BDPA Twin Cities HSCC Team (2010)

The student training program hosted by BDPA Twin Cities chapter continues to grow and strengthen.  The chapter's program is free and available to all that have a true passion for technology -- no student excluded.  The chapter continues to expand offerings serving a variety of educational levels (beginning to advanced).

Students become comfortable with "being nerdy".

The program is held on Saturdays and involves a great group of dedicated volunteers (instructors, parents and HSCC alumni).    This year the 'circle of learning' continues -- Students Teaching Students!

Classes are exciting and students learn programming, analysis, design, project management and team building skills.   They are gaining exposure to "real world" programming knowledge.

The photo above is the five students on the 2010 national HSCC team trained by BDPA Twin Cities.  Wish them luck!

National BDPA Honors Cincinnati Chapter (1992-2010)

BDPA Cincinnati chapter founded in 1989 by Everett Gregory, Neal Johnson, Brenda Johnson, Charles Cooper and Gina Billings is currently the 4th largest in the nation. BDPA Cincinnati has been recognized over the years for the efforts of all chapter volunteers, supporters and sponsors at a local and national level. The chapter is a catalyst for professional growth and technical development for those in the IT industry.

Past chapter president Janice Lee, shared the following list of Cincinnati chapter awared winners since 1992:

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1992 - BDPA Conference held in Detroit MI

• President’s Award: Wayne Hicks

2000 - BDPA Conference held in Washington DC

• Chapter of the Year, 2nd Place: Cincinnati
• Chapter Membership Award: Cincinnati
• Comeback Chapter of the Year: Cincinnati
• Most Improved Chapter of the Year: Cincinnati
• Outstanding Contributor: Pam Marshall Ramsey
• National HS Computer Competition, 2nd place: (25 teams in competition)

2001 - BDPA Conference held in Chicago IL

• Chapter of the Year, 1st place: Cincinnati
• Chapter Professional Service Award: Cincinnati
• Outstanding Member: Gina Billings
• Outstanding President Award: Wayne Hicks
• Outstanding Contributor: Frank Hill

2002 - BDPA Conference held in Orlando FL

• Chapter of the Year, 1st Place: Cincinnati
• Chapter Community Service Award: Cincinnati
• Outstanding Contributor: Sammie Jiles
• National HS Computer Competition, 5th place (22 teams in competition)

2003 - BDPA Conference held in Philadelphia PA

• Outstanding Corporate Champion: Gina Billings (Hewlett Packard)
• Chapter Community Service Award: Cincinnati
• IT Showcase, 1st place: Ms. Swathi Nibhanupudi (University of Cincinnati)
• National HS Computer Competition, 7th place (21 teams in competition)

2004 - BDPA Conference held in Dallas TX

• Chapter of the Year, 1st Place: Cincinnati
• Chapter Professional Service Award: Cincinnati
• National HS Computer Competition, 8th place (23 teams in competition)

2005 - BDPA Conference held in Detroit MI

• Chapter of the Year, 2nd Place: Cincinnati
• Chapter Management Award: Cincinnati
• Youth Conference CIO Challenge, 3rd place: Cincinnati (Terrell Bonner, Ameka Giles, Elisha Huntley, Malaika McCoy and David Wilson)
• National HS Computer Competition, 10th place (19 teams in competition)

2006 - BDPA Conference held in Los Angeles CA

• Chapter of the Year, 1st Place: Cincinnati
• Chapter Management Award: Cincinnati
• National HS Computer Competition - 9th place (19 teams in competition)

2007 - BDPA Conference held in Washington DC

• Chapter of the Year, 2nd Place: Cincinnati
• Chapter Professional Service Award: Cincinnati
• Youth Conference CIO Challenge, 2nd Place: DeRicco Swan (Cincinnati)
• IT Showcase High School Cohort, 1st place: Jahmal Chase (Cincinnati)
• IT Showcase High School Cohort, 2nd Place: Amber Gosby (Cincinnati)
• National HS Computer Competition, 14th place: (21 teams in competition)

2008 - BDPA Conference held in Atlanta GA

• Chapter of the Year, 2nd Place: Cincinnati
• Chapter Professional Service Award: Cincinnati
• President's Award: Wayne Hicks (Cincinnati)
• Epsilon Award: Dr. Juan Gilbert (Auburn University)
• National HS Computer Competition, 12th place: (23 teams in competition)

2009 - BDPA Conference held in Raleigh NC

• Chapter of the Year, 2nd Place: Cincinnati
• Chapter Professional Service Award: Cincinnati
• National HS Computer Competition, 13th place: (23 teams in competition)

2010 - BDPA Conference held in Philadelphia PA

• Chapter of the Year, TBD: Cincinnati
• Chapter Community Service Award: Cincinnati
• National HS Computer Competition, TBD: (23 teams in competition)

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I encourage any of you that live or work in the greater Cincinnati area to Give Back, Get Involved and Get Noticed!

As an aside, do any of you know where the BDPA Cincinnati founders (Everett Gregory, Neal Johnson, Brenda Johnson, Charles Cooper and Gina Billings) are nowadays?

Grant Proposal: Sprint Foundation (Chicago)

BDPA Chicago chapter worked with BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) on a joint grant proposal to the Sprint Foundation. We are asking Sprint Foundation to provide $5,000 in funding for the youth education programs hosted by BDPA Chicago chapter.

Are there any Sprint employees reading this message? If so, do you have any suggestions for us as we reach out to the company for support?

Oracle Scholarships Winners in BDPA Triangle Chapter

[L-R: BDPA Triangle chapter president Carl Hill presents Oracle Scholarship check to Abigail Parker.]

BDPA Triangle  student members Mark McIntyre and Abigail Parker were each awarded $1,389 in scholarship funding from Oracle Corporation to pursue degrees in the fields of science and technology.  The scholarships were presented to each of the students at a recent BDPA Triangle program meeting.  Unfortunately, Mark was unable to attend.   We would love to get a digital photo of Mark if you can locate one for us!

Abigail attends North Carolina Central University.  Mark is finishing up his high school career at Pamlico County High School.

You can learn more about the BDPA Triangle chapter here.

HSCC Judge Testimonial: Bruce Armsterd (Health Care Service Corporation)

The 25th annual BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) national championships are over. The winners will be announced tomorrow night. I came across a testimonial written by one of the HSCC judges on a 2010 conference blog created by one of BDPA's corporate sponsors.

Bruce Armsterd is a Messaging and Collaboration manager with Health Care Service Corporation. He wrote:

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This is Bruce Armsterd and was my first year volunteering as one of the judges for the 2010 BDPA Student Competition Program. Outside of being amazed by the level of commitment of various corporate professionals. More astonishing is the number of years individuals provide to enhance the level of experience the high schools students are exposed to at each conference. After spending two days with the twenty-two teams, I understand why each person donates their time to this programs. I have been inspired and encouraged by the level of knowledge and thirst for learning that each student participating in this challenging program. I have been amazed by the maturity and commitment of the students ranging from age 15 to 18. The work involved to support our future is far outs shadowed by seeing teens that display the raw talents to be tomorrow’s leaders in IT.


My experience has me firmly dedicated to donating my time to assist our future leaders develop their skills for the future.

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BDPA is a truly unique a wonderful organization. It is time for us to truly take our organization to the next level. What say u?

High School Computer Competition: BDPA Dallas Chapter (VIDEO)

BDPA Dallas (founded September 1987) is the 12th largest chapter in the nation. The chapter has not participated in the National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships for a couple of years.

The highest national ranking for Dallas chapter's HSCC team in the past has been 11th place (2002 and 2007). The chapter plans to do much better this year as displayed in the following video:





I wonder if any of the other chapters will respond with a video of their own? Anyhow, we say 'Good Luck' to the young 'uns who will represent BDPA Dallas chapter at the 2010 National BDPA HSCC Championships!

BDPA Greater Columbia High School Computer Competition Team (2010)

I was walking in the lobby of the conference hotel last night and came across the national high school computer competition (HSCC) team representing BDPA Greater Columbia. The five students (and one alternate) were working with their coaches on last-minute study for the 2010 national HSCC championships that are take place July 29-30 in Philadelphia.

The five young people on the Greater Columbia national team are: Tavares Anderson, Jaid Gilbert, Nyasha Gooden, Sami Patel and Gregg Taylor. They are very enthusiastic and I hope that they do well in the national championships this year!

BDPA Columbus High School Computer Competition Team (2010)

I think it would be wonderful for a team from Ohio to win the National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship. The young people trained by BDPA Columbus chapter have confidence that they will perform well this week at the 2010 national HSCC championships in Philadelphia PA.

BDPA Columbus chapter began formal training session ins February 2009. The goal of their program is to increase interest in information technology for high school students. The program provides an enviornment where students have an opportunity to compete on an academic to showcase technical skills, project management skills, oral presentation skills and teamwork skills. The training sessions ... led by instructor Ricardo Wilkins ... are held each Saturday for three hours ... and the students are expected to complete homework assignments, quizzes and projects.

The 2010 National Team from Columbus OH (shown in the photo) consists of:: Donyae Baldwin, Devon Howard, Brandee Lyles and Jacob Wilson.

Oracle Scholarships Winners in BDPA Northern Delaware Chapter

[L-R: national executive director Donald French, Fred Smith III, Whitney Wilson, national president Denise Holland,

BDPA Washington DC chapter president Perry Carter and BDPA Northern Delaware chapter president Karen Smith]

BDPA Northern Delaware student members Fred Smith III and Whitney Wilson were each awarded $1,389 in scholarship funding from Oracle Corporation to pursue degrees in the fields of science and technology.  The scholarships were presented to each of the students at 2009 annual BDPA Northern Delaware awards banquet.  There were a number of national officers in attendance for the banquet.

Fred Smith III attends California University in Pennsylania.  Whitney Wilson is finishing up her high school career at the Charter School of Wilmington.  Fred and Whitney also won awards for their efforts in the 2009 BDPA IT Showcase held in Raleigh NC.

You can learn more about the Northern Delaware here.

Grant Declination: Duke Energy Foundation (Charlotte)

We learned today that the grant proposal to Duke Energy Foundation was turned down.   BETF-Blog readers may recall that BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) and BDPA Charlotte chapter partnered on a $15,050 grant proposal seeking funds for the chapter's Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program.

The declination letter read as follows:

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Dear Mr. Hicks:

Thank you for the invitation to support your organization. Your online grant application was forwarded to me as the Foundation Manager for further review.

Each request for support is thoroughly analyzed and evaluated in relation to our philanthropic areas of focus and available resources. We regret that we cannot support this event due to previous commitments and structured guidelines.

For more details on our philanthropic areas of focus, please visit the Duke Energy website. Thank you again for the invitation. We wish you much success with your endeavors.

Sincerely,
Cheryl L. Teasdell

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We will continue to look for funds to support BDPA Charlotte chapter. Let us know if you have any fundraising ideas that we should consider!

Somebody Needs to Invite Valedictorian Deonte Bridges to Join BDPA

I'm thinking that BDPA should offer honorary membership to Deonte Bridges. Any youngster that can earn over $1 million in scholarships for his college education is worthy of membership in our organization. This is the type of young man that BDPA students need to interact with over the coming years.

I invite all BETF-Blog readers to listen to his four-minute Valedictorian speech before fellow graduates, faculty, staff and parents at Booker T. Washington High School's graduation ceremony on May 28, 2010, at the Atlanta Civic Center.




What are your thoughts after listening to this young man?

2010 BDPA IT Showcase Participants

National BDPA is hosting its 8th annual Information Technology (IT) Showcase in Philadelphia as part of the 2010 national conference. The program grew out of a desire to encourage more African American students to seek Ph.D recognition in the hard science fields.

The BDPA IT Showcase allows student presenters from educational institutions all over the United States to showcase their research papers on advanced computing topics to an audience of students and IT professionals.  Dr. Jesse Bemley (shown in the above photo) has led the BDPA IT Showcase over the past eight (8) years.

We are pleased to announce the 2010 participants in the BDPA IT Showcase (sponsored by Eli Lilly & Company and IBM)

High School Division

Alex Boardley
William Penn High School
BDPA Northern Delaware Chapter
Topic: NANOTECHNOLOGY

Jessica Boardley
William Penn High School
BDPA Northern Delaware Chapter
Topic: THE BERLIN HEART

Alexander Branch
Largo High School
Joint Educational Facilities
BDPA Washington DC Chapter
Topic: THE AVATAR MACHINE

Kenyatta Malloy
Friendly High School
Joint Educational Facilities
BDPA Washington DC Chapter
Topic: VIRTUAL REALITY IN THE MEDICAL FIELDS

Susan Okullu
Pencader Charter High School
BDPA Northern Delaware Chapter
Topic: ERGONOMICS OF PORTABLE DEVICES

Cherise Poole
Pencader Charter High School
BDPA Northern Delaware Chapter
Topic: COMPUTER SECURITY IN THE HOME

Keenan Russell
Paul M Hodgson Vocational Technical High School
BDPA Northern Delaware Chapter
Topic: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Avery Sherrod
Pencader Charter High School
BDPA Northern Delaware Chapter
Topic: OPEN SOURCE SYSTEMS

Marcus Smith
Pencader Charter High School
BDPA Northern Delaware Chapter
Topic: BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES

Whitney Wilson
Charter School of Wilmington
BDPA Northern Delaware Chapter
Topic: THE REAL LIFE IRON MAN: The Merging Of Man And Machine Through Prosthetics

College Division

Gabeer Alzabit
North Carolina Central University
Topic: INKJET PRINTERS

Khadijah Celestine
New York City College of Technology
BDPA New York Chapter
Topic: SOME ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLICATIONS IN THE MILITARY

Naaman Cephas
Delaware Technical & Community College
BDPA Northern Delaware Chapter
Topic: IPHONE APPLICATIONS

Shaneece Davis
North Carolina Central University
Topic: THE SECURITY UP THERE: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT CLOUD SECURITY

DeMarcus Hill
North Carolina Central University
Topic: CLOUD COMPUTING

Brandon Hogan
North Carolina Central University
Topic: MILITARY ROBOTICS

Liu J. Jones
Howard University
BDPA Northern Delaware Chapter
Topic: UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS

Ahmed Mahamed
University Of Minnesota
BDPA Southern Minnesota Chapter
Topic: ROBOTICS AND BIOINFORMATICS IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY

Frederick Smith, III
California University of Pennsylvania
BDPA Northern Delaware Chapter
Topic: DISASTER VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT

Ariel Alberta Young
George Washington University
BDPA Atlanta Chapter
Topic: THE ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE RESPONSE OF THE CDC TO THE H1N1 OUTBREAK

These are some remarkable young people.  IBM and Eli Lilly have the first opportunity to recruit these IT superstars.  Who needs LeBron James when you have young 'uns like this!

F.B. Heron Foundation

The F.B. Heron Foundation seeks to fund direct-service, community-based organizations and enterprises. The Heron Foundation uses their funding to help low-income people to create wealth and take control of their lives through:

• increasing access to capital
• supporting enterprise development
• advancing home ownership
• reducing the barriers to full participation in the economy by providing quality child care
• employing comprehensive community development approaches with a strong focus on the wealth-creation strategies noted above

More Information:



Mary Jo Mullan, Vice President
The F.B. Heron Foundation
100 Broadway, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Facsimile: 212-404-1805

BDPA Triangle High School Computer Competition Team (2010)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to introduce the young people that have been selected by BDPA Triangle chapter to represent Raleigh/Durham NC on the 2010 national high school computer competition (HSCC) team!

The five students are: Oloruntobi Orenuga (Panther Creek HS), Kevin McCauley (Hillside HS), Babatunde Orenuga (Panther Creek HS), Jordan Maddox (Hillside HS), and QuRhon Pitt. Also in the photo are Ed Galloway and Judith Batchelor of Society for Information Management and BDPA Triangle chapter president Carl Hill.

BDPA Triangle has never finished higher than 18th place in the national HSCC championships. They plan to do much better than that this year!

Are there any BDPA Triangle members reading this message? If so, share your thoughts on these young people with us!

Grant Proposal: Convergys Community Relations (Cincinnati)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation and BDPA Cincinnati chapter partnered on grant proposal to the Convergys Community Relations program. We seek funding to support the chapter's Student Information Technology & Education (SITES) program.

We should have an answer from the folks at Convergys sometime in September 2010.

2010 HSCC National Team (Rochester MN)

BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter has a remarkable history when it comes to the National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Championships. This chapter has won four of the past five national championships ... including the last three in a row [2005, 2007, 2008, 2009].

The scary thing is that the 2010 national team trained by BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter contains many returning veterans and champions.

The 2010 national team from Southern Minnesota is: Adwait Walimbe (Senior, John Marshall High School), Daniel Sheppard (Sophomore, Virtual Academy), Yaa Kwansa (Freshman, Washington University), James Arama (Freshman, Marist College) and Kris-Ann Hinds (Senior, Century High School)

Can anyone beat the powerhouse team from Southern Minnesota?

Grant Proposal: Texas Instruments Foundation (National BDPA)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) joined forces with National BDPA to submit a $10,000 grant proposal to the Texas Instruments Foundation.

We think that our Youth Technology Camp aligns well with the education initiatives currently being funding by TI Foundation.

Do you remember that Texas Instruments was named one of the Best Companies for Blacks in Technology back in 2005. Perhaps we can renew the relationship in 2010!

Please let us know if you have any inside contacts within Texas Instruments that might be helpful.

BlogTalk Radio: 'Future of African Americans in Technology' (August 28, 2010)

National BDPA and cozzas llc, a fully integrated Internet marketing and graphic design firm, highlight the 32nd Annual National BDPA Technology Conference on the cozzas BlogTalkRadio program “CloudSuiteSmart”, Wednesday, July 28th from 12:30 to 2:30 EDT.

African Americans sometimes underestimate the impact of technology on shaping the course of history. The show’s segments will include short interviews of senior BDPA officials to discuss their vision and dream for the organization. Internet Radio brings an added technology feature to the conference. It is a format that allows for real-time dialogue over the phone and in chat rooms anyone can access on the Internet. These Internet Radio interviews will provide multiple perspectives that are sure to appeal to anyone interested in the future of African Americans in IT.

This internet radio program will be hosted live from the 2010 BDPA Technology Conference to be held in Philadelphia, PA on July 28-31, at the luxurious Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Hotel. The theme of this year’s conference, “Access for All”.

“We are very pleased to recognize the outstanding contributions that BDPA has made for Blacks in Technology over the last 35 years,” said National Past BDPA President, Milt Haynes. “In this economy, many African Americans in technology are concerned about opportunities for both employment and advancement. It is important to recognize how BDPA has helped provide African Americans with challenging and fulfilling career opportunities in Information Technology.”

Today, BDPA is a global member focused organization that serves the professional well-being of its stakeholders. BDPA remains committed to excellence and providing a wide spectrum of resources to members, corporate sponsors, businesses, educational institutions and the community.

“BDPA is the voice of African Americans in IT,” said Jacqueline Lawson, President and CEO of cozzas llc. “cozzas llc is honored to be working with BDPA because it is committed to closing the digital divide and helping African American IT professionals advance.” Added Lawson, “I honestly believe that the BDPA can use its talents and resources to advance the cause of Blacks in technology and I welcome an opportunity to support a worthy organization in my field of service.”

I encourage all BETF-Blog readers to add this Internet radio show to their calendar. What questions would you like to see answered during the online dialogue?

Letter of Inquiry: Prudential Foundation (Philadelphia)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) and BDPA Philadelphia chapter joined forces to submit an online letter of inquiry to the Prudential Foundation. We asked for permission to submit a full-blown grant proposal for $5,000 funding of the Student IT Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in Philadelphia.

We've completed the first step of their application process. The next step is a Review Process by the Board of Trustees, which meets three times a year in February, June and October. We should hear something from Prudential Foundation by the 4th quarter of this year.

It should be noted that the Prudential Foundation is separate and distinct from Prudential Financial.

Rohm and Haas Responsible Neighbor Program

Rohm and Haas Responsible Neighbor program focuses largely on K-12 science (including environmental science), technology and math education. Rohm and Haas believes that its resources can best impact youth and inspire them in these fields by supporting:

• Professional development of teachers in math, science, the environment and technology
• Programs linking education in science, technology and math to workplace and career opportunities

Educational enrichment for students, particularly in the areas of math, science, technology and the environment either during or after school hours (including weekends, summer and other times when school is not in session). While programs can and should encourage imagination, inquisitiveness, creativity and invention, the activities should be structured.

Grants are made for program, project and general operating purposes. Grants made by Rohm and Haas manufacturing or research facilities typically range from $250 to $10,000. Contributions budgets and individual grants for each operating facility vary and are based in part on the number of employees at that location.

Grants made by the Corporate Contributions program (through the Company’s headquarters in Philadelphia) typically range from $5,000 to $50,000.

Rohm and Haas Company charitable contributions are made world-wide in locations where the Company has a significant operating presence. Rohm and Haas believes that its affiliates, subsidiaries and operating facilities can best determine the needs within their respective communities and neighborhoods. Charitable giving decisions around the world are managed and administered at the local level by the facility manager or his/her designate.

Is there a Rohm and Haas operation co-located with your chapter city?

Grant Award: The Boeing Company (Laptop Donation, $3,000)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is pleased to announce the conclusion of a successful in-kind grant proposal to The Boeing Company. BETF partnered with BDPA Chicago chapter to request ten (10)laptops.

BDPA Chicago chapter discovered that several of their youth participants in the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program either do not have a computer at home or have only Mac's at home. This created an "unlevel playing field" for the young people.

We determined that The Boeing Company was not a good fit for a cash donation, however, we did think that they would be a good fit if we made a request for an in-kind donation.

Here is the message that I received when the approval was made:

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Dear Wayne,


It is my pleasure to inform you that your in-kind request for 10 used laptops has been approved by The Boeing Company. Please note that these laptops are 5-7 years old and have had all software completely removed (value $300 each).


Please work with Mark Schulze who is copied on this email to arrange for the laptops to be picked up from our office (100 N Riverside Plaza, Chicago). I understand that you are in Maryland, but that these laptops will be used by your Chicago location.


Thank you.
Christy Uchida, Community Investor
Global Corporate Citizenship
The Boeing Company
100 N. Riverside Plaza, MC 5002-8450
Chicago, IL 60606-1596

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BETF would like to express our appreciation to the folks at The Boeing Company for saying 'yes' to us.

However, we also want to point out that the energy behind this effort came from BDPA Chicago chapter member Audra Anderson. She is the person that BETF works with in Chicago chapter on all grant proposals. She is definitely a role model for the other 44 local BDPA chapters to emulate when it comes to working succesfully with BETF on fundraising efforts!

Grant Proposal: Battelle Memorial Institute (Columbus)

National BDPA president-elect Monique Berry asked us to explore Battelle Memorial Institute as a source of funding for BDPA programs. It turns out that our best chance for funding is with our programs in Columbus, OH that are co-located with the Battelle world headquarters office.

Therefore, BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) submitted a joint grant proposal with BDPA Columbus chapter seeking $20,337 funding from Battelle.

We will keep you informed of our progress. However, if you want to help grow our programs in Central Ohio ... then you are encouraged to make a secure online donation today!

Kimberly Davis, President of JPMorgan Chase Foundation

Fast Company recently touted JPMorgan Chase Foundation president Kimberly Davis as one of this year's 'Most Creative People' as they wrote:

When Kimberly Davis flew from New York to San Diego to announce the $1 million recipient of JPMorgan Chase's crowdsourced philanthropy competition, the winners waiting for her on the other end weren't expecting much -- a buttoned-up figurehead, maybe, who would breeze in for 20 minutes, shaking hands and kissing babies for the cameras. "But she showed up at 6 a.m. and talked to every single volunteer about what they did at the organization," says Laren Poole, cofounder of Invisible Children. "It was so clear that she's the heartbeat behind the whole thing. She got it in a way that I didn't expect."

There are many JPMC employees in BDPA. I hope that many of them find a way to support BDPA Education and Technology Foundation in the weeks and months to come.

Grant Award: Sempra Energy ($5,000)

We are very happy to report that BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) received a $5,000 grant award from the Southern California Gas Company, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy.

This grant award was a direct result of the letter of inquiry that BETF and BDPA Los Angeles chapter jointly sent a few weeks ago.

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Dear Mr. Hicks:

On behalf of The Gas Company , I'm pleased to enclose a check in the amount of $5,000 in support of the Los Angeles SITES Program which through science and technology will stimulate the interest of young people who come from historically disadvantaged communities. The Gas Company is proud to participate in this program!

Thank you for offering The Gas Company the opportunity to participate. We look forward to working with you!

Sincerely,
Carolyn R. Williams
Community Relations Manager

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BETF would like to thank BDPA Los Angeles chapter president John Malonson and past chapter president Angela White-Parker for their support on this funding effort!

BP Oil Disaster Relief Efforts

The brown pelican is Louisiana's state bird, only recently removed from the endangered species list. Like much of the wildlife along the Louisana coast, these birds are now in danger.


A number of community foundations in the area have established relief funds to help the people, wildlife, and environment in the Gulf Coast. For more information, please visit:

• Baton Rouge Area Foundation
• Community Foundation of South Alabama
• Greater Escambia Community Foundation (Pensacola area)
• Greater New Orleans Foundation

Please let us know if any BDPA members, sponsors or supporters are negatively impacted by the BP Oil Spill.

Mastering LinkedIn: Advanced Techniques and Insider Secrets (Keith Warrick)

There will be over 50 workshops at the 32nd annual BDPA Technology Conference in Philadelphia later this month. Keith Warrick will be a presenter at two of them ... including one entitled, 'Mastering LinkedIn: Advanced Techniques and Insider Secrets'.

Keith has over 10 years of Information Technology professional experience in various roles from technical writer, quality assurance analyst and project manager to business analyst in the industries of telecommunications, information technology services and insurance. He has been involved in the implementation and training of software solutions to working directly with external clients in the development of custom software solutions. Prior to working in IT, he spent time in operations analysis and marketing. He currently serves as a Business Analyst for a large insurance broker.

He is also an active member of the International Institute of Business Analysis, the professional organization for business analysts. Keith holds a MBA degree in Marketing from Clark Atlanta University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Lincoln University.

This workshop is designed to enhance the LinkedIn user experience of current users by taking it to the next level through the introduction of advanced features and techniques designed to get the maximum value out of using LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a professional social networking site that has grown in popularity since starting up in 2003. This workshop begins where LinkedIn – Getting Started with Professional Social Networking ends.

This workshop will provide attendees with an overview of the site as well as introduce attendees to advanced features that many users do not use or know exist that includes:

• How To Punch Up Your LinkedIn Profile in Order to Be Found by Hiring Managers and Companies
• Advanced Strategies for Connecting
• Advanced Strategies for Building your Expertise and Becoming a Recognized Expert
• Advanced Ways to Use Groups
• How to Use Tools/Plug-Ins/Applications
• New functionality such as Answers, posting jobs and applying for them and finding company information

I attended Keith's workshop on LinkedIn Network last year in Raleigh NC. It was excellent. I highly recommend all BDPA IT professionals to pre-register for both of Keith's conference workshops!

Xcel Energy Foundation

Xcel Energy Foundation's grant-making and corporate giving are focused in four areas - Economic Sustainability, Supporting Education, Promoting Arts and Culture, and the Environment. Each area is defined by the Foundation board and is reviewed on an annual basis.

Their focus area grants are limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and all applicants must complete their online application process. Unfortunately, the foundation receives far more requests for funding than it can satisfy.

If it is necessary to decline support of a worthwhile organization, program or project, the decision is not reflective of the value of the organization/program/project, but rather on the need to be selective due to limited resources. Grants do not establish entitlement for additional or continued support or set precedent for future funding.

Xcel Energy is co-located with BDPA chapters located in: Austin, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, So Minnesota and Twin Cities. As such, BETF is open to working on a joint grant proposal with any of these seven chapters.

Grant Recipient: BDPA New York ($4,250)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) approved $4,250 grant disbursement to BDPA New York chapter. The chapter requested the funds for:

"...expenses to send the High School Computer Competition team and chaperones to the 2010 annual BDPA Technology conference in Philadelphia. These expenses include transportation, hotel rooms, food and other incidentals."

BDPA New York works closely with BETF throughout the year to solicit funding in support of the chapter's youth education programming. BETF is glad to see these funds being available to help the chapter participate in the annual conference.

Is your local chapter working with BETF on fundraising opportunities?

In any case, let's all wish the best of luck to the young men and women who are being supported by this BETF grant disbursement!

Public Libraries Make a Difference

Do you use your public library? I do. My public library is a couple of miles from my home. I go there on a weekly basis. It seems that more and more of us are going to the library to find jobs, create new careers and help grow our small businesses. We borrow books, journals, music and movies. We learn to use the latest technology. We get our questions answered, engage in civic activities, and improve our skills.

There are over 16,600 public libraries in America. Here are some of the unique 2010 statistics about public libraries:

• Career Assistance - 13,000 libraries offer career counseling resources, resume assistance and help in filling out online applications. There are only 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers in the country.
• Getting Technical - More libraries (5,400) offer technology training classes than there are computer training businesses (4,000) in the United States. Every day, 14,700 people attend free library computer classes.
• Hot Spots - Most public libraries provide free wireless Internet access for their users. Nearly 12,000 now offer free Wi-Fi. That's more than Starbucks, Barnes & Noble or Borders.
• It's in Our Wallets - Almost two-thirds of Americans have a library card. For many young people, its the first card in their wallet is a library card.
• Let's Meet - More public libraries offer free meeting rooms than there are conference centers, convention facilities and auditoriums combined. Every day, 225,000 people use library meeting rooms at a retail value of $11 million. That's $3.2 billion annually (based on 286 business days per week).
• Movie Night - Every day, Americans borrow 2.1 million DVDs from libraries. This compares to 2.2 million DVDs rented from Neflix or 1.1 million DVDs rented from RedBox vending machines.

• Taking Care of Business - Business owners and employees use resources at the public libraries at least 2.8 million times per month.

I came across this information from the folks at OCLC while I was in their world headquarters building as a guest speaker. I knew about the movies because I check-out one or two movies from the library every week. I often find my good reads at the library ... less expensive than buying the books from Borders!

I have great memories of the library as a kid. I remember walking to Pio Pico Library to participate in the summer reading contests. We would get ribbons and certificates for reading 100 books each summer!

Do you use your library very much?

BDPA Corporate Sponsor: Vanguard Group

This is a guest post from Dean Henry, a principal in Vanguard’s Information Technology Division. Dean is responsible for Vanguard’s Security Architecture team within the IT Security Office.

The Vanguard Group is one of the world's largest investment management companies. Vanguard's mission is to help clients reach their financial goals by being the world's highest-value provider of investment products and services. Founded in 1975, Vanguard is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with additional U.S. Offices in Charlotte, North Carolina and Scottsdale, Arizona. As of May 31, 2010, Vanguard had nearly $1.4 trillion in U.S. mutual funds under management through approximately 160 U.S. funds. About a dozen international offices were also in operation as of the end of the year.

Vanguard's commitment to diversity extends throughout our company, from senior leaders through all 12,500 crew members across the country and the globe. We know that in our mission to be the highest-value provider of investment products and services, diversity of people, ideas, and viewpoints is one of our main assets.

Our Chairman & CEO, F. William McNabb, indicates that:

“... for us truly to be great as a company in terms of both serving our clients and as a place to work, we need highly engaged and very effective crew members. Engagement happens when everyone, no matter who they are, feels deeply valued. Moreover, the broader our diversity, the greater our effectiveness will be—for there is true power in having the widest-possible array of perspectives.”

With respect to Information Technology, Vanguard employs approximately 2,500 crew members in its IT Division, and focuses most of its IT hiring at the entry professional level. Vanguard has established a number of initiatives to encourage the careers of African Americans in the IT industry, from the classroom to the boardroom.

Since 2007, Vanguard has targeted collegiate chapters of organizations such as the National Society of Black Engineers for partnership and to help identify candidates for Vanguard’s IT College to Corporate and Technology Leadership Programs. Vanguard crew members have provided on campus information sessions, participated on NSBE chapter panel discussions, and participated in local and national conferences, primarily targeting Computer Science and Computer Engineering majors at the junior and senior undergraduate levels. Vanguard also offers two scholarship programs for rising seniors, which may be leveraged by African Americans with applicable backgrounds.

In 2010, Vanguard decided to become a BDPA corporate sponsor, and to be a sponsor for the BDPA national conference technology & career fair in downtown Philadelphia. During the conference, I will deliver a workshop on “Interviewing Best Practices” in the Youth Technology Conference track, based on the standard Vanguard college workshop presentation.

Additionally, I’ll present a workshop entitled “IT Security Principles”.  This workshop will be targeted primarily to college juniors and seniors, but professionals with less than 2 years of IT experience are also welcome. IT managers, recent hires, and Human Resources will be on hand to answer any questions at our career fair booth on July 30 and 31.

Grant Recipient: BDPA New York ($204)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce a $203.77 grant disbursement to BDPA New York chapter. The funds will be used to help NY chapter bring their students to compete in the 2010 national BDPA high school computer competition later this month in Philadelphia.

We encourage other BDPA chapters to work with BETF on fundraising efforts.

2006 National BDPA Technology Conference (Video)

The BDPA Foundation YouTube account now has 17 videos including these from the 2006 National BDPA Technology Conference was held in Los Angeles CA. This 3-part video runs for a total of 23 minutes. The video produced by video produced by Kevin Jones (Visual Propaganda) and divided into three parts by Jeff Walt (Jeff Walt Designs)


2006 BDPA Conference (1 of 3)


2006 BDPA Conference (2 of 3)



2006 BDPA Conference (3 of 3)


Do you have any memories of the 2006 BDPA conference held in Los Angeles that you can share with us?

BDPA IT Showcase: Production Planning Tools (Jessye Bemley, North Carolina A&T State University)

IBM and Eli Lilly and Company are sponsoring the 2010 BDPA IT Showcase. It provides them with an opportunity to see some of the most powerful African American high school and college students. The young people in the IT Showcase have potential to become Ph.D candidates in the hard sciences.

Our nation has few African American Ph.D candidates in computer science, technology, engineering or mathematics ... so BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to use our blog to promote this program and these students ... perhaps we can create more Black Ph.D candidates in the future!

Jessye Bemley was a senior attending North Carolina A&T State University when she competed in the 2008 BDPA IT Showcase. She was finishing course work for her Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering. On-campus she is active in the North Carolina A&T Fellowship Gospel Choir, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE).

At Joint Educational Facilities (JEF) her subject areas were Expert Systems, Neural Networks and Wearable Computing. She has also participated in numerous national and international engineering, scientific and computing conferences, symposia, and meetings. She has done research at the Naval Research Laboratory under the apprenticeship of Dr. George Carruthers in Space Science.

At North Carolina A&T she was part of the North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (NC-LSAMP) Program, where she does undergraduate research under Dr. L. Davis, her advisor, in Operations Research. She also participated in an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) internship in industrial engineering at Auburn University. Her project entailed working with decision models that would solve problems in the Automotive Industry.

Last summer Jessye volunteered to help with the Digigirlz Camp sponsored by Microsoft to inspire girls to become interested in computing, engineering and sciences.

Today Jessye is a grad student at North Carolina A&T State University in the field of Industrial Engineering with a concentration in Operations Research.

She made her 2008 IT Showcase presentation on 'Production Planning Tools'. Many companies have different products that they use or make on a regular basis. To help them through this process they use different production planning tools such as forecasting, Materials Requirement Planning System (MRP), Linear Programming, Inventory plan and Aggregate Plan or workforce plan. During INEN 355 or Production Control class we were given a case study project of a company called Mike’s Bikes. From the information given, we were to use all of the tools listed above to help the owner of the company have a successful business.

Here is a copy of her IT Showcase paper. 

If you believe in this program ... then we need your help!   Please consider making a secure online donation to support this program.  If not you, who?  If not now, when?

The Web Academy Offers Free Online Web Design Courses

BDPA New York chapter member Eric Hamilton is becoming one of our favorite IT professionals. He was the key player in the successful grant proposal with Yahoo! Employee Foundation. He is also one of the world-class workshop presenters at the 2010 BDPA Technology Conference in Philadelphia on July 28-31.

As such, we encourage BETF-Blog readers to enroll in his Web Academy. The Web Academy was founded in 2009. The Web Academy provides FREE web design courses and FREE web development services to the community. 100% of the course work is distance learning taught by live instructors in real time.

In exchange for offering FREE web classes to otheir students, they require students to take on at least 3 web development projects of their choosing. Working on these real life web projects with real web clients gives the students actual work experience in the web industry.

The next class begins on Tuesday September 21, 2010.   The class will cover WordPress, HTML and FBML. HTML is the fundamental language for building web pages. FBML is Facebook's language for building fan pages.  

Please register now before the September 21st reaches capacity!