Where Are They Now: 2002 BDPA Los Angeles Conference Registrants

This is a photo taken at the 2002 National BDPA Technology Conference held in Orlando FL. There are 14 people in this photo. I wonder if they are still active members of our BDPA Los Angeles chapter? Anyhow, can you name all, or some, of the 14 folks in this photo?

Grant Declination: Northern Trust Centennial Fund (BDPA Chicago)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked closely with BDPA Chicago chapter president Pamela Sexton to submit a $7,500 grant proposal to the Northern Trust Centennial Fund. We made it to the final level of consideration, including a site visit. However, we learned that our funding request was not approved.

The declination letter read as follows:

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Dear Pamela,

Thank you for submitting a grant proposal to the Northern Trust Centennial Fund for the Education of Children, a group-advised fund of The Chicago Community Trust. Your proposal for funding from BDPA Education and Technology Foundation was carefully reviewed by the Centennial Fund Committee. We regret to inform you that your program was not selected to receive a grant this year.

As is the case every year, the number of proposals and amount of funding sought by organizations such as yours far exceeded available resources. The Centennial Fund was not able to fund every deserving proposal.

On behalf of the Chicago Community Trust, Northern Trust and the Centennial Fund Committee, thank you for your efforts to improve the well-being of our community. We wish you success in your continued fundraising endeavors.

Sincerely,
Kathy Pope
Assistant Director of Donor Services

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BDPA Chicago is one of the best-run chapters in the nation. I'm confident that they will continue to find success in fundraising for its programs, scholarships and services. You can help by making a donation to the BDPA Chicago HSCC Scholarship Fund.

Fifth Third Foundation

Despite a challenging economic environment, the Fifth Third Foundation kept flying last year, working hard to provide uplifting support to charitable entities throughout Fifth Third’s market areas. Led by Vice President Heidi B. Jark, the Fifth Third Foundation’s resources were leveraged to provide the maximum impact for the organizations that needed them most.

The Fifth Third Foundation made over 200 grants last year to deserving organizations which work constantly to give hope to the people they serve. The grants represented nearly $3.4 million in community support of education, health and human services, community development and arts and culture.

In addition to providing crucial grant funding, the Fifth Third Foundation Office also advises not-for-profit organizations on ways to accomplish their missions in the most efficient and effective ways possible. Through site visits, grant writing assistance and suggestions for additional funding sources, the Foundation works behind the scenes to make a positive difference.

Company operations in Florida; Illinois; Indiana; Kentucky; Michigan; Missouri; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Tennessee; West Virginia where we have BDPA chapters co-located in Central Illinois, Chattanooga, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Detroit, Gr Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, Lexington, Memphis, Middle Tennessee, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, South Florida and St. Louis.

BETF received a $2,500 grant from Fifth Third Foundation in 2008 for SITES program in Columbus OH.

Grant Declination: PNC Bank (BDPA Cincinnati)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) works hard to find the funds that support the BDPA programs, scholarships and services around the nation. We're not always successful ... but, we are persistent and transparent. If we win a grant ... we'll tell you! And if we lost out on a grant ... we'll tell you. Today we're disappointed to report that PNC Bank didn't approve our $2,500 grant proposal seeking support for BDPA Cincinnati chapter youth education programs such as the BDPA TECHie Camp program that graduated over 20 students last week at Taft STEM Elementary School.

Anyhow, the PNC declination letter read as follows:

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Dear Mr. Hicks,

We have reviewed your request for sponsorship from the PNC and due to the substantial number of requests that we have received, among other things, we are not in a position to provide you with funding.

As I am sure you can understand, we are approached by a substantial number of worthy causes, such as yours, each year, and because of our limited resources, as well as our focus, we are not in a position to fund all of them.

We appreciate your interest in the PNC and we wish you the best of luck and success in your endeavor.

Sincerely,
Robie K. Suggs, vice president
Community Development Banking

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Although we were unsuccessful in bringing home this grant ... we are still working with PNC Bank to support their efforts to recruit diverse information technology talent.

Blacks In Technology Podcast: Chuks Onwuneme (Personify)

I've been a member of BDPA for many years. I stay connected with this organization because I believe that it is doing important work for the Black community. BDPA seeks to 'win the future' by advancing the careers of African Americans in the information technology (IT) industry from the classroom to the boardroom. As such, I am very pleased to see the continued evolution of the Blacks In Technology (BIT) movement co-founded by BDPA Cincinnati chapter member Greg Greenlee. It is a growing community of nubians from all over the nation who have agreed to network and support each other.

One of the great features available to the BIT crew is a regular podcast featuring a prominent person of African descent in the IT industry. In this episode of the Blacks In Technology podcast Greg chats with Software Engineer and entrepreneur, Chuks Onwuneme. Chuks is the founder of the Personify website. Chuks describes Personify as an app whose purpose is to discover the social good around you. Chuks is a native of Nigeria who made his way to America to study computer science at the University of Texas in Arlington. After graduating with honors Chuks went on to work for Nokia. Chuks helped to develop the Symbian OS for the Nokia line of smart phones during his nine years at the company. Chuks has since left Nokia and embarked on making the world a better place for humanity through Personify.

Listen now:

Podcast Powered By Podbean

I encourage you to follow Chuks on Twitter: @ChuksOnwuneme ... and you can click here to listen to other podcasts from the Blacks In Technology crew!

Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking organization based in Milwaukee. Its grants support research and educational projects, programs, and other activities that effectively further the Bradley brothers' philanthropic intent and honor their legacy.

Two steps are required in the application process. First, the applicant should prepare a brief letter of inquiry to the Grant Program, describing the applying organization and its intended project. If the Foundation determines the project to be within the current program interests as determined by its Board of Directors, the applicant will be invited to submit a formal proposal.

Second, if invited to submit a formal proposal, the applicant should submit another letter. It should include a more-thorough, yet still concise description of the project, its objectives and significance, and the qualifications of the groups and individuals involved in it. It should also include a project budget, the specific amount being sought from Bradley, and a list of its other sources of support, philanthropic or otherwise.

The applicant should complete and submit the Grantee Tax-Exempt Status Information form with the proposal, as well, along with a copy of the Internal Revenue Service letter confirming the applying entity’s tax-exempt and public-support status under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a), respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code.

Should the Foundation’s program staff find it necessary or desirable, it may arrange a meeting with the applicant after the receipt of a full proposal. After the staff comprehensively reviews proposals, the Board acts on them. All grantmaking authority rests with the Board.

The Board of Directors meets four times a year. To be considered, full proposals should be submitted by February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1. In most cases, staff is able to complete its reviews of proposals in time for the next scheduled Board meeting. Occasionally, it is not, or Board consideration is deferred to a later meeting.

BETF feels that this proposal is best targeted to programs and services hosted by our BDPA Milwaukee chapter.

George Gund Foundation

The George Gund Foundation encourages inquiries about the application of their funding guidelines to specific ideas in advance of the submission of formal proposals. Foundation staff welcome the opportunity to provide guidance, suggest alternatives and recommend partners.

Proposals should be addressed to:


The George Gund Foundation
1845 Guildhall Building
45 Prospect Avenue West
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Telephone: (216) 241-3114

Proposals are considered by the Foundation’s Trustees in March, June, September and December. Deadlines for submitting proposals for consideration at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Trustees are July 16, November 15 and March 15. Proposals are due the next business day if a deadline falls on a weekend.

All proposals must include a climate change statement, a brief explanation of what the organization is doing or considering to reduce or to eliminate its impact on climate change. The Foundation’s website includes resources to assist grantees with this task. In this same spirit, they ask that organizations do not submit proposals in notebooks, binders or plastic folders and print proposals on both sides of each sheet of paper.

All proposals are screened and evaluated by the staff before presentation at Trustee Meetings. Receipt of proposals will be acknowledged by mail.

Wallace Foundation

The Wallace Foundation funds a number of education grants each year. In most cases, they identify and evaluate prospective grantees through the issuance of Requests for Proposals or other careful screening processes. While they believe this approach strengthens the effectiveness of their investments, it also means that unsolicited proposals are rarely funded.

Nevertheless, organizations wishing to send a one- to two-page letter of inquiry (please do not send videotapes or e-mail inquiries) describing the project, your organization, the estimated total for the project and the portion requiring funding, should write to:


The Wallace Foundation
General Management
5 Penn Plaza, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10001

The mission of the Wallace Foundation is to support and share effective ideas and practices that enable institutions to expand learning and enrichment opportunities for all people. To achieve this, they are focusing exclusively on three major areas:

1. Strengthening educational leadership in ways that significantly improve student achievement.
2. Helping selected cities make high-quality out-of-school learning opportunities available to many more children.
3. Making the arts a part of many more people's lives by working with arts organizations, schools and other providers of arts education and experience to build both present and future arts audiences.

In each of these areas, their approach is to select and invest in innovation sites willing to test promising new approaches, while commissioning and sharing independent research that could benefit the work in those sites as well as many others who are interested in pursuing similar changes but who may never receive our direct funding. The specific strategies they are using in each of these three areas are described in the Grants and Programs section of their website, as well as in the Knowledge Center.

Please take a close look at this funding source and let us know if you are interested in pursuing it to support your youth education program.

Eckerd Family Foundation

The Eckerd Family Foundation is committed to promoting meaningful and lasting change to transform the lives of vulnerable youth and their families.

America is the richest of all nations. Yet there are millions of children and families who most likely will not share in the educational, economic and social opportunities all should enjoy. They are not connected to the networks and opportunities that are critical for improving life choices.

The Eckerd Family Foundation's mission provides leadership and support for innovative educational, preventative, therapeutic and rehabilitative programs for children, youth and their families.

Their focus is on vulnerable youth. Although there are as many definitions of vulnerable youth as there are organizations serving them, we prefer a very simple definition. Vulnerable youth face a questionable and uncertain future because they are ill prepared or incapable in their present circumstances of reaching their full potential.

The foundation seeks to support educational and nontraditional opportunities for youth and families. Currently such support is in the following areas: The foundation explores educational opportunities for youth and families through its Scholarship Initiative so that through a combination of guidance and self-determination, grantees are given the ability to enable their participants to take advantage of the full spectrum of possibilities that spring from education. Regular contact with grantees affords the foundation the nimble flexibility needed to adjust to changing needs. The definition of “education” shall be flexible and currently includes:

• Scholarships
• Out-of-school activities
• Vocational education
• Alternative education/dropout prevention

The needs of America's youth are tremendous. And since the Foundation is committed to granting the full extent of their resources within a decade, the opportunities and potential are both unique and compelling. Eckerd Foundation welcomes partnership with those who share their goals, as well as those who are inspired to try new ideas to make America a better place for all children and families.

Grant Award: BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BDPA Dallas)

Most would say that the success of BDPA over the years has been its ability to generate passion and results from volunteers. As such, it is always a joy to find corporations that support the volunteer efforts of its workforce. One such corporation is BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BCBSTX), A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, who has a wonderful volunteer grant program known as the Blue Corps Employee Volunteer Program.

The program coordinator wrote the following:

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BlueCross and BlueShield of Texas is pleased to enclose a contribution in the amount of $160 to BDPA Education and Technology Foundation as a valued community partner in our Blue Corps Volunteer Program.

The contribution is a matching gift for the number of hours that BCBSTX employees supported BDPA Dallas chapter in 2011.

Since our founding more than 75 years ago as the only statewide member-owned health insurer, we have sought to remain a vital part of the communities where we were born. We are committed to partnering with local organizations to improve the well-being of the communities where we live and work, and we are honored to support your efforts.

We appreciate the work being done by your organization and wish you continued success.

Sincerely,
Debbie Cox
Community Affairs Representative

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Sprint Foundation

The Sprint Foundation's charitable giving program emphasizes the support of local and regional organizations in those communities in which the corporation has a major presence. Currently, those areas include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City (metro area), Orlando, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Support of national organizations with a broad sphere of interests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The Foundation's geographic focus is primarily domestic.

The Foundation's emphasis on education is targeted to math, science and technology programs relative to telecommunication careers. Support of elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education is focused principally in the Employee Matching Gift Program. Few grant awards are made to individual schools. Unsolicited scholarship requests will not be considered for funding.

The Foundation's support of youth organizations will be targeted to drug and alcohol education, minority youth endeavors, broad-scale community youth activities focused on building leadership and social skills, and to programs that promote business and economic education for youth.

The Sprint Foundation reviews unsolicited proposals on a continuous basis. Applicants will typically receive a response within four to six weeks. If a proposal is accepted for further consideration, the organization will be contacted. Directors meet quarterly to consider qualifying grant applications.

There are eleven (11) BDPA chapters eligible for funding support from the Sprint Foundation. BETF is interested in submitting a grant proposal to the Sprint Foundation from any of those eleven chapters.

Geeks Gone Great: Steve Pemberton (Walgreen Company)

by Sheila Marionneaux
Blacks Gone Geek

Steve Pemberton is Chief Diversity Officer and Divisional Vice-President for Walgreens, the first such person to hold that responsibility in the company's 110 year history. One of America's most inspiring executives, Steve's journey to corporate America has been all but traditional. He has become recognized as one of the nation's leaders on matters of diversity and inclusion and its importance to the growth of the American industrial complex. In 2006, Fortune named Steve Pemberton one of the Top 20 Chief Diversity Officers in corporate America. In 2007, Steve was called to Capitol Hill to provide expert testimony on best practices in diversity recruiting and in 2008 he was named by Savoy as one of The Top 100 most influential African-Americans in corporate America. Steve currently serves on several boards including The Home for Little Wanderers and UCAN to provide guidance and inspiration to children in need. The Pemberton Fund For The Future has been established at The Home For Little Wanderers to assist children aging out of the foster care system.


A ward of the state for much of his childhood, Steve has made opportunity, access and equality pillars of his personal and professional life. His memoir, A Chance in the World, was published by Thomas Nelson in January of 2012. A Chance In The World: An Orphan Boy, a Mysterious Past, and How He Found a Place Called Home is his riveting autobiography that chronicles Steve's difficult path through foster care and determined search for his family. It is an inspirational story that crosses generations and cultures, but specifically whispers to those who have had the odds stacked against them. Steve's relentless journey to overcome, find his biological family, and right the wrongs of his parents' past, is a model for all families to follow. It is a true testament of faith, fortitude and forgiveness. A Chance In The World achieved a favorable Kirkus review, was recently featured in People Magazine earning 3.5/4.0 stars, and Amazon reviews give A Chance In The World 5 stars!

Steve is a graduate of Boston College. He is married and has three children.

Read the full Blacks Gone Geek interview.

Annenberg Foundation

Established in 1989 by Walter H. Annenberg, the Annenberg Foundation provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and globally through its headquarters in Radnor, Pennsylvania and offices in Los Angeles, California. Its major program areas are education and youth development; arts, culture and humanities; civic and community; health and human services; and animal services and the environment.

In addition, the Foundation operates a number of initiatives which expand and complement these program areas. The Annenberg Foundation exists to advance the public well-being through improved communication. As the principal means of achieving this goal, the Foundation encourages the development of more effective ways to share ideas and knowledge.

In order to determine your eligibility for funding, please read the funding restrictions carefully. Also, review the grants database to gain familiarity with the types of programs that have received funding. A letter of inquiry should be submitted only if your project falls within one of the Annenberg Foundation's funding areas.

The Annenberg Foundation accepts letters of inquiry at all times during the year and there are no deadlines. After review of the inquiry by Foundation staff, the applicant will be contacted within 6 to 8 weeks as to the status of the request.

Contact BETF executive director if your chapter wants to submit a letter of inquiry to this funding source.

Raytheon Charitable Foundation

Raytheon Company is a diversified technology-based company engaged in the business areas of electronics, aircraft products, major appliances, energy services, and textbook publishing. Raytheon believes it has a responsibility to be an active member of its communities, so high priority is given to projects that serve the geographic areas where company facilities are located, including New Mexico. The Raytheon Charitable Foundation is strategically focused on math and science education, access and opportunity, and environmental stewardship.

Eligibility Requirements: Organizations must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are not made to individuals, operating support for organizations affiliated with the United Way, religious, fraternal, political or athletic organizations, health and disease-specific organizations, basic research projects, sponsorships of local groups or individuals to participate in regional, national or international competitions, conferences or events, private foundations, in-kind contributions, private elementary and secondary schools, and organizations whose activities are primarily national or international in scope.

Application information is listed on the website. Applicants must complete an online application to be able to apply. There are no deadlines ... applications are accepted at any time.


Janet Taylor, Manager
Corporate Contributions
Raytheon Charitable Foundation
870 Winter St.
Waltham, MA 02451-1449
Phone: (781) 522-3000

The William Penn Foundation

The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that foster rich cultural expression, strengthen children’s futures, and deepen connections to nature and community. In partnership with others, the Foundation works to advance a vital, just, and caring community. This Foundation seeks to build systems to support beyond-school-hours opportunities. They seek programs that advocate for a more coordinated approach to the public policies affecting beyond-school-hours programs in Greater Philadelphia, including Camden.

The Foundation employs a two-step application process. First, prospective applicants should approach the Foundation by submitting a letter of inquiry. Then, if the letter of inquiry indicates a potential fit with the Foundation’s criteria, applicants will be invited to submit a more formal proposal.

Letters of inquiry can be submitted at any time during the year. They should be sent via the Foundation's web-based, on-line inquiry form. Inquiries will also be accepted as an email attachment or through the US Mail. Letters of inquiry are not accepted by fax. All letters of inquiry are reviewed by Foundation staff on a regular basis. They usually able to notify you of our decision to invite or decline to invite a proposal within 60 days.

Grants are made to organizations located in and serving constituents in the five-county Greater Philadelphia region -- Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County, and in the City of Camden, New Jersey.

Let us know if your chapter wants to partner with BETF to submit a letter of inquiry.

Eli Lilly and Company Scholarship for BDPA Students (Deadline: July 1, 2012)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is pleased to announce opening of the application period for the 2012 Eli Lilly and Company Scholarship for BDPA Students. The purpose of the Lilly/BDPA Scholarship is to recognize outstanding students of color, with an interest in Information Technology, who make significant contributions to society. Applicants must excel academically, show exceptional leadership potential, and make an impact on their communities through service to others.

This year we will offer one $2,500 college scholarship at the national level and one $2,500 college scholarship in the Eli Lilly corporate headquarters city of Indianapolis. The eligibility requirements and application for this college scholarship opportunity can be found in the document shown below.

Eli Lilly Scholarship for BDPA Students

View more documents from Wayne Hicks

The deadline for application is July 1, 2012.

HSCC Testimonial: Quenice Simms (BDPA Washington DC, 2008)

My name is Quenice Simms and I am extremely proud to have participated as a member of the 2008 High School Computer Competition (HSCC) national team trained by BDPA Washington DC chapter. I remember my first interview with my BDPA instructors Mr. Lou Shack, Mr. Ed Yeldell and Mr. Edwards. They were committed and dedicated to the program, students, and parents. Their expectations for the students were well above what we expected for ourselves coming into the program.

Our BDPA instructors were knowledgeable, thorough, and most of all, patient. Mr. Shack, Mr. Yeldell, and Mr. Edwards were the greatest instructors a student could ask for. They made the learning process much easier. We were able to focus on the content of what was being taught. Computer programming can be difficult, but with the right instructors it can be accomplished. My instructors knew that I had potential to be one of the brightest students in the class. I was selected to compete in the national competition during my first year. Our team came in 2nd place during the 2008 national BDPA HSCC championship. That was a very rewarding and memorable experience that I’ll never forget. I will always have a love for technology thanks to the BDPA Washington DC Chapter.

BDPA was a life-changing experience for me. I learned the true meaning of teamwork. We all set out to tackle and accomplish the same goal. We worked in sync, and spent endless hours preparing for competitions. The notes and quizzes helped me to become more structured in my daily life, and the wealth of knowledge learned will carry on in aspects of my educational and career goals. This generation is highly dependent on technology, and without BDPA I would not be where I am today.

My educational and career goals are to attend Hampton University in order to obtain my Bachelors in kinesiology.  Masters in Bio-kinesiology and my Ph.D in physical therapy sports medicine. I am mesmerized at how exercise, therapy, and an open mind can repair the human body. My plan is to open a not-for-profit Physical Therapy Center that service high school students with sports-related injuries. The center would be open seven days a week, assisting those with financial need. For some student athletes, dreams are all that they have. I would like to help them mentally and physically, so their dreams can become their reality.

Cybersecurity Czar Dr. Ernest McDuffie is Keynote Speaker for BDPA Conference Awards Gala

The excitement continues to build for the 34th annual National BDPA Technology Conference and Career Expo to be held at the Downtown Hilton in Baltimore, Maryland on August 1-4, 2012. The theme for the conference is 'Transforming the IT Professional'. BDPA recently announced that the Awards Gala keynote speaker will be Dr. Ernest McDuffie.

In early 2010 the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) was selected as the lead agency for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education and Dr. McDuffie was appointed as the Lead for this effort. In his previous position he had been appointed the Associate Director of the National Coordination Office (NCO) for Networking and Information Technology Research and Development in February 2008. From early September 2009 until early November 2009 he served as Acting Director of the NCO. His appointment as the Associate Director of the NCO comes after joining the NIST as a Computer Scientist in their Information Technology Laboratory, Office of Federal and Industrial Relations. In August 2006, Dr. McDuffie joined the NCO where he served as the Technical Coordinator for the Cyber Security and Information Assurance Inter-agency Working Group, Federal Agency Administration of Science and Technology Education and Research Committee of Practice, and the Software Design and Productivity Coordination Group.





Prior to joining the NCO, Dr. McDuffie served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Naval Research – Science and Technology for America’s Readiness Initiative. He served as the Lead Program Director for the Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service Program at the National Science Foundation.

He served as an Assistant Professor at Florida State University in the Department of Computer Science where he taught both graduate and undergraduate courses in CS for seven years. Dr. McDuffie has participated in software engineering projects for the U.S. Air Force, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the Federal Aviation Administration, Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the National Security Agency.

Dr. McDuffie received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Computer Science from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida. Dr. McDuffie will address IT industry executives and IT, Cyber, and STEM professionals in front of a distinguished audience of national High School Computer Competition and IT Showcase finalists.

Where Are They Now? Packard Bell

I never had much dealing with Packard Bell. Do any of you have any memories of Packard Bell?

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What it was: A PC manufacturer (named after a venerable but defunct radio company) that dominated the retail home PC market in the early 1990s.

What happened: Numerous products fell on hard times in part because of crummy business decisions by their owners, but no other one did itself in so quickly and so self-destructively as Packard Bell. Its computers were cheap in part because they were terrible, and backed by subpar customer support. When rivals such as Compaq started selling reasonable computers at reasonable prices through retail stores, Packard Bell started to founder. The decision by NEC to take a controlling interest in Packard Bell in 1995 seemed bizarre even at the time; in 2000, the last Packard Bells disappeared from U.S. store shelves.

Current whereabouts: Lots of places -- just not stateside. The brand name never died in Europe, and after a couple of further changes of ownership, it ended up as an arm of Taiwanese PC giant Acer in 2008. It now makes laptops, desktops, displays, MP3 players and desktops. And if it ever returns to the U.S. market, it’ll be a more impressive comeback than anything Paul “Pee-Wee Herman” Reubens has managed.

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SOURCE: 'Where Are They Now? 25 Computer Products That Refuse to Die' by Harry McCracken.

Growing Roots for More STEM

by Marjorie Censer
Washington Post

Local technology companies, concerned by a growing pool of jobs and an inadequate number of qualified employees, have increasingly focused on initiatives to improve what they call STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The focus is partly out of necessity. Many companies, such as defense contractors who need employees with security clearances, simply can’t find enough people to fill their jobs.

Many are beginning to broaden their approach from a focus on university programs and newly minted graduates.

“Companies have been diversifying their investments,” from looking beyond college students to kids in middle and high schools", said James Brown, executive director of the STEM Education Coalition, whose membership includes associations and businesses. “To the extent that you’re really trying to look at the big picture ... [companies are betting] that if we make the pipeline stronger there, it will have ripple effects upwards.”

There are multiple ways to address STEM education; here is a look at how local businesses are spending their time and dollars:

Read the rest of this Washington Post article.