Member on the Move: Denise Hamilton (Columbia University)

Denise Hamilton

BDPA New York member Denise Hamilton is currently pursuing the Executive Master of Science in Technology Management at Columbia University. Denise is focusing on her own personal and professional development after spending years focused on the personal and academic development of BDPA high school students.

Denise did her part to help BDPA student members 'win the future' and become the best that God has planned for them for a number of years. Denise was the coordinator and lead instructor for seven years.  She impacted the lives of hundreds of students that participated in her chapter's computer camps. She brought many students, including Khadijah Celestine, Alan Rosales and Nicholas Reid to compete in the national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships.

We asked BDPA New York chapter past president Renetta English to share her thoughts on Denise:

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Denise & Renetta

"Denise Hamilton has been a loyal and giving member of the BDPA New York Chapter. She was our dedicated Director of Education & Community Outreach for a number of years. Denise wore many hats in the chapter because she managed and was an instructor for our very successful Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program.

Denise was one of the first members at chapter meetings and events. She was always available to represent the chapter as a presenter for many topics including Career Development, Cyber-Security and Business Continuity.

Denise was a multifaceted cornerstone of our annual HSCC program. She spent many weekends being a true mentor to our students. Denise is so phenomenal because she is still mentoring students that have moved on to their college and professional careers. Denise believes in supporting young people to ensure their future success in life.

Earlier, I mentioned that Denise was a dedicated member of BDPA New York Chapter. Let’s be frank, it takes money to send our students to regional and national conferences. There was a time when the chapter did not have any money to send our students to conferences. So, what did Denise do? She lent the chapter hundreds of dollars to ensure that our students were able to showcase their talents at conference. Denise was so patient with us and she waited many years to be reimbursed.

Again, I can only say Denise is a phenomenal woman and friend that has shared her time, talent and treasure with not only our students but with the members of the BDPA New York Chapter.

She is truly appreciated for all that she has done and truly deserves to be recognized."

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Denise Hamilton has a powerful BDPA legacy! I encourage you to honor her efforts by making a secure online donation in support of the BDPA New York HSCC Scholarship Fund!

Happy Birthday: Earl Pace (BDPA Founder)

I join BETF-Blog readers in wishing a glorious birthday to our visionary leader and founder -- Earl A. Pace, Jr. All current BDPA members and leaders should take a moment today to reflect on our organizational legacy ... the shoulders on which we stand today ...

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I don't know the year of birth for Mr. Pace. I do know that National BDPA only had one president in the 1970s...

Earl Pace served as our national leader from 1976 thru 1980. Earl has been in the Information Technology (IT) industry since 1965. He began as a computer programmer trainee at the Pennsylvania Railroad. He left the PRR in 1967. Over the next ten years, he rose through the ranks of programmer, programmer analyst, programming manager to Vice President of a financial telecommunications company in Philadelphia, PA.

Earl Pace became a business owner in 1976 when he incorporated Pace Data Systems for which he is still president. Pace Data Systems is a full service information technology firm providing services through its Philadelphia, PA and Washington, DC offices primarily to banks.

In 1975, he co-founded BDPA in Philadelphia and operated as its president for two years. In 1978, he coordinated the formation of BDPA into a national organization and functioned as its first National President until 1980. BDPA has grown into the largest national professional organization representing people of African descent in the IT industry.

In 1997, he received the National Technical Association’s National Technical Achiever Award as Computer Scientist of the Year.

In 2001 and 2002, Black Money Magazine named him as one of the 50 Most Influential African Americans in Information Technology.

Within BDPA and on a broader national scale, Earl Pace has been a vocal advocate for business ownership. His primary message since starting BDPA has been that African Americans should strive to rise above "just a job" to membership on the Board of Directors and beyond that to owning and operating their own business. Earl continues to be very active in the business and education community in Philadelphia, Washington DC and Baltimore, MD.

He is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University and pursued graduate studies at Temple University in Philadelphia. He is married and has one daughter, one son and one granddaughter.

BETF-Blog readers, care to share your favorite memory about Bro. Pace?

Letter of Inquiry: Andrew Jergens Foundation (Cincinnati)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) teamed with BDPA Cincinnati chapter to submit a 'letter of inquiry' to the Andrew Jergens Foundation seeking permission to submit a full-fledged grant proposal. The proposal would ask for a $10,000 grant to support the chapter's 2015 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program.

Andrew N. Jergens established the Foundation in 1962; two of his children and two of his grandchildren currently serve as trustees. Since 1962, the Foundation has awarded more than $17 million in grants in the areas of social services, health, recreation/environment, arts and education. The Foundation’s prime interest is the health, education, cultural experience, and social welfare of children in the Cincinnati area. It supports programs that benefit children, generally through high school age, in the Greater Cincinnati area. The Foundation is a client of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation's private foundation grant-making services.

Andrew N. Jergens was born November 28, 1881 on Halstead Street, Cincinnati, not far from the Andrew Jergens Company, founded by his father and a partner. Family lore has it that Jergens started working at the company at age 11. The Company was his life’s work until he passed away at age 86. It also allowed him to have the resources to be able to give back to his life-long community. (The Foundation is not associated with the former Andrew Jergens Company.)

BETF would love to work with all 46 local BDPA chapters on similar funding opportunities. Please reach out the BETF executive director if you have questions or wish to discuss further. In the meantime, let's wish BDPA Cincinnati some luck!

Best Buy Foundation Accepting Applications for National Youth Technology Program

The Best Buy Foundation provides under-served teens with access to technology to build 21st century skills and bridge the digital divide.

To help accomplish this goal, the foundation is seeking applications from nonprofit organizations for programs that provide youth with access to new technologies and help them become interested and fluent in digital learning while developing skills that better prepare them for future education and career success. Grants of up to $200,000 will be awarded to programs that help teens build skills by utilizing cutting-edge technology such as computers, digital cameras, video cameras, and professional software in a wide range of areas, including audio production (e.g., music mixing and recording), coding/3D printing, computer maintenance and repair, digital photography/graphic design, film-making and videography, maker fairs and hack-a-thons, mobile and game app development, programming, robotics, and/ or website design.

To be eligible, applicants must be nonprofit organizations with existing out-of-school time programs with a proven track record of serving youth between the ages of 13 and 18 in under-served communities. In addition, programs must operate within twenty-five miles of a Best Buy store or other Best Buy center of operations; have a commitment to diversity and inclusion; be willing to integrate Geek Squad Academy curricula into existing programming (if appropriate); and have the ability to conduct programming in multiple targeted sites across the country. Preferred locations include areas where Best Buy Teen Tech Centers are located, including but not limited to Chicago, Denver, Jersey City/NYC, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, San Antonio, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

Visit the Best Buy website for complete program guidelines and application instructions.

Link to Complete RFP

OURstory: Jan Matzeliger (1852-1887)

I agree with President Obama ... Kanye West is a 'jackass'. However, he seems to be a cultural icon for African American youth. Perhaps it is time for us to get busy providing some alternative icons for our youth. We have large numbers of Black and Brown students with little or not preparation in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) subjects. Without STEM background in the future, these students may find themselves with no employment opportunities.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger realized as much. Did you know that Jan Matzeliger was born on this date in 1852. He used STEM knowledge to create a shoe-lasting machine that mechanically shaped the upper portions of shoes.

Matzeliger was born on September 15, 1852 in Suriname (South America), the child of a biracial marriage. His father was a white engineer from Holland and his mother was a Black woman in the Dutch colony. By his third birthday Matzeliger was sent to live with his father’s sister. By the time he turned 10 years old, Matzeliger became a worker in the machine shop that his father owned. It was at this time that he quickly became aware of his talent for working with machinery.

Although he was skilled in this area, Matzeliger did not initially pursue a career in engineering or inventing. In 1871 at the age of 19 he left Surinam and worked as a sailor for two years. By 1873 he settled in Philadelphia where he worked in a variety of trades.

In 1876 he moved to Lynn, Massachusetts. Matzeliger arrived in Lynn barely able to speak English. Nonetheless he began working in a shoe factory. Despite his language difficulties, Matzeliger began working on various innovations that would improve shoe manufacturing productivity. Working alone and at night for six months, he produced a model in wood and on March 20, 1883, received a patent. The patent number is 459,899.

His patent was subsequently bought by Sydney W. Winslow, who established the United Shoe Machine Company. The continued success of this business brought about a 50% reduction in the price of shoes across the nation, doubled wages, and improved working conditions for millions of people dependent on the shoe industry for their livelihood. Winslow’s corporation made $50 million in the next dozen years and put Lynn, MA on the map as the shoe capital of the world.

Matzeliger’s work habits and his neglect of his health, however, soon took a toll. In the summer of 1887, he caught a cold then developed tuberculosis. Jan Matzeliger died on August 24 of that year in his mid-30s, long before he had the chance to realize a share of the enormous profit derived from his invention.

Matzeliger is not a household name but it should be. He was honored on a 29 cent first class U.S. postage stamp in 1991.

I hope that he included in the 2010 history portion of the BDPA high school computer competition! Jan Matzeliger should be discussed with our young people ... not Kanye West.

Member on the Move: Midge Johnson ('They Didn't Get That Way By Themselves')

Earl Pace, Midge Johnson, Wayne Hicks

Margaret 'Midge' Johnson has a powerful legacy within BDPA. She served as the BDPA Washington DC chapter president in 1989-1990. Her chapter's HSCC team finished in second (1989) and first (1990) place during those two years. Her chapter hosted the 1990 National BDPA Technology Conference. Midge subsequently became the first-ever executive director for National BDPA.

Midge is now a 70 year-old mother and grandmother with a career in the Information Technology industry that spanned over 50 years until her recent retirement from GEICO. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and a Master's Degree in Public Administration with a specialization in Management Systems Analysis. Her degrees were earned over a period of 16 years of going to school at night and on the weekends. During those 16 years she was married, worked a full time job and she was mother to two sons and a daughter. She has been a married parent and a single parent. She is currently a member of Rainbow Family Christian Center in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Midge wrote a book entitled, 'They Didn't Get That Way By Themselves'. The book has a remarkable narrative, funny stories, the wisdom and the Word of God along with prayers. Use them all to train your children to prepare them for growing up to be responsible, self-reliant adults with integrity.



Midge grew up in a home with both parents after the first three years of her life (her father went off to World War II about 3 days after she was born). Her mother lived with her father's mother until he came back from the war. She had the benefit of both parents for about 6 of her first 15 years (her parents would separate and go back together intermittently). After that time, her mother raised her with the help of her paternal grandmother and her estranged father. She learned, observed and heard a lot of things related to "training" children through the years and decided that maybe she could help new parents and maybe some who were already parents.

"I didn't always make the best decisions concerning my children but I sure gave it my best based on what I experienced, what I was taught and what I learned as they grew. In retrospect, I have accumulated some nuggets on "training" children that eventually worked for my children as well as for my grandchildren."

Well done Midge! Now it is up to BDPA members and supporters to remember that old adage, 'BUY BDPA'!

8th Annual Blogging While Brown Conference (June 19-20, 2015)

'BDPAers' are encouraged to mark your calendars with an eye towards attending the 8th Annual Blogging While Brown conference on June 19-20, 2015 in Austin, TX. Austin is a thriving tech-centric city and is where the Blogging While Brown operation is headquartered. Early registration will open soon.

For information about sponsoring Blogging While Brown 2015, email Joi Gamble, director of Brand Partnerships at sponsorships@bloggingwhilebrown.com.

Third Annual Verizon Innovative App Challenge, Designed to Spark Students' Interest in STEM, Now Open for Entries

The Verizon Innovative App Challenge, now in its third year, is once again calling on middle school and high school students to gather their teams, dream up ideas, and create concepts for mobile apps that could solve problems in their schools and communities.

The first two Verizon Innovative App Challenges have encouraged thousands of students to develop an interest in [STEM] and have awarded cash grants totaling $340,000 - and 130 new tablets, courtesy of Samsung Telecommunications America - to winning teams. Verizon is extending the program as part of its commitment to the Obama administration's ConnectED initiative, to which the company has pledged up to $100 million in cash and in-kind contributions over the next three years.

Read the rest of the Verizon news release.

Rest in Peace: Tim Benson (1960-2009)

Tim Benson was a founding member of our BDPA chapter in Lansing, MI. He passed away on September 12, 2009 at the age of 48.

Classroom to the Boardroom: Della Anjeh (Pomona College)

Della Anjeh is entering her junior year at Pomona College where she majors in computer science. She is a member of our BDPA St. Louis chapter and participated in 2011 and 2012 on the chapter's High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team. She earned a Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship when her HSCC team took home the silver medal in 2012. Later she earned a Monsanto Scholarship ... also administered by the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation. Part of her application included an essay entitled, 'Communication, Knowledge and Innovation: Outcomes of Technological Advancement in Agriculture'.

Della currently is the webmaster for New Ideas Education, a start-up that allows Chinese students to improve English by video chatting with college students. Della also runs the College Lowdown, a podcast that gives advice on what it’s like to navigate and study at an elite college for low-income and first generation students. Della plans to work in the tech world and isn’t quite sure which area she wishes to pursue, but figures it will be in either data structures or design.

We asked Della to share thoughts about her BDPA experience:

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Della Anjeh

"Ever since I received the email in ninth grade that an after school computer teaching club called BDPA would meet on Wednesdays, I never knew that it would lead to me becoming a second place national champion at the 2012 BDPA conference, that I would become the lead webmaster for a start-up, or that I would major in computer science at one of the best schools in the country. It’s just one of those things that turned out to be bigger than I ever anticipated.

I remember being at the conference in Chicago during the oral question part of the competition. For fun, our team learned from a YouTube video to count in binary with our fingers, so for every binary question our team or the other teams received, we would quietly count with our fingers together. Needless to say, we were always correct. I also remember the courses in robotics we took that taught me a lot about an aspect of computer science that at that point I hadn’t had to opportunity to explore. And of course, I’ll never forget when we were called out as the second place team in the competition that year. It was amazing especially since I was going off to college in a few weeks making 2012 my last year to be eligible to compete in the HSCC championship. All the hard work I put in since 9th grade and up to my senior year of high school truly paid off.

I can’t ever forget what BDPA has done for me, and I continue to reap the benefits of the program now as I’m starting my 3rd year of college, and my first semester as a declared computer science major. I have no idea what my future will be like, but I know that BDPA will continue to stay in my mind as one of the places I felt that I could let my talent shine."

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BDPA created the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship program to propel students in our community from the classroom to the boardroom. We want our children to have their best chance to 'win the future' by getting grounded in science, technology, education and mathematics. Della is showing us that we're on the right track. We need your help to keep it going! Would you please consider making a secure online donation to support BDPA programs, scholarships and services?

Remembering 9/11

The initial numbers are indelible: 8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m. Time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes. Time they took to fall: 12 seconds. From there, they ripple out.

• Total number killed in attacks: 2,819
• Number of WTC companies that lost people: 60
• Number of nations whose citizens were killed in attacks: 115
• Ratio of men to women who died: 3:1
• Bodies found "intact": 289
• Body parts found: 19,858
• Number of families who got no remains: 1,717
• Number of people who lost a spouse or partner in the attacks: 1,609
• Estimated number of children who lost a parent: 3,051
• Days fires continued to burn after the attack: 99

18th Annual BDPA Cincinnati Education Banquet

Ceair Baggett

BDPA Cincinnati is the 2nd largest chapter in the nation. This chapter experienced wonderful success from its high school and college students at the national conference last month. The chapter now extends invitation to all BDPA members, sponsors and stakeholders to attend its 18th Annual Education Banquet on Saturday, October 4, 2014.

One of the highlights of the event will be the keynote speech by Ceair Baggett, the newly selected principal for Ethel M. Taylor Academy. Before coming to Taylor, Mr. Baggett served as Assistant Principal for Robert A. Taft Information Technical High School and Gilbert A. Dater High School respectively. Ceair participated in BDPA computer camp as a high school student. It is wonderful to have him now as our keynoter speaker to honor the students who participated in the program this year.

Here are the logistic for this banquet:

Saturday, October 4, 2014
4:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Receptions Conference Centers5975 Boymel Dr
Fairfield, OH 45014

Tickets: $40.00 per person

You can purchase or donate banquet tickets here.   For rates on tables and ads, please contact us at (513) 549-6441 or cincinnati@bdpa.org

BDPA iRadio Show - September 9, 2014

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud to be the creator of the BDPA iRadio Show. You can listen to the archive version of the show using the widget shown in the right-hand sidebar of this blog. FREE download from the iTunes Store is also available for our listeners!

Check Out Technology Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with BDPA on BlogTalkRadio

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The guest on the September 9th show:

Joneé Drake - Associate Information Consultant, Eli Lilly and Company - Joneé Drake is an IT business analyst with Eli Lilly and Company. She has a number of IT certifications and she is well-respected within her company and her community.  Joneé also has a unique place in BDPA folklore ... she was a member of the 1992 High School Computer Competition team trained by our BDPA Northwest Indiana chapter! Joneé continues her march on the journey of 'classroom to boardroom' that we admire within the BDPA family. Joneé graduated from Purdue University after leaving Gary, IN. She has worked at Eli Lilly for her entire professional career ... and current BDPA students still benefit from the work that she did to establish the annual Eli Lilly Scholarship for BDPA Students. Our BDPA iRadio Show listeners enjoyed hearing her unique perspective on BDPA as both a student and an IT professional.

Anjuan Simmons - Project Manager, OnCenter Software - Anjuan Simmons is a technologist with a successful track record of delivering technology solutions from the user interface to the database. He is currently a software project manager at a leading construction software manufacturer, and he worked as a technology executive for Infosys, Accenture, and Deloitte, all multi-billion dollar technology services companies with hundreds of clients around the world.

He is also the author of Minority Tech: Journaling Through Blackness and Technology. This book is an essay anthology covering the author’s experiences as an African American man in a society that often misunderstands Blackness, the need for people of color to own their destinies, and the value that diversity can bring to the technology industry. We are pleased to bring the unique musings of Anjuan Simmons to our BDPA iRadio audience.  Anjuan can be found on Twitter - @anjuan

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We hope you enjoy the insights and commentary on the show from each of these guests. Please take a moment to post a comment to let us know that you care!

BDPA Mobile Application Showcase: Richard Watts III (Central Illinois)

BDPA Central Illinois member Richard Watts III (University High School) earned first place (and a $6,500 college scholarship from State Farm!) for his efforts during the 1st Annual BDPA Mobile Application Showcase.



BDPA used this initiative to expose its student members to mobile application development and showcase the students' expertise during the annual national technology conference. The students were provided with foundation training for mobile application development and mentoring throughout the pilot. The 2014 BDPA Mobile Application Showcase featured high school and college students that designed, developed and deployed a mobile application (business, personal productivity or game) to a mobile device for display at the national conference.

L-R: Craig Brown, Markita Payne, Michael Tyson, Richard Watts III, Tonji Zimmerman, Jason Gibson

The BDPA Mobile Application Showcase was sponsored by State Farm.

Grant Proposal: The Kroger Foundation (Cincinnati)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) partnered with BDPA Cincinnati to submit a grant proposal to The Kroger Foundation seeking $5,000 funding to support the chapter's 2015 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program.

The objective of our SITES program in Cincinnati is to effectively use technology to stimulate and sustain the interest of young people in science and technology. BDPA Cincinnati is qualified to deliver this proactive youth education project. BDPA seeks an increased interest from parents and students alike on basic science, technology, engineering and math knowledge and integration of science, technology, math and health awareness in their lives.

BDPA introduces computers and basic software programming as well as more advanced computer programming to traditionally underrepresented students in our community. BDPA partners with local universities to improve the technical awareness, engagement, health awareness and job opportunities of high school and college students, in particular those considering attending Brown Mackie College, Cincinnati State Technical College, Northern Kentucky University, Per Scholas and the University of Cincinnati.

BETF would love to submit a joint grant proposal with all 46 local BDPA chapters. The process is simple enough. Just reach out to the BETF executive director if you have questions or wish to discuss further. In the meantime, wish luck to Dalric Webb (chapter president) and Ellery Lewis (chapter vice president of fundraising) as they seek to quickly identify full funding for the chapter's 2015 SITES program.

You can help by purchasing a ticket or an ad for the chapter's 18th Annual BDPA Education Banquet honoring the students, volunteers and sponsors of the highly successful 2014 SITES program in Cincinnati!

Alcatel-Lucent Foundation

The purpose of the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation is to support the local communities where Alcatel-Lucent employees work and live in the United States and around the world. Alcatel-Lucent teams analyze the diverse needs within those communities and make careful decisions about the programs that Alcatel-Lucent will support to better the communities where its employees work and live.

For more information, you can email sustainable.development@alcatel.com

Message from BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb & Cincinnati students

Greetings BDPA Cincinnati Chapter members!

Fresh off the outstanding performance of our students at the 36th Annual BDPA Technology Conference in Indianapolis, IN last month, we continue to accelerate our efforts at winning the 'Race To Innovate'!

Our chapter continues to grow and sustain with 175 members and a 98% membership retention rate! This is both a testament to the hard work of the membership management team but also to the strength and VALUE of our chapter and the efforts of our volunteers. Are you feeling the benefit of your own membership? How are you engaged with the chapter? Let’s talk at this month’s program meeting which will be held at our new location at the Woodlawn campus of Brown Mackie College. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how we can bring greater VALUE to your membership and get you more engaged with the chapter’s efforts.

We continue to 'Race to Innovate' next month at our 18th Annual Education Banquet where we will give special recognition to the students who participated in our SITES program this year and to the volunteers who worked tirelessly with them to advance their careers 'from the classroom to the boardroom'.   I hope you will join us and show your support for the future faces of technology from our local communities. Invite others within your circles to join us as well. Let’s work together to show our youth we value their hard work, dedication, and commitment, by being living examples they can reach out and touch as part of their own personal board of directors. I hope to see all of our partner organizations represented including, AAKOB Financial Services, Brown Mackie College, Cincinnati Bell, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati State Technical College, Delta Gateway Foundation, GE, Kroger, Learn on the Web, Northern Kentucky University, Per Sholas and Procter & Gamble.

As we round out the third quarter of the year, your chapter volunteers have been putting in the work to make your chapter successful. Will you be able to attend this month’s program meeting on September 17th? Register here to attend.

What did you think of our newsletter published last quarter by Carmen Byes, Director of Communications? Have you provided her any feedback for what you’d like to see in the next edition? Your feedback and input is what makes our chapter rise from good to great. Please take an active role in your chapter.

Ellery Lewis

I also forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS to VP-Fundraising Ellery Lewis and his wife on the birth of their baby girl in May. Elise (the baby) is doing great and mom and dad are just now starting to get a little more sleep. We are glad to have our vice president back in the saddle as we have missed his smiling face while he has been taking care of home. Perhaps we will get to meet the new little one at our fourth quarter social event? Stay tuned!

Finally, I ask for your engagement as a member of the chapter board of directors if you are not already engaged. While the year is winding down we are already looking ahead to 2015 and how we want to raise the bar in terms of our Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship program, our membership growth and so much more. We can use great leaders like you who can give just a few hours each month towards the success of our collective efforts to shrink the technology gap that exists within our under-served local community.

If we don’t work to close the gap in our own community, who will? BDPA is a great vehicle to further the objectives of bringing more minorities up through the information technology ranks. Won’t you be a part of the BDPA success story and join our great team of leaders?

Consider joining the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter Board of Directors. We have a very strong team which works VERY well together to accomplish our mutual goals and objectives. You will be in the company of some really good (and SMART) people with a passion for not only YOUR success, but the success of our youth and our communities. It is a positive team to be a part of and we want you to be a part too.

Please consider taking one of the open positions within the chapter. No role is too small and the need is great. You can do this. We need you. Our communities need you. Our students need you. Visit our chapter landing page to see which positions are open and are of interest to you.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. Can you spare one hour peer week to return months of value to others in need? Let’s talk. Give me a call (513.549-6991) or send me an email (cincinnati@bdpa.org) and let’s chat about how you can give just a little and get so much in return.

As always, your feedback is earnestly solicited. How is your BDPA membership working out for you? How can we improve the value of your membership? Send me a note or pull me to the side at the monthly program meeting. This is YOUR chapter. Are you feeling engaged?

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter
Twitter: @DalricWebb

Technology Expresso: Josie's FIT STEAM Relay Challenge

Josephine Reed has been an active volunteer with BDPA Atlanta chapter for a number of years. Currently, she serves as the director of the chapter's Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. In that role she has provided guidance that resulted in over $10,000 of college scholarship funds being earned by BDPA Atlanta chapter students over the past few years.

Josie was the featured guest on Technology Expresso Cafe' podcast where she was interviewed by David Blackman and Jacqueline Sanders.

Check Out Fitness Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with Tech Expresso Cafe on BlogTalkRadio

In her role as SITES directory, Josie attends all director meetings to discuss program curriculum and competition rules. As a board member, she work with the leadership team to develop and coordinate course objectives and program schedule with other instructors. She recruits instructors and students to participate in the program and works within the community to find sponsorship for the program.

Her passion to work with today's youth and exposing them to environments and experiences they otherwise may have never known, has been one of the best experiences in her life. As such, it is not a surprise to learn that Josie created an innovative idea that combines brain power and fitness for what promises to be an entertaining afternoon. The 'FIT STEAM Relay Challenge' is designed with the intention of engaging middle and high school students in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education in an environment that promotes physical fitness. The students participating in the relay race will have many supporters cheering them on as they compete in front of their family, friends and peers.

We encourage our blog readers to find ways to support the event! Frankly, we want you to also make a secure online donation in support of the BDPA Atlanta chapter SITES program. Click here to 'make it so'! Here is the link to the actual Evite.

OURstory: Lewis Latimer (1848-1928)

Lewis Howard Latimer was born on this date in 1848. He was an African American inventor and innovator in the electric lighting industry. [SOURCE]

As a boy Latimer worked in his father’s barbershop in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He joined the Union Navy during the Civil War and after an honorable discharge in 1865 he found work with a firm of patent lawyers. Although Latimer was hired as an office boy, he cultivated drafting skills in his spare time until he was qualified for blueprint work. Latimer brainstormed his own work, patenting in 1874 a "pivot bottom" for water closets on trains. His high-caliber draftsmanship impressed Alexander Graham Bell, whose 1876 telephone blueprints were drawn up by Latimer.

In 1880 Latimer went to work for the inventor Hiram Maxim, who ran the United States Electric Lighting Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut and was one of Thomas Edison's prime competitors in the institutionalization of electric light. Under Maxim, Latimer supervised the installation of electric light in New York, Philadelphia, London, and Montreal. He also developed other inventions of his own, co-patenting an electric lamp with Joseph V. Nichols in 1881, and, most important, refining light-bulb technology in 1882. In 1884 he was invited to work for Maxim's arch rival, Thomas Alva Edison, in New York.

An expert electrical engineer, Latimer's work for Edison was critical for the following reasons: his thorough knowledge of electric lighting and power guided Edison through the process of filing patent forms properly at the U. S. Patent Office, protecting the company from infringements of his inventions; Latimer was also in charge of the company library, collecting information from around the world, translating data in French and German to protect the company from European challenges. He became Edison's patent investigator and expert witness in cases against persons trying to benefit from Edison's inventions without legal permission.

Edison encouraged Latimer to write the book, Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System. Published in 1890, it was extremely popular as it explained how an incandescent lamp produces light in an easy-to-understand manner.

On February 11, 1918, Latimer became one of the 28 charter members of the Edison Pioneers, the only African American in this prestigious, highly selective group. [photo: Latimer is standing left; Edison is the one with the cane]

After leaving Edison, Latimer worked for a patent consultant firm until 1922 when failing eyesight caused an end to his career. His health began to fail following the death of his beloved wife Mary Wilson Latimer in 1924. To cheer and encourage him to carry on, his children, two daughters, had a book of his poems printed in 1925 in honor of his 77th birthday.

The poems are beautifully sensitive, and complement Latimer's designation as a "Renaissance Man" who painted, played the flute, wrote poetry and plays. Lewis Howard Latimer settled in Flushing, New York and lived there until his death in 1928. He was an active member of the local community, teaching English and drafting to immigrants at the Henry Street Settlement in 1906. In 1968, Latimer was posthumously honored by the borough of Brooklyn when a public school was named after him.

It is important that we tell OURstory ... we cannot rely on his-story!

Classroom to the Boardroom: Nicholas Reid (New York University)

 BDPA believes that it can help the Black community 'win the future' by providing programs, scholarships and services that will move folks from 'the classroom to the boardroom'. Back in 2003, we created the BDPA Information Technology (IT) Showcase as part of that process. Our vision at the time was to find a way for the students trained by BDPA in coding (programming), database management, web development, presentation skills and teamwork in our local chapter computer camps and the national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships to stay within the BDPA family as they moved on to college.

Dr. Jesse Bemley

The IT Showcase was created by BDPA Hall of Fame member Dr. Jesse Bemley with the idea that HSCC alumni (high school or college) could continue to compete at the annual conference. These young people were encouraged to document their research on a relevant technology topic ... write a 10-page paper, create a poster board display and then defend their research in person in front of judges from industry and academia.

This blog wants to begin to highlight some of the young people who have begun their 'classroom to the boardroom' journey in both the HSCC and IT Showcase initiatives. One such student is Nicholas Reid. As a high school student Nicholas represented BDPA New York chapter in the 2010 national HSCC championship. His team finished in sixth place that year.

In 2012, he served as the technical coordinator for the high school students being trained by his local chapter.

2014 IT Showcase Award: Dr. Bemley, Nicholas, Dr. Brown

The past two years (2013 and 2014) Nicholas has been a participant in the college division of the BDPA IT Showcase. In fact, he took home the silver medal at the BDPA IT Showcase held in August 2014!

 Nicholas is the future face of technology. He is currently studying physics and computer science at New York University with a career goal of becoming an astrophysicist.

BDPA is excited to support the efforts of youngsters such as Nicholas. We expect great things from him and others who follow the BDPA path. However, we need support from BDPA members, sponsors and supporters to increase the funds available for BDPA programs, scholarships and services. Won't you take a moment to make a secure online donation right here and right now in the name of Nicholas Reid?

BDPA Mobile Application Showcase: Itobore Odje (Cincinnati)

BDPA Cincinnati member Itobore Odje (University of Cincinnati) earned second place (and a $5,500 college scholarship from State Farm!) for her efforts during the 1st Annual BDPA Mobile Application Showcase.



BDPA used this initiative to expose its student members to mobile application development and showcase the students' expertise during the annual national technology conference. The students were provided with foundation training for mobile application development and mentoring throughout the pilot. The 2014 BDPA Mobile Application Showcase featured high school and college students that designed, developed and deployed a mobile application (business, personal productivity or game) to a mobile device for display at the national conference.

L-R: Craig Brown, Markita Payne, Michael Tyson, Itobore Odje, Tonji Zimmerman, Jason Gibson

The BDPA Mobile Application Showcase was sponsored by State Farm.

Top 10 BDPA Chapters (Membership, August 2014)

The lifeblood of any nonprofit association is its membership.  We are tickled to announce that membership has grown for the 8th straight month to its highest level since January 2010.  In fact, the total membership increased by 27% so far this year ... and up 58% from this time last year!  The membership growth is a direct result of efforts by local, regional and national leaders to provide a value proposition to members (and potential members) with its programs, scholarships and services.  Kudos to the National BDPA president Craig Brown and his team for the continued positive trending in this core metric.

This month we pay homage to BDPA Atlanta chapter (president Derrick Brown) for its continued success in terms of membership retention and recruitment. BDPA Atlanta was named 'Chapter of the Year' at the 36th Annual BDPA Technology Conference held last month in Indianapolis. They also took home the 'Membership Award', which is bestowed upon an individual chapter and its members for their outstanding achievements in increasing the National organization, being 'a member-focused organization' and ensuring that each member of BDPA feels valued as a member of the association.

BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter (president, Will Smith) is to be commended for a remarkable milestone as well.  This chapter doubled in size this calendar year!   They began the year as the 14th largest chapter in nation ... and now we find them sitting as the 6th-largest chapter ... just short of entering the 'BDPA Century Club' (see below).  Much of the growth is a result of the chapter's powerful Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program.

We believe in the management maxim -- you get what you measure.  Let us assess the numbers in order to honor those local BDPA chapters who are demonstrating success in their efforts to recruit and retain members. Let's take a look at the ten largest chapters in BDPA-Nation:

1. Chicago - president, Reggie Rush
2. Cincinnati - president, Dalric Webb
   
3. Washington DC - president, Perry Carter 
4. Philadelphia - president, Eileen Gadsden
5. Atlanta - president, Derrick Brown 
6. Southern Minnesota - president, Will Smith (up 10 spots)
7. New Jersey - president, Goldie Bonney (down 1 spot)
8. Dallas - president, Chad White (down 1 spot)
9. Los Angeles - president, John Malonson (down 1 spot)
10. New York - president, Tyronne McKinney (down 1 spot)

The top five chapters on the list remain in the 'BDPA Century Club'! The benefit of having powerful leadership is obvious when we see that Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Washington DC each have over 100 members. One of the common denominators for each of these chapters is that they place a high premium on the delivery of quality programs and services to their members. These chapters work hard to ensure that there is a strong return on the $100 investment that each member makes thru annual dues.

What are your thoughts about the value of BDPA membership? What can your local chapter do to improve the value-proposition for you on a personal or professional level?