The summer seminar program allows you to visit USAFA first hand and tour the campus in Colorado Springs, CO.

Window Closes: 28 Feb 2010 (DEADLINE!!)

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Kind regards,
Frank Shines, president
BDPA Greater Tampa Bay
Mobile: (813) 454-5325
Skype: FShines

BDPA Cleveland Chapter Honors 2009 SITES Participants

BDPA Cleveland Chapter Honors 2009 SITES Participants. This 3-part video was taken at Community Meeting hosted on 11/17/2009 by BDPA Cleveland chapter. This 3-part video features an introduction by the chapter president (Ken Wilson) as well as an overview of the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program by the chapter coordinator (Sylvia Calhoun). Please note that the Oracle Scholarship is discussed in the 3rd video.


Part 1-of-3



Part 2-of-3



Part 3-of-3


Video Credit: Henry Ford

Conversations with Octavia Butler

Octavia Butler (1947-2006) is one of my favorite authors. Her work was unique and provided an afrocentric view of science fiction. I'm pleased to see that many of her interviews from 1980 until just before her sudden death in 2006 have been gathered together into a book, 'Conversations with Octavia Butler'.

I plan to read this book.




Are you a science fiction fan? If so, what are your views on Octavia Butler and her works?

HSCC Testimonial * Nick Akogyeram (2005)

Originally Posted: 12/10/2007

We are very excited to share these HSCC testimonials with BETF-Blog Readers. One of our most successful HSCC programs is located in Rochester, MN. We are proud to share another testimonial from Nicolas Akogyeram, a HSCC alumni member from BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter. Nick wrote:

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My first experience with Computer Science and Information Technology came in my sophomore year of high school. I was part of the BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter from 2004 to 2006. My parents wanted my brother and me to join this extracurricular activity after Mr. Francis Aning, a family friend and the president of the Southern Minnesota chapter at the time, mentioned it to them. We were not particularly excited about giving up our Saturday mornings to do more work in addition to our school work. I just remember my parents telling me (often times repeatedly) how much of a good opportunity this class could be for us. They always taught us to be open-minded and to try new things. So I decided that I was going to give computer programming a change.

After attending the first class, my brother and I met some teenagers from other area schools that we knew and some that we didn’t know so well. There were so many people that were thrilled, energized, excited, and any other synonym that one could think of, about BDPA and computer programming that it was hard not to be so as well. There were a lot of volunteers that helped to set up, teach, and provide rides for us students. The parents of students also got involved by providing food for our break time. I began to genuinely enjoy the class and made many friends that I may not have met under normal circumstances. Our chapter became very close, similar to a large family.

The computer programming class was not just about fun and games. We were taught computer languages that professionals and computer science majors learn in college. It was difficult material, but the teachers made it fun and easy to learn. The classes and months went by quickly, almost without my noticing. Then in June, the Southern Minnesota chapter held a test to decide which students would be on the High School Computer Competition team that would compete at the competition. I wasn’t nervous about taking the exam because the class had become a pleasant experience for me, so I just took the exam without any worries. And to my surprise, I was selected to be one of the five students to represent our chapter at the 2005 National Conference held in Detroit. I became excited and nervous at the same time. Three of the students on the team had already had experience at the High School Computer Competition (two second place finishes in 2003 and 2004) and were eager to improve on the prior successful finishes. There was pressure to perform well.

In the summer of 2005 we went through "boot camp" as we affectionately called it. We spent countless hours of our summer vacation practicing various skills such as computer programming, problem solving, professionalism and proper presentation etiquette. Some meetings were extensive and seemed to never come to end, but our camaraderie helped to get us through the lengthy sessions.

We were so well prepared and eager to show our newly acquired skills at the High School Computer Competition. When we arrived at Detroit, it was unbelievable to see so many people of African American descent, but more importantly that were inspired and working hard to do well. I was used to being one of few who strived for excellence; often teased and feeling the need to hide my talents to fit in with the social norm. Seeing that many young African Americans that held academics as a high priority and could still have a good time was something that I had not experienced in my life. It was refreshing and I suddenly felt I wanted to show the world everything that I had learned in the past year. Our team spent the final nights before the competition practicing everything that we had learned and honing our skills.

The competition consisted of three parts, a written test, a web-site assignment, and a presentation to judges. We did well on the written test achieving the highest composite score of the teams competing. Then we had seven hours to build a web-site for college students to order Personal Computers, laptops, and accessories online. It was challenging problem that took us the full seven hours to complete. At the end of the presentation part and the competition, my friends and I felt content with our performance and could do nothing but leave the decision up to the judges. The banquet that evening seemed to last forever, and of course the program had the presentation of the winners of the High School Computer Competition as the very last event. Our chapter impatiently awaited the announcement of the winners.

Just before they announced that we had won first place, the announcer said a quote from Angi Porter, one of my teammates. It was fitting seeing as she had been on the team for the past three years and won tenth place and second place twice. She worked extremely hard to get us over the hump and win first place. Everyone was so proud of us including ourselves. We were able to enjoy the first place finish and relax that evening.

I participated in the Youth Computer Training Program the following year but I did not attend the conference in Los Angeles. My overall experience was priceless and I am so thankful for the friends and skills that I obtained from BDPA. I would not trade it for anything, and I will testify to everyone that they should try new things because one will never know what one is capable of. I am now attending Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland studying Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. I would encourage anyone to join BDPA to get same experience I had.

Finally I would like to say thank you to Mr. Aning and my parents for getting me involved in BDPA, my brother, Mr. Doug Porter, Angi Porter, Kathryn Wiseman, Matthew Mayweathers, and Lauren Pemberton (my teammates and friends), the rest of the YCTP students and all of the teachers and volunteers for their support. Our achievement is an example that God rewards those who work hard to accomplish their goals.

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Do we have any of the parents, students or members of our BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter who want to weigh in by using the POST A COMMENT feature?

American Charities May Not Have a Happy Holiday

American charities have weathered a significant drop in giving this year, and while they're hoping for a holiday miracle, a recent survey shows they will probably see a decrease in year-end generosity.

In light of the economic downturn, only 38 percent of Americans say they are more likely to give a charitable gift as a holiday present this year, compared to 49 percent last year, according to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive to be released Monday.

Some of the biggest U.S. charities say they are budgeting for a disappointing Christmas.

Read the full Associated Press story here.

National Computer Science Education Week

The U.S. House of Representatives recently designated December 6–12, 2009 as Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) in recognition of the transformative role of computing and necessity of rigorous computer science education at all levels.

The CSEdWeek website launches the week of Dec. 6 to be a hub for computer science education resources and social networking.

The development of CSEdWeek is a joint effort led by Association of Computer Machinery with the cooperation and deep involvement of the Computer Science Teachers Association, the Computing Research Association, the National Center for Women & Information Technology, the Anita Borg Institute, the National Science Foundation, Google, Intel, and Microsoft.

Gates Foundation Commits $12.9M to College Technology

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation wants to help community colleges use technology to improve and go beyond basic online classes.

The $12.9 million in grants the foundation recently announced will support a variety of programs — from supporting teachers to using social media and creating virtual-learning labs.

The foundation's leader of its college program says they are targeting the best new ideas for improving learning opportunities for low-income young adults. The grants will focus on science and math and affect colleges across the nation.

In addition to making online and digital classes better, the foundation wants to help create new networking tools and education games to make learning interactive, enjoyable and relevant.

Take Five: Rod Flakes (Boston Metrowest)

Rod Flakes became president of BDPA Boston chapter in October 2008. He is an IT operations manager for the Department of Mental Health in Massachusetts. He was kind enough to participate in our Take Five interview series:

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1. How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - I have known many of the members of the local Boston chapter through working at Digital Equipment Corporation. About three years ago I went to one of their program meetings and was impressed with the possibilities. Last year I joined and also became chapter president.
   
   
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - I am impressed with the mission, goals, and objectives of the organization. I especially like working with college students as they consider future career choices.
3. Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - About two weeks after I arrived on Howard’s campus, four girls were killed in the 16th Street Baptist church bombing in Birmingham. Being from Birmingham and having just graduated from high school that June, I knew Denise McNair’s mother. Cynthia Wesley went to my high school. The impact of this event is still with me today. I dedicated myself then to be the best I could be in memory of those whose lives were cut short in the struggle. This sustained me as I pursued and received my Engineering degrees, and various professional jobs.
4. Who is your hero and why? - I don’t have heroes or a hero. I believe everyone is blessed with a God given gift and talent.
5. Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - The donation to BETF is worthwhile because it contributes to the positive motivation of our youth to pursue professional careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematical (STEM) environment. When you consider contributing to BETF in whatever amount, it is cheaper then what ignorance, idleness, and lack of motivation cost.

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BDPA is blessed to have leaders with the experience to take us to the next level. What did you learn from Rod's Take Five interview?

Community Foundations Saw a 27% Drop in Asset Value

Community foundations suffered steep investment losses last year, ending a five-year streak of positive returns and damaging their purchasing power, according to a new report from the Council on Foundations, an organization that represents grant makers.

A survey of 200 council members found a median return of -27 percent for community-foundation investments in 2008. The dismal performance brought down the industry’s median return over the 20 years ending last year to 7.9 percent.

Assuming a 5.5 percent spending rate, and taking into account the period’s average annual inflation of 2.8 percent, community foundations have fallen short of the returns needed to maintain their purchasing power, the report says.

Read the rest of the Chronicle of Philanthropy article

Sam Walton Community Scholarship

Each operating Wal-Mart Store, SAM'S CLUB and Walmart's grocery stores are eligible to award one $3,000 scholarships to qualifying local high school seniors.

Students must be graduating high school seniors and must not be an Associate of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., or be the child/dependent of an Associate of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. This award is used for the student's freshman year tuition, books, fees and on-campus room and board at an approved, accredited U.S. college or university. [Read More]

Sam Walton Community Scholarship $3,000 (one-time, non-renewable)

Message from Boston Chapter President

Our November 10th program meeting speaker, Tom Ermolovich, was a big hit as our posted photos show. Tom’s topic of “Can you educate someone to be an entrepreneur” was very interesting and informative. We are confirming speakers and topics for next year and will announce them shortly.

Our next chapter meeting will be December 14th. We will cover where the chapter is and where we are planning to go. We have lots of progress to report on our Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) with various organizations, Chapter Finances, Chapter Membership and BDPA Demographic update.

We have lots to be thankful for as we enter the holiday seasons. I wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. May God bless and keep you.

In closing, I am asking everyone to:

• Renew your membership
  
• Join our chapter
  
• Volunteer to help with our programs and events
  
• Encourage more corporate sponsors

I hope to meet everyone soon!

Regards,
Rod Flakes, president
BDPA Boston Chapter

Big Nonprofits Predict 9% Drop in Donations

The nation’s largest nonprofits, including prominent universities, hospitals, and foundations, are expecting a 9 percent decrease in donations in 2009, according to a survey by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

It’s the steepest drop the publication has reported in the 17 years it has surveyed the 400 largest charities in the country.

While many of these groups, from the United Way and the Salvation Army to Harvard University, saw fund-raising increases in 2008, their donors had not yet felt the full force of the economic downturn and the stock market’s dive, according to the survey. Many are expecting far leaner times through 2010.

"These are the most successful charities. If they are going to see a decline of 9 percent, the smaller, scrappier charities that don’t have all that going for them are going to be having a much harder time," said Stacy Palmer, editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Read full Boston Globe story.