Take Five: Charlie Perkins (Southern Minnesota)

Charlie Perkins began his 2-year term as president of the BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter this month. He takes over a chapter with a powerful legacy of youth education. BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter won the national high school computer competition (HSCC) championship in four of past five years.

Charlie agreed to participate in our Take Five interview series:

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1. How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - I was introduced to BDPA two years ago when I was invited to lunch by Betty Hutchins and Nat Calvert, both past presidents of BDPA Southern Minnesota. I was intrigued with the idea of working with young minority students interested in the Information Technology sector. I was also impressed by Betty and Nat’s passion and commitment to keep BDPA Southern Minnesota a strong and viable chapter. I quickly became interested in the opportunity to add value to something that was already operating well with volunteers and corporate sponsorship. I showed up one Saturday morning to observe the interactions of over 60 young people with instructors, learning how to build websites and write code. Some were only in the 7th grade and it was amazing to watch! I realized then that this was an organization I wanted to become a part of and to help get to the next level.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - It’s most rewarding for me when I observe young people getting excited with accomplishing the simplest “thing” using technology. They become more comfortable with taking the next step. Whether it’s tearing down and rebuilding a computer, building a website or simply adding an application to their PDA. There is so much untapped potential in our young people. I hope to open the door for internship opportunities, scholarships, jobs and create a pipeline for BDPA students in my community. I support our mantra “From the classroom to the boardroom”. That would be most rewarding for me.
3. Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - I managed my son’s Little League baseball team when he was 8 years old. It was the first time I had managed anything. We worked hard preparing for the upcoming season and I knew the boys were ready for prime time. In the stands for our first game was my Mom, Dad, Grandparents, sisters, brothers, church members, friends and guys from work. They all showed up to watch my son’s first game. My son struck out the first three times he batted and I was embarrassed! When got back to the dugout, I lit into him about how pathetic he looked, embarrassing me and the team, that he could try harder and how could he look so bad at the plate?!? He looked at me crying and said “Dad, I’m doing the best I can.” I felt so small and ashamed, and would have crawled into a hole if I could have at that moment. I have never forgotten that moment. It was a lesson learned for me that I carry to this day. I never criticized my son that way again, and he went on to become one of the most talented baseball players in the league for ten years and has many trophies to show for it.
   
   Later, I became a member of the part-time faculty at Columbia College-Chicago. Whenever I encountered a student struggling or one of my staff who really made the effort, but just wasn’t getting it, I recall the comment my son made to me “Dad, I’m doing the best I can.” It helped me work thru situations that could have been disastrous.
4. Who is your hero and why? - My dad is my hero. He passed away from cancer about 10 years ago. I admired him so much. He dropped out of school in the sixth grade to help his mother raise their family. He spent 5 years in Germany during World War II dealing with all the racial hatred and stereotypes Blacks endured at that time. He could barely read or write but, taught himself how to survive and raise 7 children. Thanks to my dad, I never realized we were poor. He made sure we had what we needed to make it. He was often belittled and made fun of due to his lack of education. He’s my hero because he taught me how to be a man. That a good name was better than money and if I carried myself respectfully, so many doors would open for me. He was right! When I became Vice President of Harris Bank in Chicago, no one was more proud of me than my dad. He celebrated my every achievement, encouraged me to go further and to be the best I could be!
5. Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? -

   “I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.“
   Oprah Winfrey (September 2002)

   The above quote conveys my feeling about our BETF. You bring your own special qualities to the important work of inspiring young people to be the best they can be. Your financial contribution will help BETF secure funds to sponsor SITES programs for each of the BDPA chapters and offer deserving HSCC students scholarships to attend the University of their choice. Won’t you consider contributing to our Foundation? You won’t regret it.

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I hope that you learned something new about Charlie in this Take Five interview. Share some love in the COMMENTS section with this new BDPA leader!

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!

Black Web 2.0 Interview with FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn

Black Web 2.0 is a powerful voice for African Americans interested in technology. Co-founder Angela Benton recently conducted an interview with FCC commisioner Mignon Clyburn. I encourage BDPAers to listen closely to what Commissioner Clyburn as she talks about net neutrality, entrepreneurship and national broadband plans.

Black Web 2.0 Interview: Mignon Clyburn from blackweb20 on Vimeo.

It seems that she is not in favor of net neutrality ... at least if you read between the lines of her comments about companies being able to charge us for use of their bandwidth.

What did you take from this interview? How do you envision that BDPA should engage in these types of policy discussions?

2010 Blogging While Brown Conference (June 18-19, Washington DC)

Blogging While Brown is the brainchild of Gina McCauley. I met Gina at the 1st Annual BWB Conference held in Atlanta GA. She is a powerful sister who many bloggers look to as a role model. As such, this blog is pleased to support the continued evolution of her blogging vision.

I encourage all BDPAers to participate in the planning for Blogging While Brown: The 3rd Annual International Conference for Bloggers of Color, scheduled for June 18-19, 2010 in Washington DC.

Blogging While Brown promotes intellectual, social, and cultural development of the blogging community by bringing bloggers of color together in one location. The purpose of the conference is to facilitate conversations that lead to collaboration and innovation among bloggers of color.

Last year's conference, held in Chicago, was attended by activists, entrepreneurs, journalists and others interested in expanding digital media content creation and distribution among people of color.



In an effort to provide conference attendees with the best experience possible, BWBC decided to modify our annual programming process. So instead of a call for workshop proposals, BWBC is having a call for ideas. What would you like to present? Who would you like to hear from ? What do you want to learn? How could you benefit the conference?

Don't limit yourself to workshops and panels. BWBC is also looking for participants who can present short case studies or shorter presentations on narrower subjects as well. Be as creative and as detailed as possible in your description of what you would like to see at the next Blogging While Brown Conference. Some ideas to get you started:

• Continuing Blogger Education
  
• Internet Advocacy
  
• Entrepreneurship
  
• Social Networking
  
• Hyper-localism
  
• Social Media Successes/Failures
  
• Effective vs. Ineffective Online Activism
  
• Access to Technology
  
• Monetizing
  
• Content Creation Tools
  
• Content Distribution
  
• Blogger Quality of Life
  
• Legal Issues of Blogging
  
• Emerging Trends

Fill Out the 'Call for Ideas' Form.

You can find some other suggested topics on the Blogging While Brown website.

Be as creative as you want to be ... work with other bloggers and blog readers. If you have any questions, email bloggingwhilebrown [at] gmail [dot] com.

Don't talk about it, be about it! Anyhow, I plan to attend the 3rd annual BWB Conference. What about you?

Spirit of Giving Drops Off After Holidays

A post-holiday slump in donations and volunteerism has some social-service agencies and non-profit groups wondering whether people packed away generosity with the tinsel.

"You have a tremendous outpouring of support in November and December, then in January, things get kind of dry," says John Psiharis, executive director of Chicago's Irving Park Community Food Pantry. It's a particularly troubling trend now, he says, as the number of clients climbs each month because of the troubled economy.

Read the full USAToday story here.

Do you agree with the premise of this story? Is your urge to give or volunteer weaker in January than it was during the holidays?

4th Annual ScienceOnline Conference * Raleigh/Durham NC (Jan 15-17, 2010)

Soulclap to Danielle (Urban Science Adventures) for pointing us to the 4th annual Science Communication Conference taking place January 15-17, 2010 in Raleigh/Durham, NC. This is a unique conference that explores the role of science and the Internet. The conference goal is to bring together scientists, physicians, patients, educators, students, publishers, editors, bloggers, journalists, writers, web developers, programmers and others to discuss, demonstrate and debate online strategies and tools for doing science, publishing science, teaching science, and promoting the public understanding of science.

Danielle attended the 2009 conference held earlier this year. In fact, she was a workshop presenter on the topic, Discussing Diversity in Science - online and offline.

Any BETF-Blog readers plan to attend?

Boston Scientific Foundation

The Boston Scientific Foundation is especially committed to supporting efforts to improve health and education in the communities where employees live and work.

Do You Qualify?

Boston Scientific Foundation receives thousands of applications for grant support, many of which do not align with their stated mission, focus areas or funding criteria. Note that funding is limited and submission of an application (even one that meets our stated criteria) does not guarantee that a grant will be made to your organization. Please take a moment and review these questions to understand whether you might qualify.

1. Is the focus of your grant request health- or education-related? If yes, continue to the next question. If no, it is unlikely that the Boston Scientific Foundation would support your project.
   
2. Does your health- or education-related initiative focus on individuals or communities with significant unmet needs, such as those who are economically disadvantaged, at risk of not achieving their full potential, or otherwise unable to provide for themselves? If yes, continue to the next question. If no, it is unlikely that the Boston Scientific Foundation would support your project.
   
3. Is the nature of your project event-based fundraising, sponsorships or capital campaigns? If yes, it is unlikely that the Boston Scientific Foundation would support your project. If no, continue to the next question.
   
4. Does your grant request focus on any of the following geographic areas: Spencer, Indiana; Greater Boston, Marlborough, Natick, or Quincy, Massachusetts; Maple Grove, Plymouth, or St. Paul, Minnesota; Glens Falls, New York; Wayne, New Jersey; Fremont, Santa Clara, San Jose, or San Diego, California; or Miami, Florida? If no, Boston Scientific is unlikely to fund your project unless it has a national focus. If yes, continue to the next question. (Note: Currently, The Boston Scientific Foundation only makes grants within the United States).
   
5. Is your organization a non-profit with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, a public agency or a public school? If yes, you may consider filling out a grant application. If no, it is unlikely that Boston Scientific would support your project.

Boston Scientific Foundation discourages requests for general support from public schools, school districts or other programs that rely primarily on government funding.

To quality for a Boston Scientific Foundation grant, you must certify that your organization does not discriminate in who you serve or who you hire on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, veteran's status, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information or any other class protected by federal, state, or local law requiring equal opportunity. You also must certify that your organization does not advocate, support, or practice activities that discriminate with regard to any of the aforementioned protected classes.

Download the Boston Scientific Foundation Grant application. Complete instructions on what should be included with your application can be found here.

Once completed, mail it to:

Boston Scientific Foundation
One Boston Scientific Place – Mailstop B2
Natick , MA 01760
(508) 650-8554

Only one application from an organization will be considered within a 12-month period.

Haiti Earthquake: How Can BDPA Help?

The news isn’t good: Officials fear the death toll will reach 100,000. Thousands upon thousands are injured. Port-au-Prince has been flattened. There are millions of Haitians who need help NOW.

Here are three tips for you to consider as you find a way to help:

1. Donating cash to established relief organizations is the best way to help because it allows professionals to get exactly what they need and does not use up scarce resources such as transportation, staff time or warehouse space.
   
2. If you decide to donate supplies and not cash, contact an established relief organization before you collect anything. If you have already collected items, donate them to a relief organization within your community or sell them at a yard sale or charity auction and donate the proceeds.
   
3. People who want to volunteer should have previous disaster or international experience or technical skills and should work through a relief organization. More information is available from the Center for International Disaster Information.

BDPAers can also help immediately by donating to the Red Cross Haiti relief effort. Contribute online to the Red Cross, or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999."

Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information. Families of Americans living in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at (888) 407-4747.

Here are organizations that BDPAers can contact if they want to help the people in Haiti:

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PARTNERS IN HEALTH
P.O. Box 845578
Boston, MA 02284-5578
NGO run by almost-USAID director Paul Farmer providing health resources to Haiti since 1985.

OXFAM AMERICA
226 Causeway St., 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02114-2206
Charity devoted to stopping hunger and providing nutrition to communities in crisis.

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA/MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (MSF)
333 7th Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10001-5004
Traditional, yet innovative medical providers spread across the globe.

SAVE THE CHILDREN
Haiti Earthquake Children in Emergency Fund
54 Wilton Road
Westport, CT 06880
Children-focused relief agency with a special earthquake fund.

THE SALVATION ARMY
615 Slaters Lane; P.O. Box 269
Alexandria, VA 22313
Church-based coordinator of health and family services.

WORLD VISION
Haiti Earthquake Relief
P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, Wash. 98063-9716

U.S. FUND FOR UNICEF
125 Maiden Lane
New York, N.Y. 10038
Charity specifically targeting children—providing educational materials, food, water and medicine.

YELE HAITI
Text YELE to 501501 to donate $5
Charity operated by Wyclef Jean

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Please let us know if you are aware of other ways that BDPAers can help the people of Haiti as they cope with this disastrous 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

Message from Orlando Chapter President

Greetings and Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a wonderful break over the holiday season and feels rejuvenated and excited about 2010 and the great opportunities that lie before us in our great sunshine state of Florida!

Enterprise Florida has released their 2010-2015 economic development plan which we have provided a link to in our newsletter along with other useful information and resources.

We are going to kick of the year with our first monthly program meeting of the new year. It takes place on Thursday, January 28th @ 6:00PM Eastern at SunTrust Bank. The first meeting will focus on Career Development and using a Professional Development Framework.

I would like to recommend a great book to check out that is fitting to read as we start the new year. The book is "Start Where You Are, Life Lessons in Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be" by Chris Gardner, author of "The Pursuit of Happyness". I believe the many of the principles within the book we can apply to not only ourselves but our jobs, our project teams, departments, our small businesses etc..

We can start where we are at, regardless of where we are at, no matter what has taken place this past year, those are struggles, they are experiences that make us stronger, challenges which shape but not hinder us, passion and determination will help focus us not on the past but on the future and achieving success because that is what we all want. Let us look forward to 2010 and begin the work to make this a successful year.

Please join me at our next meeting on January 28th and let us continue this conversation, and allow BDPA Orlando to help be the go-to value resource for your professional development or partner in business.

Thank you,
Pablo More, president
BDPA Orlando Chapter
Phone: (407) 286-9681

Message from Charlotte Chapter President

On behalf of the BDPA Charlotte Executive Board, I would like to wish BDPA members, sponsors, partners, supporters and the entire Charlotte community a Happy New Year!

I am eager to begin serving you as a chapter president of this amazing and influential organization. People ask why I have spent the last 10 years being so actively involved with BDPA as a volunteer. The answer is simple. BDPA has allowed me to demonstrate my executive leadership potential when glass ceilings would not. My experiences with BDPA have allowed me to overcome those hurdles and grow as a professional. Now, I have the privilege to serve as chapter president and give back to this important technology organization. I have a deep passion for Information Technology & Engineering with a career that spans more than 20 years in Aerospace, Banking, Biotechnology, Insurance, Manufacturing and Information Security.

BDPA Charlotte is planning an exciting 2010. My first task as president was to create the brand new role of Chief Information Officer (CIO) for BDPA Charlotte. The CIO role will showcase the technical prowess that BDPA Charlotte is well known for by providing Information Technology Thought Leadership for its members, stakeholders and Charlotte community. My second task involved forming a partnership between BDPA Charlotte and the Urban League of the Carolinas. Together, we will have greater impact influencing students from underserved communities to pursue careers in Information Technology in the Charlotte area.

One of the most powerful benefits of BDPA; which I coined “IT Career Revival”, is the annual BDPA Technology Conference. The 2010 National Conference will be held in Philadelphia, July 28 – July 31, 2010; the city of brotherly love! Along with the many technology workshops and seminars held each day, employers from private industry, government and U.S. military participate in a two day career fair and some offer interviews right on the spot! If you are seeking a new career or wanting to relocate, the BDPA National Conference is an event you can’t afford to miss. We all have persevered and worked through challenges to make it to 2010.

Although positive news is being reported about the economy recovering, many of you are facing unemployment and looking for your next career opportunity. As the premier organization for African Americans in Information Technology, BDPA is here to help you meet this challenge. Businesses and entrepreneurs are poised for growth in 2010 and will rely on information technology more than ever to compete for market share. BDPA offers the business community the ability to interface and network with one of the most diverse and skilled talent pools in the country. Since BDPA offers the most diverse and skilled talent pools in Information Technology, corporations partner with us to acquire untapped talent.

Lastly, I want you all to know that the BDPA Charlotte Executive Board is committed to meeting your expectations for providing distinguished technology professionals as speakers at our monthly meetings, as well as career, and networking and opportunities. Now, we can’t do this alone and need your help. BDPA Charlotte needs savvy professionals; be you new to IT or a seasoned veteran. BDPA places its members at the forefront of the Information Technology field and as BDPA Charlotte’s new president I invite you to join our organization to reap its many benefits!

Additionally, your membership dollars help support our professional and K-12 educational programs, and your participation makes the organization more responsive to the people it serves.

In closing, I look forward to a mutually satisfying professional relationship with everyone associated with BDPA in the Charlotte community. The door is always open to you!

Sincerely,
Julius Clark Sr., MBA, CISSP, CISA
President BDPA Charlotte
Website http://www.bdpa-charlotte.org/
Blog: http:clarkthoughtleadership.blogspot.com
Phone: (704) 953-8379

Yahoo! Employee Foundation

Founded in 1999, the Yahoo! Employee Foundation (YEF) is a grassroots philanthropic organization that brings together the talents, time, and financial resources of Yahoo! employees to serve the needs of communities around the globe.

YEF is a unique foundation that is entirely employee driven. All the money is donated by employees, and all activities are run by a volunteer committee of Yahoo! employees. YEF is setting best practices for employee-driven community service.

Yahoo! Employee Foundation @ Yahoo! Video

YEF provides over $2 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, bringing the total given to more than $7.6 million since YEF's inception in 1999. In order to be eligible for a grant, an organization must be championed by an employee who is a YEF donor. This gives employees the opportunity to make a significant contribution to a cause or an organization they feel strongly about.

Matching Gifts: Yahoo! matches up to $1,000 per year per employee of donations made to qualified nonprofits.

Volunteerism: Yahoo! offers a community service day for all employees globally, encouraging them to reach out and support the local community through volunteerism. Employees may volunteer individually, with their work team, or with other employees during regular paid work hours -- whether for a school, a food bank, a homeless shelter, a senior center, or other community or charity organizations.

Does your chapter have any Yahoo employees in its membership?

President Profile: BDPA Los Angeles (John Malonson)

BDPA's success in the 21st century will be determined by a new generation of leaders. We need to find new ways to reach out to members, IT professionals, students, entrepreneurs, executives and sponsors. One of the new generation of leaders is BDPA Los Angeles chapter president John Malonson. We thought you would like to learn more about this powerful young brother!

Name: John Malonson (Raytheon)
President, BDPA Los Angeles Chapter

Address: 6709 La Tijera Blvd, #501Los Angeles, CA 90045

Phone: (562) 726-2677

Website: http://www.bdpala.org/ or Facebook or Twitter.

Newsletter: BDPAtoday Los Angeles (September 2008). You can sign up to receive the 2010 chapter newsletter here.

Professional Background - John is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and is currently a Business Partner Lead for one of the nation's largest Department of Defense contractors. During his seven years at his current employer, John has made the transition from Web Application Developer to Project Manager to Portfolio Manager to Business Partner Lead (Strategic Planner).

"I'm thankful to work for a company that values diversity of all forms and offers numerous opportunities to those who take risks and welcome new challenges."

BDPA Los Angeles Vision - John became president of the Los Angeles chapter in January 2009. He describes himself as being a huge technophile. His primary goal for the BDPA Los Angeles chapter is to be the FIRST organization that comes to mind regarding African Americans and anything Information Technology related (professional development, networking, current trends in tech, IT job placement).

"2010 is upon us, it's inexcusable to be ignorant on any given subject for more than half an hour!"

Education - John holds a BA in Psychology with a specialization in Business Administration from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

"Growing up, I never knew anyone that attended a major four-year institution. Unbeknownst to me during my college years, I became a role model to my younger brother and cousins."

Teamwork - John believes that behind every great leader is a great team. If you are interested in joining the BDPA Los Angeles Leadership Team, please contact John directly by email or phone (562.726-2677).

"Volunteer Leadership has got to be one of the most challenging opportunities for anyone. I'm thankful for the above and beyond dedication that my team possesses and I am always looking for new leaders to welcome to our team!"

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BDPA Los Angeles enters the new year in a strong position as the 12th largest chapter in the nation. The sky is the limit for this chapter under the leadership of a powerful nubian -- John Malonson. I hope that you will take a moment to share some 'BDPA-Love' with John in the COMMENTS section!

Accenture Foundation

Accenture Foundation provides support at corporate and local level. On a corporate level, they have a program called, 'Skills to Succeed'. Skills to Succeed is fundamental to their corporate citizenship efforts. In a fast changing, multi-polar world, skills are increasingly a key driver of economic empowerment for both individuals and communities. Skills to Succeed combines Accenture's passion, experience and their constant commitment to developing and nurturing talent with their high performance approach and it supports their efforts to make a significant and sustainable impact on the economic well-being of individuals, their families and their communities.

In the United States, Accenture teams with NPower to provide IT training that will prepare "at-risk" youth for employment.

During fiscal 2008, Accenture and Accenture Foundations committed over $14 million to charitable giving programs. Through their global giving efforts, Accenture helps individuals build skills to improve the economic well-being of their families and communities.

Accenture Foundation continues to evolve the Skills to Succeed program. The following are several key initiatives that illustrate their commitment to building skills that enable people to develop themselves to participate in and contribute to the economy:

1. Accenture Development Partnerships is a group within Accenture that provides strategic advice and technical and project management support to non-profit organizations, NGOs, foundations and donor organizations operating in the development sector. We help these organizations achieve their social and economic development goals. Accenture employees who volunteer and are chosen for this program accept a salary reduction while serving on assignments ranging from three to six months, primarily in developing countries. Annually, more than 140 employees from 15 countries participated in Accenture Development Partnerships projects, delivering more than 12,500 people days of not-for-profit consulting services to 33 development organizations.


2. Accenture is committed to providing pro bono or "no fee" consulting services for local not-for-profit organizations around the world. Annually, Accenture gives over 120,000 hours of pro bono services to not-for-profit organizations.


3. Accenture offices in 16 countries participate in the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) Business Partnership program. This provides the opportunity for employees to take a leave of absence volunteering their time and skills to work, often at the grass roots level, as an individual employee of a development organization.

Election Results: BDPA New Jersey (2010-2011)

BDPA New Jersey entered 2010 as the 8th largest chapter in the nation. The chapter, founded September 1980, has been recognized with a number of national awards over the years including: National High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Championships (1994-3rd place, 2005-3rd place) and HSCC T-Shirt Competition (2003-1st place 2004-2nd place, 2005-1st place, 2009-1st place).

The three officers elected to take BDPA New Jersey to the next level in 2010-2011 are:

• President - Coram Rimes (Prudential Insurance) - shown in photo
• President-Elect - Goldie Bonney (JPMorgan Chase)
• Vice President of Finance - Ricardo Fullerton (Lightspeed Research)

BETF is excited by these new officers as they have each displayed powerful commitment and leadership within BDPA. It helps that they are each BETF donors as well!

I encourage all BDPA New Jersey chapter stakeholders and supporters to take a moment to use the COMMENT option below. Share some BDPA-love and encouragement with Coram, Goldie and Ricardo!

Message from Columbus Chapter President

Dear BDPA Family,

On behalf of BDPA Columbus Chapter, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. By now, you have started thinking and hopefully written down your New Year resolutions. This is one of the most important times of the year because you give yourself time to dream about the future. You set your eyes on goals for the year. You envision what your life will look like when you reach your goals. Well, here at BDPA we set our eyes on the future as well. We are excited about the upcoming year because we see how as an organization we have the opportunity to affect and improve our members, stakeholders, and community lives.

We have a new mission for the chapter:

"BDPA Columbus will be essential to Central Ohio by empowering minority stakeholders with innovative programs that advance information technology excellence amongst our members & serve to close the digital divide in our community."

This new mission will guide our strategic plans for the next three to five years. Our success will be measured by the implementation and execution of the mission.

My personal motto for the year is to "Keep it Simple." At BDPA, we will do the same by keeping our focus simple. We will focus on three P's.

1. Preparation - Prepare our stakeholders for their future by providing top notch Information and Exchange meetings and training sessions that will assist them in their careers and businesses. Provide our stakeholders opportunities to interact and share knowledge with others through offline and online tools.
2. Promotion - Provide young teenagers a vehicle to enhance their interest in technology through our High School Computer training program. Provide a conduit for the community and members to learn about Information Technology news, business, and career opportunities.
3. Personalization (People) - Provide our stakeholders an opportunity to give back to the community through community service projects. Promote a family environment through positive and supportive interaction with each other.

We will kick off the New Year with a bang! At our January Information and Exchange meeting (I/E) we will have one of Central Ohio's most dynamic Chief Information Officers (CIOs) - Deborah Smedley as the speaker. You do not want to miss this event. This event will start our journey for 2010 and set the stage for the organization. I look forward to talking to each of you at this event. For more information regarding the I/E meeting, please visit our cutting edge website.

Thank you,
Reginald Hillery, President
BDPA Columbus Chapter
(614)746-1963

JPMorgan Chase Foundation

JPMorgan Chase supports non-governmental organizations working internationally in three focus areas: community development, youth education, and arts and culture. Requests focusing on microfinance and small business development, low-income housing, youth education in low-income communities, and arts and culture projects aimed at promoting asset development in low-income communities are of particular interest.

Nonprofit organizations both inside and outside the U.S. where JPMorgan Chase has a grants program, including specific countries in the Asia/Pacific region, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, as well as Canada, are eligible to apply.

Organizations based in the United States can apply throughout the year using the online letter of inquiry form available on the JPMorgan Chase website.

International organizations based outside the U.S. must submit a short preliminary proposal via email to the appropriate regional grant coordinator.

HCA Foundation

As the philanthropic arm of HCA, the mission of the HCA Foundation is to promote health and well being, support childhood and youth development and foster the arts in Middle Tennessee.

In partnership with the employees of HCA, the foundation seeks to accomplish this mission by providing leadership, service and financial support to nonprofit organizations effectively engaged in meeting local needs.

The HCA Foundation supports organizations that have a well-defined sense of purpose, a demonstrated commitment to maximizing available resources and a reputation for meeting objectives and delivering quality services with caring and compassion. Actively providing grants in Middle Tennessee since 1998, The HCA Foundation has contributed more than $125M in grants to over 200 agencies and organizations in Middle Tennessee.

One of HCA Foundation's grant-making targets is Childhood and Youth Development --work that encourages the positive growth and development of children and youth. The grants they award are intended to promote success in school, skill-building and character development, responsibility, service and leadership.

Preference will be given to requests from organizations where an HCA employee volunteers or serves on the board.

New applicants are asked to send a one-or two-page letter of inquiry to the Foundation describing the proposed project, its goals and objectives and the approximate level of funding required. Foundation staff will review each request and will notify the organization as soon as possible as to whether or not the project coincides with funding priorities.

For more information please contact:

The HCA Foundation
Attn: Lois Abrams – Grants Manager
One Park Plaza, Building I – 4th Floor East
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 344-2390
Fax: (615) 344-5722

Election Results: BDPA Northern Delaware (2010-2011)

Soulclap to Estelle Cephas for letting us know the results of the 2010-2011 elections held by BDPA Northern Delaware chapter:

• President: Karen Smith (JPMorgan Chase)
• VP Finance: Wales Ashiru (Ashiru CPA)
• VP Member Services: G. Michelle Wallace (JPMorgan Chase)
• VP Member Management: Estelle Cephas (JPMorgan Chase)
• VP Strategy & Planning: Frederick Smith, Jr. (MTT Associates)
• VP SITES: Andrew Scott (FirstData Corp)

These BDPA Northern Delaware chapter leaders recently finalized the strategic plan necessary to achieve the Chapter's goals over the next two years. Please take a moment to use the COMMENTS option below to congratulate these leaders for their willingness to step up in support of our industry and our community.

2010: Daunting Challenges Face the Nonprofit World

The nonprofit world is about to face the toughest year in its history. By every measure, 2010 could be far more painful for charities and the people they serve than any other they have known.

Already many charities have been weakened by one of the longest recessions America has witnessed.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy's annual ranking of the 400 charities that raise the most money found that, by year's end, the nation's top organizations expect a median decline of 9 percent in donations, meaning half will see giving drop even more starkly.

The search for money to finance charitable work will grow more competitive than ever, as state governments and private foundations cope with coffers that have dropped sharply in value over the past two years.

Read the rest of the Chronicle of Philanthropy article here.

Election Results: BDPA Greater Columbia (2010-2011)

BDPA Greater Columbia, founded in May 1997, is the 33rd largest chapter in the nation. The chapter earned a number of awards over the years, including Developing Chapter of the Year (1999 and 2001), High School Computer Competition (HSCC) T-Shirt Contest Runner-Up (2000), HSCC T-Shirt Contest Winner (2001); Chapter Professional Development Award (2002), Outstanding Chapter President (Paulette Johnson-Davis, 2002 and Mildred Allen, 2003), Oustanding Member (Mildred Allen, 2002), Chapter of the Year 2nd Runner-Up (2003), IT Showcase 2nd Runner-Up (Jessica Eggleston, 2003) and Chapter Membership Award (2004).

A new generation of leadership is in place to take BDPA Greater Columbia Chapter to the next level in 2010-2011. The new chapter officers are:

• President: Phyllis Coleman (BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina)
  
• VP of Membership Management: Moses Brown (BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina)
  
• VP of Member Services: Wennie Lee (BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina)
  
• VP of Finance: Aniha Davis (State of South Carolina)
  
• Immediate Past President: Paulette Johnson-Davis (BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina)

Share some BDPA-love with these new BDPA leaders!

Grant Proposal: Lockheed Martin Corporation Foundation (Los Angeles)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) and BDPA Los Angeles chapter worked together on a grant proposal to the Lockheed Martin Corporation Foundation. We have successfully completed Step #3 in the 7-step funding process that is available to National BDPA and its 45 local chapters.

Lockheed Martin is committed to a program of philanthropy that supports the Corporation’s strategic business goals and invests in the quality of life in the communities where our employees work and live. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., the Corporation employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

Lockheed Martin’s philanthropic activities are administered by the communications representatives at the Corporation's operating units around the country and through the Corporation’s foundation at corporate headquarters.

In general, philanthropic contributions to national initiatives and organizations are made from corporate headquarters and contributions to local programs are made by Lockheed Martin sites close to the program. Our joint grant proposal targets the Palmdale, CA operating unit.

Applications are accepted year-round. Evaluations are completed each quarter at corporate headquarters and many facilities. Some facilities prefer receiving applications in the second half of the year to consider for the following year's budget.

We should hear from Lockheed Martin on this funding request sometime during the first quarter of 2010. Wish us luck!

Message from National President

Yvette Graham begins her term as National BDPA President this month. She wasted no time in sharing her thoughts with members and other BDPA stakeholders around the world.

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As we enter into 2010 with a new administration and a strong vision, I am so excited about the many opportunities that we have in store for BDPA! During my term as president-elect, I closely observed our organization’s current state and listened to you, the many voices of BDPA.

I heard your passion about what makes BDPA wonderful, as well as feedback on how BDPA can be so much better. Over the coming months, you will hear from me on a timely basis about the objectives and programs my administration is tasked to deliver. Simply put, Taking Membership to the Next Level, is what we are about as we re-establish and re-engineer our BDPA priorities.

We have a strong legacy of achievement established by our BDPA Founders, Earl Pace Jr. and the Late David Wimberly, and our best appreciation of their life’s work is our collective dedication to ensure that BDPA continues to evolve in strength and in unity to reach higher heights.

Our call to action is evident with today’s economic and job market realities. We must ensure BDPA is well positioned as THE “go-to” diversity supplier of highly skilled IT and entrepreneur talent. We are clear in the understanding that in order for BDPA to remain viable in today’s global society we must continuously seek to operate more efficiently, and provide our stakeholders with a clear return on investment as we set out to reach our goals.

Standing with me to accomplish our overall mission is a team of dedicated and equally engaged leaders. I am pleased to introduce our elected and appointed officers who are joining me in taking our organization to the next level. Please see officers listed [on our website] and take a moment to click on the links to read their awesome bios.

We’re off to a great start to the year with our First Quarter Board Meeting in Philadelphia, where I look forward to meeting all of our chapter presidents and leaders across the nation to hear the input and experiences that will enhance the fabric of BDPA. All of our 2010 Quarterly Board Meetings have been scheduled with dates and locations to be published this month. Also, we have an outstanding national conference planned for 2010, and we will provide you with timely details and communications to ensure our success. I know we will set the pace early for accomplishing our target goals, and I thank everyone in advance for being up for the task!

Dr. Maya Angelou said, “Nothing will work, unless you do”, and I invite everyone across BDPA to join me as an ambassador committed to take our wonderful organization to the next level!

Best wishes to you and your families for a wonderful New Year!

Yvette Graham, president
National BDPA

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I hope that BETF-Blog readers will take a moment to use the COMMENTS option below to respond to this message from national president Yvette Graham!

Message from Atlanta Chapter President

BDPA Atlanta chapter president Carter Hill began his 2-year term on January 1, 2010. He shares his message to chapter members and stakeholders:

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Happy New Year!!

It is the dawn of a new decade and a new administration for BDPA Atlanta chapter. I have been proud to serve our chapter for the last two years as its Vice President of Business Management. Working with our leadership team under our immediate past President Teresa Williams has been a rewarding experience for me. Teresa and the team greatly impressed me with their professionalism and dedication to BDPA’s mission. Now it is time to take up the charge and with your support, continue taking the chapter forward.

I look forward to 2010 as a year of opportunity and growth. Our leadership team has been working these past few months on new operational strategies. These strategies will work to maintain our foundation while expanding BDPA Atlanta’s programs to its professional members. Here are some highlights to expect in the coming year:

• Our monthly meetings will be revamped to better fit the needs of our members by covering topics in these areas:


1. IT Trends and Technology
2. Business/Leadership Development
3. Career Development


• The expansion of our chapter newsletter incorporating technical articles from our ranks. These articles will provide an opportunity for our talented members to display their skills in the following areas:


1. Project Management
2. Business Analysis
3. Software Development


• Joint programs and workshops with other professional organizations. BDPA is a unique professional IT organization and we will be making our presence more prominent in the Atlanta area during 2010.


• Collegiate mentoring programs with our partners DeVry University and Georgia State University.


• A new technical curriculum for our HSCC program. Our Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES)program director Wes Williams has promised a change that will give our student members cutting edge skills.

The year 2010 will mark the 35th year of BDPA’s existence. In the spirit of our founder’s vision, I invite each of you to seriously consider becoming more active with our chapter. Through greater involvement by our members, our chapter can only grow better and stronger. We look forward to working with each and every one of you during the coming year, as we take our chapter to the next level.

Carter Hill, president
BDPA Atlanta Chapter

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Please use the COMMENTS option below to share some encouragement (a.k.a., 'BDPA-love') with Carter and the other leaders from BDPA Atlanta chapter!

Message from Los Angeles Chapter President

Happy New Year and New Decade!

If your new year resolutions involve transitioning into a career in IT, lending your talents, networking with others, or simply learning more about the changing IT marketplace, I encourage you to join us during our monthly sessions.

Last month, BDPA Los Angeles (BDPA-LA) held its Annual Holiday Awards Luncheon. Members came from as far away as Las Vegas, the Inland Empire and even Washington D.C. to participate in the gathering.

Fellowship was great as members relaxed and enjoyed sharing stories and updating one another on past events of the year.

The 2009 High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team was acknowledged for their commitment to the HSCC Program and their participation at the national BDPA Technology Conference HSCC Competition. For the second consecutive year Beverly Allen, 2010 HSCC Coordinator, received the BDPA-LA Volunteer of the Year Award.

On January 16th, we will be hosting "2010: The Year Ahead" to share the BDPA-LA Vision and Goals for the year.

This is also an excellent opportunity for you to share your thoughts and help us shape the organization to reflect your needs. Did you know that you could volunteer your time in exchange for a free day-pass to Disneyland?

Join us at this month's event to learn more. I look forward to seeing and hearing from you all!

John Malonson, president
BDPA Los Angeles Chapter

Why Go Geek?

I served with Milt Haynes for almost ten years on the national BDPA board of directors. He is a brother with a powerful vision and work ethic.

He gave a workshop earlier this year that showed how to tap into talent communities using web 2.0 tools and techniques to find lucrative and rewarding career opportunities. His seminar was very on-target for anyone interested in building an online business or pursuing a long-term career in IT.

Here is the slideshow that he used during his workshop.

00 Bgg Nbdpa Presentation 2009

View more documents from Milt Haynes.

What did you find the most interesting about this slideshow?

HSCC Testimonial: Karole Johnson (2005-2006)

Originally Posted: 1/3/2008

We are pleased to share another testimonial from a student participant in our youth education programs provided for K-12 students all over the nation. This young sister comes to us from Richmond, VA.

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"My name is Karole Johnson and I am currently a freshman at High Point University in High Point, NC. I was a 2006 graduate of The Steward School in Richmond, VA. I have participated in the BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Training program since I was in the seventh grade. My first conference experience was in Chicago. Even though I was only 12 years old, I remember having so much fun and meeting people who are still my friends to this day.

Since then, I have traveled to Orlando, Philadelphia, Dallas, Detroit, and Los Angeles. I participated in the Youth Conference for four years, and I learned a lot in the seminars. My favorite part of any BDPA youth conference had to be the ‘Student Outing’ to one of the local businesses (behind the scenes at Disney) or colleges (University of Texas at Dallas). This was my favorite part of the conference because I got to see how life was in other parts of the country.

Starting in my junior year, 2005, I participated on the Richmond HSCC Team. I had fun participating in the oral and written competitions. The programming competition was where I grew. Not only did I grow in my programming skills, but I also grew in my time-management skills. Those eight hours are very challenging. You have to use your brain and your memory to do the problem correctly.

Throughout training and competition, one skill that I learned that will bring me success in the future is paying attention to details. Coding is a skill that has to be done perfectly or you will not have the outcome you desire. One missing letter or bracket will upset your whole program.

The most important skill that I learned is time-management. Eight hours is a whole lot shorter than it sounds. Being Project-Manager in 2006 taught me that I really had to pay attention to time, what we were working on, and what needed to be done. The stress got to me a couple of times, but I learned to work through it and keep going until they said we were out of time. I also learned a lot about being on a team in a challenging situation. I learned to keep up a positive outlook no matter what might be going wrong.

Also in 2006, I received a scholarship award from Bank of America that has greatly benefited me in my college career.

The most memorable thing from my years participating with HSCC is all of the friends that I have made. I have met so many unforgettable people not only from Richmond, but from across the country. I have friends in Milwaukee, Chicago, Dayton, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and even Canada that I would never have gotten the chance to meet if it were not for BDPA. All in all, BDPA has given me lasting memories, lasting friends, and lasting skills that I will continue to use throughout my life.

My most memorable experience was in LA. First of all, we placed 6th in the competition this past year. As Project Manager, I was very happy for myself and for my team. I learned more about myself and my team, and we formed a friendship that is going to last for a long time. To celebrate, our coordinator took us around LA and to Santa Monica Beach. Everybody has a dream of going to California, seeing the Hollywood sign, going down Rodeo Drive, and living like a star. My dream came true. As we rode into Beverly Hills, I was all smiles. Going down Rodeo Drive made me realize ‘I want to be able to shop here one day.’ The whole LA experience was amazing."

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This young sister has been engaged in BDPA youth education programs since she was 12-years old! She has been able to travel all over the country as a result of her ties to BDPA. Isn't it time that you made a donation to BDPA Education & Technology Foundation so that other young people can participate in 2008!

In the meantime, are their any Richmond chapter members here that want to share some insights on Karole with us? Heck, someone tell Karole to come over and leave her online signature by using the POST A COMMENT feature!

Take Five: Jonica Cowan (Middle Tennessee)

Jonica Cowan is the coordinator of the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team trained by BDPA Middle Tennessee chapter. The chapter began sending a HSCC team to the national championships in 2007. I have worked with Jonica over the past few years to find money to support the Student IT Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in greater Nashville area.

Jonica participated in our Take Five interview series:

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1. How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - I got involved in BDPA in 2004, when my co-workers asked me if I wanted to join a professional organization that was diverse and focused on Information Technology.


2. What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? The most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA was when I began working with the HSCC students as first an instructor and later as the HSCC Coordinator.


3. Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - A defining moment in my life came when I went to work for Deloitte. Having grown up and educated in the South, it was understood as an African American that we will always have the jobs that are low on totem pole no matter how much hard work and experience we had. When I entered corporate America in 1997, I had no reason to think otherwise because the people in middle and upper management did not look like me, especially in the IT Department. I had worked for several Fortune 500 companies where they promote diversity on ‘paper’ but I found that Deloitte was a little different; they actually put it into practice. They have leaders in middle and upper management that reflect the diverse face of America. This was defining moment for me and offered encouragement that Corporate America my parents knew was indeed changing and more opportunities exist for minorities to excel.


4. Who is your hero and why? - Not applicable


5. Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - For those that are considering donating to BETF, my advice to you is to do it. It is one place where I see my donation make an impact. Each year I donate via United Way to assist the BETF in securing funds needed to sponsor SITES programs for each of the 45 BDPA chapters; then offer deserving HSCC students scholarships to attend the university of their choice. I see my donation each year being put to good use by helping deserving students attend school.

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Jonica is a persistent and passionate supporter for her BDPA chapter. I hope that some of you will take a moment to COMMENT on Jonica's interview. We need to show some BDPA-Love to the men and women that donate their time, talent and energy on behalf of our young people. What say u?

Donation Shifts Trouble Nonprofits

by Lindsey Robbins

Among the biggest challenges nonprofits face is covering their overhead when donors increasingly target their gifts to the charity's specific projects and programs, rather than the groups themselves.

"There is a movement away from the traditional notion of charity, or giving money in good faith, to social investing, where you actually see results," said Jeff Mason, vice president of Social Solutions in Baltimore, which provides performance management software to nonprofits in the human service area.

At a recent conference for nonprofit organizations in Washington, foundations and grant makers suggested that nonprofits may have better luck soliciting funding if they find ways to talk about what their organizations do and whom they serve with more than just numbers.

Mason said his software can help nonprofits take that tack. More funders are focusing on the outcomes of a nonprofit's work rather than how many people it serves, he said. They're looking for clear goals, indicators of program progress, methods of collecting data on program outcomes and evidence of nonprofits using these data to refine their service.

"Most nonprofits have great intentions but no good, clear understanding of the impact of their programs," Mason said.

Read the rest of the Maryland Gazette article here.

Cornerstone Foundation of Northeastern Wisconsin

Cornerstone Foundation of Northeastern Wisconsin provides about $500,000 per year in donations to northeastern Wisconsin programs; with a primary focus in Brown County. Here is the contact information for Cornerstone Foundation.

111 North Washington Street, Suite 450
Green Bay WI 54301

Sheri Prosser, Executive Director
Telephone: (920) 490-8290
Fax: (920) 432-5822
BETF actively seeks out nonprofit foundations that are open to grant proposals for our youth education programs. Please share any ideas or suggestions that you may have on potential funding sources by using the POST COMMENTS feature below.

Take Five: Kelvin Dawson (Chicago)

Kelvin Dawson is a member of BDPA Chicago chapter. He works as a project manager for Allstate Insurance. Allstate Insurance is a long-time BDPA platinum-level corporate sponsor. In fact, Kelvin served as the membership chair for the Allstate corporate chapter in Chicago. Earlier this year Kelvin wrote a technology update in the BDPA Chicago newsletter.

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 always known about BDPA and stated that I would join one day. I saw BDPA as a great way to network with people from different industries and backgrounds. Since I did not know anyone from BDPA I kept putting it off. When I started working at Allstate I began meeting BDPA members. This was the perfect opportunity for me to join. Once I became a member my eyes was opened to all the great things that BDPA does for the communities. Each year I make it a priority to be involved in some way with BDPA.


2. What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - The most awarding aspect is the monthly meetings. I learn so much from the different presentations each month. From Speed Mentoring to Hot Technology, I use them all as a way to increase my industry knowledge. The connections that you make from attending meetings and volunteering for events are incredible.


3. Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - The most defining moment in my life is when I realized that we are all the same. Sometimes we hold a person is such high regard that we fell to see that one day that could be us. I have learned that whether you are the bank president or the man in the stock room, we are all the same. We are only different based on circumstances and ambition. I use to get intimidated when talking with area managers and vice presidents. As I began to advance in the corporate world I had more contact with people in higher positions. I began to see that I had just as much business knowledge as them. AS I began to speak up in meetings I realized that without my contributions the company may not run as efficiently. In other words I began to see my worth and understand that being in a higher position did not make you any smarter or wiser then the next person.


4. Who is your hero and why? - My hero would have to be my mother. She has defined my life and how I see others. Although I have always had a strong male figure in my life (my father), my mother is the person whom I wanted to emulate. She was always fair even when others were not. She would tell you the difference between right and wrong, but still allow you to make up your own mind and make your own mistakes. She is always there for me even when I just want to talk about nothing. She has taken in relatives that had nowhere else to go. She has given her last to help someone else. She will care about you even when you have given up on yourself. She is always there to make sure that you land on your feet. Although I now have my own family and kids, I must admit that I’m still learning from her today.


5. Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - BDPA is a wonderful organization that does a lot for the communities. Sometimes you don’t see how much they do until you are a member and sitting there in awe of how much work that has been accomplished. There are a lot of organizations out there because there is a lot of work to be done. Through BETF a person or company can help us educate our youth, feed our hungry, and take care of our communities. BDPA helps promote technology from going into classrooms to setting up computer labs, to putting on programming contests for our youth. Although Technology is one of our main themes, we also perform other charitable functions such as helping out with soup kitchens and organizing clothing drives. We are here to help our communities so that we all will have a better tomorrow.

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I encourage you to share some BDPA-Love with Kelvin using the COMMENTS link below.