Paula-Marie Mensah Uses Johnson & Johnson Scholarship at Southern University

Paula-Marie Mensah

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Johnson & Johnson awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to eight (8) students. One of those students is Southern University junior Paula-Marie Mensah. Paula is currently a Mechanical Engineering major who plans to graduate in 2017.

Paula wrote, "My name is Paula-Marie Mensah. I am a 20 year old, junior Mechanical Engineering major at Southern University Agricultural and Mechanical College in Baton Rouge. I am involved in many organizations on campus and in my community such as the National Society of Black Engineers of which I serve as Programs Chair. I also serve as 1st Vice President of the Honors Student Association, and Chief of Staff of the Association of Women Students. I am a current member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Woman Engineers, Louisiana Collegiate Honors Council, STEM NOLA and Habitat for Humanity Volunteers, and African Christian Fellowship Youth. I enjoy cooking, reading and spending time with my family and friends. I plan to graduate in the spring of 2017 and pursue a graduate program in Engineering. It is truly an honor and a privilege to represent Johnson & Johnson and the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation as a recipient of the scholarship for the 2015-2016 school year. This opportunity will allow me to contribute to keep school as my main focus without worrying how my school needs will be taken care. I cannot thank you all enough for helping me make my dreams come true."

We appreciate the opportunity to support this remarkable woman!

BDPA iRadio Show: October 27, 2015 (Gene Waddy, Kyle Rivers, Sharlene Roberson)

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 27th show:

Gene Waddy

Gene Waddy - chief executive officer, Diversant - Gene Waddy was a presenter at the 2015 BDPA Technology Conference. His presentation was thoughtful and it encouraged many BDPA members who were in attendance to prepare to succeed in their career choices. Gene is a visionary entrepreneur and the owner of Diversant. Diversant is the nation's largest Black-owned IT staffing and solutions firm. The company has enjoyed dramatic growth, even during the economic downturn. The company does over $150 million in annual sales. We've asked Gene to share his thoughts on how minority youth can get involved with technology and how they can use it to advance their careers and lives. Gene is very active in a number of organizations, including his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. He was named a winner of the 2013 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in New Jersey. BDPA iRadio Show listeners enjoyed hearing the insights and observations of Mr. Waddy! You can follow Gene on Twitter -- @Gene_Diversant.

Kyle Rivers

Kyle Rivers - Marketing Webmaster, Bloomfield College - Kyle Rivers is a volunteer instructor at Bloomfield College. The weekly program welcomes students from 24 New Jersey schools and provides instruction in areas such as web development, application development, and database design and development. Kyle trained the high school students who represented BDPA New Jersey in the national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship held at the 2015 National Technology Conference. The team came in 5th place winning a Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship for their high performance ... the second-highest ranking in the history of BDPA New Jersey chapter! The relationship between BDPA New Jersey and Bloomfield College is unique. Our audience learned more about this strategic alliance. We also learned about Kyle's experience in the training as well as his actual experience in Washington DC during the week of the conference.

Dr. Shar Roberson

Dr. Sharlene Roberson - Program Director, Towson University - Dr. Sharlene Roberson is a long-time member of BDPA. For many years she served as the HSCC coordinator for our BDPA Philadelphia chapter. While working in private industry she continued her education ... eventually receiving her Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree in Educational Leadership and Organizational Management from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2014 she went to work for Towson University as a STEM Program Director. In that role, she coordinates student success strategies and interventions, such as STEM Programming, expanded tutoring services, one-on-one advising and cohort meetings. She works closely with the STEM Scholars and Towson Opportunities in STEM (TOPS) students. Shar has maintained her membership in BDPA for decades and our BDPA iRadio Show audience would love to hear her story and any advice from her experience working with STEM students at the college level.

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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!

Eliza Dizon Wins JnJ Scholarship for her Senior Year at Virginia State University

Eliza Dizon

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Johnson & Johnson awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to eight (8) students. One of those students is Virginia State University senior Eliza Dizon. Eliza is currently a Business Management Information Systems Major and Cyber Security and Forensics Minor who plans to graduate next year.

We now live in a world that is more connected than ever before. The Internet touches almost all aspects of everyone’s daily life, whether we realize it or not. Recognizing the importance of cybersecurity to our nation, President Obama designated October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month. It is appropriate that Eliza wins this scholarship because she plans to use her technical skills gained at VSU when she joins the military after graduation.

"There are few BDPA members at my university, so the best times I have had are trying to recruit other members through my testimony. Being a member of BDPA has given me the opportunity to network with current IT professionals thus feeling more comfortable with adjusting from the classroom to the workforce," said Eliza. "By awarding me this Scholarship Award, you have lightened my financial burden which allows me to focus more on the most important aspect of school, learning. Your generosity has inspired me to help others and give back to the community. I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me."

Eliza is a member of our BDPA Richmond chapter. We encourage our readers to take a moment to make a secure donation in support of the BDPA Richmond scholarship program.

Letter of Inquiry: Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation (BDPA Milwaukee)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked with BDPA Milwaukee chapter to submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) to the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. We asked for permission to submit a $10,000 grant proposal to support the 2016 Student Information Technology & Education (SITES) program planned for implementation in Wisconsin. BDPA Milwaukee chapter continues to grow in terms of the number of students impacted by their programs.

The Bradley Foundation requires two steps in their application process. First, the applicant should prepare a brief LOI 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.

Now we wait to hear what they say. However, you can help. Please consider making a secure online donation in support of our BDPA Milwaukee chapter!

Grant Declination: Best Buy Foundation Community Grant (Cincinnati)

BDPA Cincinnati worked with BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) to submit a $10,000 grant proposal to the Best Buy Foundation Community Grant program.

The declination letter read as follows:

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Dear Wayne:

Thank you for your grant application to the Community Grants program of the Best Buy Foundation from BDPA Education and Technology Foundation for your Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) Program in Cincinnati, Ohio. We regret we are unable to provide a grant to your organization at this time. While your program is one of merit, the number of requests we receive outweighs our available resources. We appreciated the opportunity to learn more about your organization and thank you for taking the time to apply for a Best Buy grant.

For more information on how Best Buy strengthens communities, see http://www.bestbuy-communityrelations.com/.

Best wishes for the continued success of your program.

Sincerely,
Best Buy Foundation
Community Grants

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We will continue to work with BDPA Cincinnati chapter on other funding opportunities. The positive aspect of this declination is that we are now free and clear to submit a $100,000 national grant to Best Buy Foundation. Wish us luck!

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?