BDPA iRadio Show: October 13, 2015 (Jeanose Lexima, Lyn Muldrow)

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 October 13th show:

Jeanose Lexima

Jeanose Lexima - founder, Women On Change - Jeanose Lexima is senior IT specialist and former BDPA member. She is the founder of Women Of Change (WOC). WOC advocates for women to combat inequality on a global scale, while cultivating young females to end generational poverty and inequality through 21st century training. Jeanose is on a mission to curb the poverty rate for the next generation through STEM training for poor girls. She is currently visiting the poorest schools in America, She seeks to cultivate a generation of untested minds, ready for knowledge and build character they will need to be successful in America. BDPA iRadio Show audience learned more about Jeanose's passion, her successes and her challenges as she moves forward with WOC. You can follow Jeanose on Twitter -- @LeximaJ.

Lyn Muldrow

Lyn Muldrow - Web Developer, Cactus Sky - Lyn Muldrow is a front-end web developer whose aim is to create or work on teams to create lasting social experiences for users. She is currently working for Cactus Sky Digital, a full-service digital marketing agency providing email marketing, online reputation management, website development, social media, public relations, and automotive solutions. Lyn has worked in the online marketing and customer engagement/support field for over 8 years. In that time she provided web design (HTML/CSS), social media management, user experience advice, and other marketing solutions for companies of all sizes, with an emphasis on small businesses and start-ups.

Lyn is an outspoken advocate for diversity in tech, and works tirelessly to increase access to tech skills for women and people of color. She volunteers with organizations like Lesbians Who Tech and RailsBridge that align with her personal mission, and she hopes to inspire future generations to pursue tech-focused careers. Check out her Github, which has her projects past and present: https://github.com/lynmuldrow. BDPA iRadio Show audience was educated and inspired by the unique journey of this tech diva! You can follow Lyn on Twitter - @LynMuldrow

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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!

Top 10 BDPA Chapters (Membership, September 2015)

The lifeblood of any nonprofit association is its membership.  BDPA Cincinnati remains the #1 BDPA chapter in the nation for the sixth month in a row.   The chapter ... led by its president, Dalric Webb ... continues to amaze others by its consistent growth.   The chapter is active this month with a program meeting and an annual education banquet.  The chapter was one of the few considered for the Chapter of the Year award at the national conference a few weeks ago.

William Wells

We welcome on board a brand new chapter ... BDPA Kansas City (president, William Wells).   This is actually the second effort to grow a chapter in the nation's heartland.   the 1993 National BDPA Technology Conference was hosted by the original chapter.  The current chapter has a very energetic chapter president who seeks to bring STEM activism to his city.   He will showcase what the chapter is all about at the upcoming Digital Opportunity and Inclusion Summit, Dinner and Play.  They are the 31st largest BDPA chapter in the nation.   We look forward to continued growth of the chapter in Kansas City over the coming weeks and months!

BDPA believes 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. Cincinnati - president, Dalric Webb 
2. Chicago - president, Reggie Rush 
3. Detroit - president, Beverly Moore 
4. Atlanta - president, Derrick Brown
5.  New York - president, Tyrone McKinney
6. Philadelphia - president, Eileen Gadsden
7. Washington DC - president, Perry Carter 
8. Indianapolis - president, Terry Morris 
9. New Jersey - president, Goldie Bonney 
10. Milwaukee - president, Carmen Giles 

We had a significant rise in the number of chapters now belonging to the 'BDPA Century Club'! The benefit of having powerful leadership is obvious when we see that Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, New York and Philadelphia 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.

Our national president, Pamela Mathews, recently touted the value that organizational re-branding has made on BDPA.  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?

Anthony Coleman Uses BDPA Scholarships to Attend Midlands Technical College

Anthony Coleman

Anthony Coleman capped off his BDPA experience in high school by winning two scholarships -- Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship and the Human Capital Logistics Scholarship. He will use the scholarships to help fund his Computer Technology degree at Midlands Technical College and Winthrop University.

Anthony grew up in a military family. Both his father and grandfather served in the Armed Forces for over 20 years. Anthony was born in Richmond, Virginia, however he has lived in five different states, including Alaska. The constant movement that comes with being a 'military brat' was stressful at times, however, it allowed Anthony to become an adaptive and resilient person.

Anthony graduated from Dutch Fork High School where he was actively involved in numerous extracurricular activities, such as the Beta Club, Future Business Leaders of America, and Distributive Education Clubs of America. He also graduated from the Youth Corps leadership program, and was the team captain of the BDPA Greater Columbia High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team from 2012-2014. He capped his BDPA experience on the HSCC team by taking home the silver medal at the 2014 National HSCC Championship held in Indianapolis, IN.



He spent his first year of college studying Computer Information Systems at Winthrop University.  He is currently attending Midlands Technical College this fall to continue to work towards his career aspiration of becoming employed as a Computer Programmer. He plans to return to Winthrop complete his college education.

Anthony shared his testimonial on being part of the BDPA Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program:

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After being a part of BDPA for 5 years, I can definitely say that BDPA has helped steer me in the direction of studying Computer Science in college. Before joining BDPA, I had already developed an interest in working with computers. However, I did not have an outlet to further explore my interest and develop skills in the field. When my mom first introduced me to BDPA, I was intrigued because I would be able to do something that I enjoyed while being with my friends from school. As time passed, my friends lost interest in the program due to the early meeting times on weekends. Nevertheless, I stayed with it as my passion for Computer Science and Web Design grew.

By the end of the year, I was a part of the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team. After my first competition, my team finished in the lower half of the standings. I was not discouraged after this result; it only proved that we had room to improve.

At the start of my second year in BDPA, there was a new focus within the chapter. There were new students and instructors, but there was clearly a different mindset. Everyone felt like we could really compete with the top teams. We took this new attitude straight to the HSCC competition in Baltimore. We finished the competition 7th overall. Although this finish might not seem that meaningful, it was huge step up from how we had performed in previous years. We believed that with a few tweaks to our formula we could easily make it into the top five. With this in mind, we trained harder than ever for the next competition in Washington, DC. I was even named captain of the team before heading to DC. On the night of the Gala, we all expected to finish in the top five. Unfortunately, we ended up finishing in the exact same spot as last year. I felt discouraged after such a disappointing result.

2014 BDPA Greater Columbia HSCC Team

Heading into my final year being a part of the HSCC team, I was determined to have my best performance ever. I was not aiming to merely finish in the top five; my goal was to win the competition. We showed up to the competition more focused than ever. Each day of competition our team was like a well-oiled machine. After the last day of competition, I had no doubt that we would have a great finish. At the gala, my teammates were nervous about the results, but I was calm. When we found out that we had finished second, I was elated. All the hard work and training I had endured had finally paid off. It didn’t even bother me that we missed winning by only a couple points. I was content with our success.

Being a part of BDPA helped me in so many ways. I have greatly helped my public speaking skills and taught me how to lead a group of people to common goal. This was a bonus to all the knowledge I would receive in Computer Science that would aid me during my first year of college. I am eternally grateful to my BDPA teachers, teammates, and chapter leaders.

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We are very proud of the work that Anthony has put in over the years and we're glad that these college scholarships will help him further his education. Our hope is that those of you reading this message will support the young people being trained in BDPA Greater Columbia.

BDPA Cincinnati Announces Education Banquet Keynoter - Rodney Williams (LISNR)

Rodney Williams

BDPA Cincinnati Chapter is pleased to announce that Rodney Williams, founder and CEO of LISNR, will be the keynote speaker for its 19th Annual Education Banquet. The event will take place at Receptions Conference Center; 5975 Boymel Drive, Fairfield OH 45014 on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 5:00 pm. Rodney was invited recently to the White House and honored for his innovation and entrepreneurship. He earned the 2013 Adage Top 40 under 40 and 2015 Upstart100. Rodney is a former P&Ger known for being the first marketer there to co-write digital patents. He earned four (4) degrees by his 24th birthday before working at Lockheed Martin and Department of Energy.

The banquet honors BDPA Cincinnati corporate sponsors and supporters along with the 20 students who participated in the local Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. BDPA has always been concerned with current statistics that show people of color lagging behind in the information technology arena. The goal of the SITES program is to provide a foundation from which high school students can explore their talents and promote interest in the Information Technology field.

BDPA Education Banquet chairperson Brenda Hogan notes, “Our annual banquet provides us the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the students, acknowledge the efforts of our volunteers, and thank our sponsors. We all have a crucial role in developing the next generation of IT Leaders. It is important to honor and celebrate those who are making a difference.”

2015 BDPA Cincinnati HSCC Team

The 2015 SITES students participated in a 30-week program that refined and enhanced their knowledge of computer programming, logical thinking, and presentation skills. Out of the program, five students were selected to represent Cincinnati in the 2015 National BDPA High School Computer Competition held earlier this year in Washington DC.

Your attendance is requested to support to the program. Tickets for the banquet are $40.00. Proceeds from the banquet will underwrite scholarships and educational opportunities for area youth. For more information on the banquet, SITES or BDPA Cincinnati chapter, call (513) 549-6991, email banquet.cincy@bdpa.org or log on to https://educationbanquet-cincinnati.eventbrite.com.

About BDPA:
BDPA is the premier organization for African American professionals in the information technology industry. For more than 25 years, BDPA Cincinnati has fulfilled its mission and worked to bridge the digital divide by providing career growth opportunities for its members. BDPA Cincinnati is the fastest-growing of the 47 chapters that exist around the nation.

Maya Holeman Uses Monsanto Scholarship to Study Computer Science at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Maya Holeman

Monsanto is a powerful BDPA sponsor. They awarded four college scholarships at the 2015 National BDPA Technology Conference held earlier this year in Washington DC. One of the winning scholars is Maya Holeman, a student member of our BDPA St. Louis chapter.

Maya Holeman is an incoming freshman at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana.  She is studying Software Engineering and Computer Science because she wants to learn new coding languages.  She wants to create new and different applications with the knowledge she learns in college.

"I am looking forward to the 2015 National BDPA Conference in Washington D.C. because of how much fun my teammates and I had at the 2014 conference in Indianapolis," said Maya.  "I am very thankful for joining the BDPA program during my junior year of high school because it helped me decide what major I wanted to pursue at college."

Maya attended the youth technology camp at the 2014 BDPA Technology Conference in Indianapolis, IN.  She learned about Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology during the career fair hosted by BDPA.   She represented her chapter and city as a member of the 2015 High School Computer Competition team trained by BDPA St. Louis chapter.

2015 BDPA St. Louis HSCC Team

Maya wrote, "I had very little introduction to writing up code before joining the program. Learning HTML, CSS, and PHP was a fun and educational experience with the help of our instructors in the BDPA St. Louis chapter. Most of my favorite memories are from our Tuesday night classes and when our summer project slowly came together and became a better website each week. With the knowledge this program gave me, I decided I wanted to do something like this as my career, so I decided to study Computer Science and Software Engineering."

Maya is a remarkable example of the BDPA mantra -- 'from the classroom to the boardroom'!   We are glad that she is using this college scholarship to further her career in the IT industry.   Our hope is that we will see her back at the National BDPA Technology Conference being held next year in Atlanta!

Believe in Ohio: Mentoring Matters ... Shavon's Story

We need mentors. Dr. Julian Earls shares his thoughts on the mentor process. Our hope is that you will find a way to become a mentor for a young person in the state of Ohio.



We are trying to reach 100 mentors in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus. We truly need your help to find 100 mentors over these 100 days. Reply to this message over visit our mentor sign-up sheet if you want to be part of the solution for delivering on this STEM-based business plan competition in urban areas of Ohio.

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I first met my mentor when I was in his math class at Tri-C. He has made a big impact on me both academically and personally. He gave me opportunities not only in the STEM field, but helped me work towards by career goal. He also gave me the chance to meet professionals in STEM field so I can learn from them. He guides me through school to make sure I stay on top of my schoolwork.

He is very honest, whether you like it or not. He got to know me and truly understand me. Whenever I don’t know something he is the first person I contact. If only words can express how truly thankful I am to have worked with him.

Shavon Castro, Student
Cuyhoga Community College
Cleveland, OH

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Shavon’s story is why we need mentors. The Urban STEM Mentoring Network is designed to assist high school students for only 1 hour per month. Click on http://www.believeinohio.org/mentor-signup/ to assist the Shavon’s in our community.

Kayleah Bradley Uses Johnson & Johnson Scholarship at Middle Tennessee State University

Kayleah Bradley

Johnson and Johnson announced eight (8) winners of the scholarship offered to BDPA Students. One of the winners is Kayleah Bradley. Kayleah is a sophomore at Middle Tennessee State University where she is pursuing a degree in Professional Chemistry.

Kayleah was born in Springfield, Illinois but has lived in Brentwood, Tennessee for nine years. She enjoys running, baking and volunteering in her spare time. When she was two, she decided that she wanted to become a doctor. The main reason for that decision was her love of helping people and the smell of hospital soap. As she grew older, she realized her joy of helping children. So, she did some research and found that a doctor for children is called a pediatrician. As she found out more and more information about this career path, she decided that was her purpose. Therefore, after graduating from college she plans on attending medical school and becoming a pediatrician. In the future, she would also like to run a pediatrics practice.

"My most memorable moment in BDPA is receiving this scholarship. This scholarship allows me to continue my education to accomplish my dream," said Kayleah. "I am just learning about BDPA, therefore, I have not yet experienced any of the competitions. I plan on getting more involved in BDPA soon. I am positive that BDPA will be an extraordinary experience, and I will gain many skills and friends along the way."

Book Shelf of BDPA Authors

This will be a recurring post sharing information on BDPA members that have authored books. BDPA members come from a diverse background. As such, we should not be surprised to see our members writing fiction and non-fiction books on a wide variety of topics.

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'This Far by Faith: How to Put God First in Everyday Living' by Linnie Frank Bailey and the late Andria Hall -

Published by WaterBrook Press; Reprint edition (September 19, 2000), 272 pages. Linnie is past president of BDPA Washington DC chapter and founder of the BDPA Inland Empire chapter.

"If your faith is the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." - Matthew 17:20

A clarion call for those who want to have God in their lives every day and not just on Sundays, 'This Far by Faith' offers clear-sighted, friendly advice that will guide readers gently into the future. Bailey and Hall share the "Faith Formula" they have developed in their work together, which they use in their own lives to conquer daily obstacles.

Through Scripture, original prayers and affirmations, and plain old-fashioned "straight talk," the authors tackle issues ranging from friendship, family, love, marriage, child-rearing, and work, all while underscoring the importance of faith and perseverance as a way of maintaining balance in today's busy world. In chapters such as "What You Won't Do for Love," "Keeping the Home Fires Burning," "A House Is Not a Home," "Jobs, Career, and Callings," and "Give Me That Old Time Religion," Bailey and Hall discuss ways to "live in the light."

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Please let us know if there are other current or former BDPA members who have published a book. We would love to add them to this recurring blog post.

Do you have any books that you recommend for BDPA members? What are you reading now?

Message from the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb

Greetings!

As we begin the 4th quarter of 2015, your BDPA Cincinnati Chapter is still GOING STRONG! The leadership team has held several key strategic meetings with sponsors and supporters in the last month to build and sustain chapter operations, improve the way the chapter operates and return value to our members, sponsors and supporters. Most important, our chapter seeks to drive improvements into the programs we deliver that improve the diversity numbers in STEM “from the classroom to the boardroom”.

BDPA Cincinnati continues to sit atop of the National BDPA list as the LARGEST BDPA Chapter in the nation for its 6th consecutive month! Congratulations to all as each of you make this chapter great. I do hope you are engaged with the chapter in not only your membership, but what you desire from the chapter. We are only as strong as each of your engagement efforts – so let us know how we can help you get more engaged!

Speaking of engagement, I hope you are planning to show your support by either attending our upcoming Education Banquet on October 24, 2015 at Receptions Conference Center.  Our keynote speaker for the evening will be LISNR chief executive officer Rodney Williams. You can purchase a ticket or buy an ad in our program booklet. Brenda Hogan (Duke Energy) is again leading our annual recognition ceremony highlighting the students who committed themselves to over 28 weeks of hands-on training EVERY SATURDAY and went on to compete in the National BDPA National High School Computer Competition championship held a few weeks ago in Washington DC. Also, we take some time at this education banquet to recognize the hard working volunteers who make this chapter so successful! Please be a part of this celebration. It is a great night of networking and appreciation for our efforts at making a difference in the lives of many in our communities. I hope to see you there.

As we turn towards the fall, the BDPA leadership team is planning ahead for 2016! Under the direction of Vice President, Strategy and Planning, Norman Phillips (Procter & Gamble), the team has scheduled the 2016 Strategy and Planning meeting for October 25, 2015. At this planning session, the team will put together the short and long-term planning that will take the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter to the next level of impact in our community! Under the careful leadership of our President-Elect Na'Shawnda Peterson (GE Aviation), our chapter is poised to increase the impact of our operations in 2016. All are welcomed to attend, however your RSVP is required to properly account for food. If interested in attending, please send me an email to confirm your attendance.

Another engagement opportunity is the program meeting which happens the 3rd Wednesday of every month at Brown Mackie College in Woodlawn. This month, we have the honor and pleasure of hosting Vince Kilian  (Marxent) to discuss 'The Future of Augmented and Virtual Reality' on October 21, 2015. Marxent is the leader in virtual reality and augmented reality product visualization for sales and marketing. This promises to be a VERY exciting and engaging networking opportunity you do not want to miss! Register today as these events are expected to sell out. Oh, and when you come to the program meeting, BE SURE TO BRING YOUR RESUME! There are always two or more recruiters in the room ACTIVELY seeking candidates for employment. Attending a program meeting could be just the game changing activity you have been looking for!

Finally, how are you feeling about your membership? Did I mention that YOUR local chapter is the largest in the nation out of 47 chapters? Did you receive your most recent issue of Diversity Comm at your home address? Have you had a chance to read through some of the articles? Which article struck a chord with you? Didn’t get your copy? Reach out to our VP-Membership Management to make sure we have your correct mailing address in the database. Do you know the Vice Presidents for your Chapter? Do you know how to reach any of the board members? When was the last time you visited the National BDPA website at www.bdpa.org? Do you like the changes you see? Do you have any recommendations on how to improve the site or provide more information to our members? We need your engagement!

Everyone has something they can contribute to making our chapter even better! Have a little time (less than 5 hours per month) on your hands? Consider joining the board. There are still a few openings available and we can certainly use your help. Take a look around the chapter home at www.bdpa.org/group/ci and read some of the job descriptions for the available leadership positions. You will find we are a fun group of professionals committed to making a difference in our local communities.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Starbucks Foundation

Starbucks Foundation believes young people have the potential and power to change the world for the better. They have the ability to assess the unique needs of their communities and to create meaningful change. Starbucks aims to support young people leading positive change.

The Starbucks Foundation is interested in supporting organizations that provide young people a continuum of services in developing creative approaches to address pressing concerns in their communities. They accept letters of inquiry from organizations October 1st through December 1st. The online letter of inquiry form will be posted on the Youth Action Grants website on October 1st. The Starbucks Foundation will contact the organization directly if they'd like to request a full grant proposal.

Successful grant applicants will exhibit all of the following qualities:

1. Deliver services to youth, ages 6 - 24
2. Preference will be given to organizations that focus on young people in the age range of 12 and older, when they are able to take independent action
3. Provides opportunity to combine learning with action that support communities and further global citizenship
4. Deliver services, disseminate information, provide training and/or build broad networks
5. Provide opportunities for Starbucks partners and multiple stores to be engaged in community service

Starbucks will not support organizations that discriminate against a person or a group on the basis of age, political affiliation, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Time is short ... does anyone on national or local level want to seek out funding from Starbucks Foundation?

Believe in Ohio: 'Mentoring Matters ... Alisa's Story'

I am a student at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio and became aware of a mentoring program there through the Black American Council. My mentor has helped me both professionally and personally. He ensured that I stayed on track with all of my math courses to achieve my Associate Degree.

My mentor also introduced me to the National Technical Association (NTA), the nation’s oldest professional organization supporting minorities in engineering and technology. Through NTA I am deeply involved with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and participate in robotics competitions, STEM presentations along with other activities that help prepare me for science careers. With the help of my mentor, by engaging in the programs that my mentor helps provide, I’ve grown a great deal in STEM knowledge and experience.

Importantly, my mentor inspires me by the way he gives back to the community. One day, thanks to the example that my mentor shows through his support, dedication and passion, I will mentor other students so they can also follow the path of a great journey to success.

Alisa Smith, Computer Network Technology Student
Cuyahoga Community College
Cleveland, Ohio

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Alisa’s story is why we need mentors. The Urban STEM Mentoring Network is designed to assist high school students for only 1 hour per month. Click on http://www.believeinohio.org/mentor-signup/ to assist the Alisa’s in our community.

Kunle Roberts Reflects on Bank of America Scholarship for BDPA Students

Kunle Roberts

Kunle Roberts was a member of the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) teams trained by BDPA Southern Minnesota in 2006-2008. He was part of two national HSCC championship teams (2007-2008) and the other team took home a silver medal (2006).

Kunle earned many scholarships for his efforts within BDPA including the Jesse Bemley Scholarship issued by the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF).   Kunle learned about the Bank of America Scholarship for BDPA Students while he was gaining his STEM experiences with BDPA. He became one of the first recipients of that college scholarship funded by Bank of America.  He used the scholarship to further his education at Rice University.

We asked Kunle to reflect on the impact that the scholarship had on the direction of his college and professional career. Here is what he had to say:

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"My experience in BDPA was instrumental in my development as a young adult. The organization, from the local to the national level, has supported me throughout my entire high school and college career. I am very thankful for this great organization and all that they have accomplished to enrich the youth of today. By collaborating with Bank of America, they have found yet another way to provide support and recognition to individuals like myself. As higher education gets more and more expensive, scholarships such as the Bank of America scholarship are an absolute blessing and a motivation to continue to succeed. I ask that you continue your partnership with BDPA to truly enrich the lives of students and provide them with additional support to reach their goals. I am extremely grateful for what I received from Bank of America and BDPA, and I really hope that others get the same chance to benefit."

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BETF is hopeful that Bank of America will consider renewing its funding of these college scholarships for exceptional BDPA student members in 2016. If not, we hope that other corporations or entrepreneurs will consider working with us to significantly increase the quantity of college scholarships that we provide to young people interested in careers within the IT industry.

You've heard Kunle's story. What say u?

BDPA iRadio Show: September 22, 2015 (Adrian Ables, Haron Arama)

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 22nd show:

Adrian Ables

Adrian Ables - college student, Depauw University - Adrian Ables is a senior at DePauw University.  He won the Johnson & Johnson Scholarship for BDPA Students. Adrian was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He has lived with his family in Oklahoma for most of his life. His passion has always been soccer ever since he was a little kid. He loves reaching out to his community and teaching kids how to play soccer. He teaches young people that they need to work hard on and off the field. Adrian is the captain of the soccer team at DePauw University. Adrian drove to Cincinnati earlier this summer to participate in the BDPA Midwest Regional IT Showcase. He competed in the 13th annual BDPA IT Showcase in Washington DC last month. His topic focused on social media and how it can positively impact the workplace infrastructure, communication, and environment. Our BDPA iRadio Show listeners would like to hear about Adrian's experience at the BDPA conference and how he plans to use his JnJ college scholarship funding.

Haron Arama

Hank Arama - High School Computer Competition Alumni, BDPA Southern Minnesota - Haron Arama is a senior at John Marshall High School in Rochester, Minnesota. He was part of the team trained by BDPA Southern Minnesota to participate in the 2015 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship held in Washington DC. His team came in 4th place and earned him a Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship. Our audience will be interested in learning more about the training that Haron was part of in Rochester as well as his experiences during the week of the conference.

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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!

Message from BDPA Indianapolis Chapter President

Terry Morris

This year the National BDPA organization celebrated 40 years in Washington, D.C. at our annual technology conference. Over this period, BDPA has been leveraging local chapters across the country to support the professional development of their respective memberships, engage the youth of their community in STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math) activities, and promote minority interest and exposure to innovative technologies. BDPA Indianapolis is checking all of these boxes and creating others.

One of the primary areas of focus for BDPA Indianapolis has been our youth engagement. Last year our leadership team focused on creating a vision to “empower our youth in a high tech world”.

This year we have made bold steps to realize this vision as seen through our HSCC Accelerator, the HSCC competition team, and the IT Showcase student sponsorship. Each of these examples are discussed in more depth throughout this newsletter. We are currently working with Eli Lilly and the IUPUI School of Informatics to develop and implement a program for elementary age students at the Joyce Kilmer Academy.

As it related to our professional development agenda, we have been having a banner year with great content and excellent attendance. We have continued our focus on SMAC (Social, Mobile, Analytics, and Cloud). Part of our Professional Development strategy is showcasing great technology firms in the Indianapolis area. So far we have visited the likes of Interactive Intelligence, IBM, and Eli Lilly. We have two remaining sessions planned this year where we intend to visit Allegient and Apparatus. They will be discussing “Analytics” and the “Internet of Things (IoT)” respectively.

In addition to our core program delivery, we have had a record number of members (80+) and our local chapter financial sponsorship support has doubled this year.

In short, BDPA Indianapolis is on the move. We are aggressively seeking to make a difference in our community and deliver outcomes for Indianapolis youth and our professionals.

Sincerely,
Terry Morris, president
BDPA Indianapolis Chapter

Gabrielle Taylor Uses Her JnJ Scholarship to Study Computer Science at Tuskegee University

Gabrielle Taylor

Johnson and Johnson announced eight (8) winners of the scholarship offered to BDPA Students. One of the winners is Gabrielle Rochelle Taylor. Gabrielle is a member of our BDPA Greater Birmingham chapter. She is a sophomore at Tuskegee University where she is pursuing a Masters in Computer Science. Gabrielle is passionate about Tuskegee University and has devoted her time and effort to help make Tuskegee an even better place. During her freshman year, Gabrielle was the Executive Secretary of the Tuskegee Events Committee, participated on the Tuskegee Treasury Committee, organized campus events, and served as campaign manager on two successful campaigns. She is a member of the Tuskegee Honors Program and the Tuskegee Leadership Program while serving on several active committees.

During the summer of 2015 Gabrielle had the opportunity to serve as a Lead Mentor in the National Society of Black Engineers' SEEK Program. In this program she mentored third grade students and taught them about engineering by having them construct toys using engineering concepts.

Gabrielle wrote, "BDPA has impacted my life and future career by allowing me to be a part of this dynamic organization and providing me with scholarships. BDPA as an international organization has many connections and developmental opportunities that will help to advance my career aspirations. I believe that BDPA will continue to provide me with wonderful programs to increase my knowledge and skills in Computer Science."

Gabrielle will become a software engineer and write software that aid in the development of Artificial Intelligence. She enjoys speaking Spanish and plans to pursue her dream of missionary work in Latin America. As a result of her passion for learning other languages, she plans to develop a deciphering program which will make translating more accessible and simple. Gabrielle knows that her passion for Computer Science will grant her opportunities to help others and make their lives better. She is eager to see where Computer Science will take her and how she will make a difference.

"BDPA offers education, mentoring, support, and networking opportunities to tech savvy students like myself. I plan to take advantage of every opportunity because I know that each one will allow me to refine my skills with different technologies," said Gabrielle. "With the help of BDPA I know that one day I will be able to successfully develop technical solutions that will help many people."

I AM Going to College Too! Film

Overview of film:

I AM Going to College Too!



I have long envisioned creating an infrastructure that helps in preparing all that want to attend college or get information on college the opportunity to do so.  I created the film to show that the audience for attending college is not just the typical high school seniors and juniors, but rather anyone.  The audience for college can be high school students, parents, dropouts, GED graduates, both traditional (18-24) and nontraditional students (25-and over), special needs (handicap, hearing impaired, learning disabilities, etc), individuals with felons, and senior citizens. 

It hurts seeing so many students whom have the potential to attend college, not do so due to lack of information or knowledge.  My goal is a platform to help boost college preparation for anyone seeking to attend college.  A mind is a terrible thing to waste and everyone should feel they have the ability to learn and become whoever they want to be.  They should not be limited to their circumstances or what others opinions may be of them.  In essence this allows everyone to obtain valuable knowledge.

Click link below to view the film:

https://youtu.be/kIlRiXLPw7s 

Believe in Ohio: 'Creating Creators'

Management consulting guru, Peter Drucker, famously said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

What if I told you that you could be an enabler who helps “create creators”? Would you be interested? STEM careers and entrepreneurship create jobs, create economies, and create the future.

That’s why we are looking for 100 mentors in the next 100 days to be a part of the Urban STEM Mentoring Network. Our mission is to find mentors to guide urban students to be “creators” and not just consumers.

We have students waiting for you.

Urban youth are consumers – consumers of products, consumers of fashion, consumers of the idea that they may be limited by their environment and situation. The Urban STEM Mentoring Network was started to help broaden that perspective.

I need STEM professionals and entrepreneurs, like you, to help make a change. The next Grace Hopper (invented COBOL programming language), John Thompson (not the basketball coach, but the Microsoft Chairman), Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg, could be waiting for you in Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo and Cincinnati to help them become creators.

In as little as 1 hour per month, you can support a motivated student along the path of job creation. Your task will be to simply coach a young person through a scripted process – the Roadmap to Future Jobs & Prosperity - to prepare them to compete for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash awards and scholarships.

Yes, this can be done in about 1 hour per month.

The Believe in Ohio Urban STEM Mentoring Network Team is ready to assist you to be the one to help “create creators” in our urban centers.

Click on www.believeinohio.org/mentor-signup/ to get the process started today!

Message from the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb

Greetings BDPA!

Our HSCC Team, Team CHAOS (Cincinnati Holds All Opposition Speechless), went toe-to-toe with 16 other chapter HSCC teams at the 37th Annual National BDPA Conference in Washington DC last month. Under the leadership of Frank Hill, Deborah Prince, and Jared Torrence, the team was well positioned to place and bring home winnings again this year. Regrettably, we didn’t place, however, the team learned a ton along the way and each of the student members are already committed to returning to compete at the 38th annual National BDPA Technology Conference which will be held in Atlanta, GA on August 10-13, 2016. I suspect the team will not settle for anything less than a top place in 2016!

Additional technology professionals are welcomed to lend a hand in preparing the students for greater success next year. Please reach out to our VP Member Services, Karen Lipscomb, to see how you can participate and get engaged with helping local Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky students achieve their dreams of being WINNERS IN STEM!

As part of our preparation for another run at the top positions in 2016, we will take an evening on October 24, 2015 to recognize ALL the students and parents who committed themselves to 16 weeks of every Saturday training sessions teaching students about STEM-related topics, professional development, and life skills. Please show your support in not only your attendance, but your financial support in buying tickets for yourself and others to attend and give our hard working students some well-deserved recognition and support. We often TALK about what we want of this younger generation – I’m asking that you DO SOMETHING about these young folks who are living up to our high expectations. I look forward to seeing you there!

And let’s not forget about our upcoming monthly program meeting on September 15th, at our usual location on the beautiful campus of Brown Mackie University! This month we will have the pleasure of having Russell McMahon, Associate Professor of IT at the University of Cincinnati, sharing with us deep knowledge on The Challenges of IT in Sub-Saharan Africa. This will be another engaging and informative session you do not want to miss! Register today as these events are expected to sell out.

Lastly, how are you feeling about your membership? Did you know the Cincinnati Chapter is the largest chapter in the Nation out of 47 chapters? Do you know why the Cincinnati Chapter is the largest chapter? Have you been to a program meeting this year? Have you attended any of the social functions the chapter has put on for your engagement? Do you know 3 or more members of the board who are working to bring value to you for your membership? If most of the answers to these questions is “no”, I’d recommend getting more engaged with your Cincinnati Chapter!

The chapter team is doing great things to make a difference and YOU are a part of that effort. Come out to a program meeting. Meet the students who represent YOU at the National conference on October 24th. You will be pleasantly surprised by what YOUR chapter is doing and the difference the team is making in the lives of not only students, but adult professionals as well. Oh, and when you come to the program meeting, BE SURE TO BRING YOUR RESUME! There are always two or more recruiters in the room ACTIVELY seeking candidates for employment. Attending a program meeting could be just the game changing activity you have been looking for!

As always, I solicit your support of YOUR BDPA Cincinnati Chapter. We are a strong team of volunteers, but we can always use more hands to make lighter the load. There are a few more openings on the board, won’t you consider filling one? The time commitment is ~5 hours a month to help improve the number of minorities in the STEM fields “from the classroom to the boardroom”. Will you consider applying your skills, professionalism, and sense of community to the task of strengthening the digital thought Process Leaders of tomorrow through the BDPA organization? Visit our chapter website at www.bdpa.org/group/ci. and let me know which opportunity best fits your passion.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events,

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Grant Recipient * BDPA Los Angeles ($6,000)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) awarded BDPA Los Angeles with a $6,000 grant in support of its 2015 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship program.   The funds paid for 2015 BDPA Conference registration, lodging, airfare, incidentals for Youth Technology Students, expenses for chaperones, classroom instruction and college scholarships.

BDPA Los Angeles Computer Camp Students

 BETF seeks to provide funding for National BDPA and its 47 local chapters.   We encourage you to support our BDPA Los Angeles chapter by making a secure online contribution.

NCWIT Seeks High School Girls for Aspirations in Computing Award

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing honors high school women who are active and interested in computing and technology, and encourages them to pursue their passions. BDPA Cincinnati student member Hadiya Harrigan won this national award in 2014.  This multi-tiered competition includes recognition at the national level (sponsored by Bank of America) and at the local level (sponsored by Microsoft).

Criteria and Eligibility

BDPAer Hadiya Harrigan won in 2014

Any U.S. high school woman with computing aspirations is eligible and encouraged to apply: NCWIT recognizes aspirations as well as accomplishments. Aspirations Award recipients are chosen for their outstanding aptitude and interest in computing, proven leadership ability, academic performance, and plans for post-secondary education. For more detailed information, please visit www.aspirations.org/faqs.

Prizes

Each award recipient receives recognition at an award event, scholarship and internship opportunities, access to a peer network of technical young women in the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Community (sponsored by Bloomberg), and various other prizes — computing resources, gadgets, sponsor swag, engraved awards and certificates, and more. Additionally, National Award recipients receive:

• $500 in cash
• a laptop computer
• a trip to attend the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 6, 2016
• networking opportunities with Bank of America employees

Students can apply online at http://bit.ly/AiCHSAward no later than 8:00 p.m. EST on October 26, 2015.

Things You Can Do to Leave a Legacy...

Legacies are a major source of income for many nonprofits. The BDPA Education & Technology Foundation (BETF) would love for BDPA leaders, founders and members to mention us in their will.

Here are things we want you to consider:

Prepare a will. Only 40% of those who pass away have one. Without a will, you may lose control over your personal possessions.

• Leave a gift in your will for BETF or any other non-profit organizations that make a difference in your life. Americans are generous - 70% of us give to charity each year. Surprisingly, less than 6% of persons in American households have included non-profits in an estate plan. Imagine the positive impact on our community if everyone made a donation to their favorite nonprofits!
• Leave a specific dollar amount or a percentage of the assets in your will to the non-profits of your choice.
  
• Consider using appreciated assets to fund current charitable gifts and planned gifts. These include, but are not limited to stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, real estate, vehicles, art and jewelry. Such gifts may even provide tax savings. Contact a professional advisor for advice.
• Name BETF as the beneficiary of your pension plan, IRA, retirement plan. Doing so can avoid estate and income taxes (up to 70%) that might otherwise be due on your plan. Be sure to seek the advice of an attorney or accountant when designating a charity as partial beneficiary of a retirement account.
• Name BETF (or your favorite non-profit) as the owner or beneficiary of a new or existing life insurance policy.
• Call BETF about supporting special BDPA chapter funds, Bemley Scholarship fund or the brand-new SITES Endowment Fund.
  
• Remember loved ones with memorial gifts.
• Encourage family and friends to leave gifts to BETF, or their favorite non-profit, in their will.
• Ask your financial advisor to include charitable giving as part of counsel to clients.

BETF would be honored to work with you on ways that your legacy can be used. We want to leverage your donation to make a difference in the lives of young people seeking to advance their careers in the IT industry from the classroom to the boardroom. Gifts left to BETF don't have to be big to be helpful. Many of you may be saying that you don't really have 'an estate'. But, if you leave $500, $1,000 or $2,500 to BETF, it can really help. ... A lot of people get caught up in the large numbers, but leaving $1,000 to the BETF can be a big help. Learn more from the folks at the Leave a Legacy organization.

Believe in Ohio: You are the Perfect Mentor

Let’s get right to the point. You are the perfect mentor if…

• You are able to provide encouragement.
• You believe in supporting the dreams of African American and Latino students.
• You have just 1 hour per month to coach a student to pursue hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash awards and scholarships.

The point is - I need you to be a part of the Urban STEM Mentoring Networking Program. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

The 20th century, often called the “American Industrial Century”, was a time when Ohio and other states comprised the world’s preeminent economic force. The 21st century can be called the “Global Innovation Century”. Today, facing unprecedented world competition, Ohio cannot reach its economic goals without contributions from many more Ohioans, including underserved, urban populations.

To build a more competitive, resilient and prosperous economy, Ohio must begin to intentionally connect African Americans and Latinos in urban areas to the state’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)-driven, Innovation Economy. The Believe in Ohio program does just that.

Believe in Ohio provides urban students deep exposure to STEM disciplines, uniquely enhanced with entrepreneurship tools. To ensure broad participation in the program, Believe in Ohio has adopted Inclusive Competitiveness – an interdisciplinary framework to improve the performance of underrepresented Ohioans in the Innovation Economy – to help urban students become more successful STEM education competitors and economic contributors.

Young people in urban centers need to know that the true path to success is to fill the dual pipelines of productivity – becoming “intrapreneurial” employees and job creating entrepreneurs in next generation industries. These industries are largely in STEM areas that represent our state’s present and future economic promise.

That’s why Believe in Ohio created the Urban STEM Mentoring Network . . . and we need your help this school year!

Believe in Ohio needs STEM and business professionals and entrepreneurs, like you, to show the way. In as little as 1 hour per month, you can support a motivated student along the path of this new century economy. Your task will be to simply coach a young person through a scripted process – the Roadmap to Future Jobs & Prosperity - to prepare them to compete for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash awards and scholarships. Yes, this can be done in about 1 hour per month.

The Believe in Ohio Urban STEM Mentor Network Support Team is ready to assist you to be the one to make an impact on our urban youth.

Click on http://www.believeinohio.org/mentor-signup/ to get the process started today!