BDPA Foundation

Grant Award: Raytheon Cybergrant ($6,000)

2012-06-01T04:30:00.000-04:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud to announce that Raytheon has awarded a $6,000 cybergrant in support of the BDPA programs and services in the greater Los Angeles area. This award is a direct result of the efforts by BDPA Los Angeles chapter president John Malonson. Here is the award letter that came with the check:

To: BDPA Education and Technology Foundation

Raytheon is pleased to present this Cybergrant to the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation. We are proud to support your efforts on the Student Information Technology & Scholarships (SITES) program which enriches the educational opportunities for students in after-school program of technology training by the BDPA Los Angeles chapter with a focus on low- and moderate-income communities.

Susana Escalante
Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems

BDPA Los Angeles chapter recently announced the selection of five young students who will represent the chapter and the city in the 2012 national BDPA High School Computer Competition championship being held later this year in Baltimore. This funding from Raytheon will have a direct impact on their performance. Please join me in sharing some BDPA-Love with Raytheon for their continued support of BDPA programs, scholarships and services!

BDPA iRadio Show - April 24, 2012

2012-05-30T14:15:00.000-04:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud to be the creator of the BDPA iRadio Show. Our Internet Radio Show has been up and running for nine months with over 80 guests. You can listen to the archive version of the show using the widget shown in the right-hand sidebar of this blog.

Episodes of the BDPA iRadio Show are now available for immediate and FREE download from the iTunes Store.

Listen to internet radio with BDPA on Blog Talk Radio

The guests on the April 24th show:

Matthew Lampkin - chapter president, BDPA Hartford - Matthew Lampkin joined BDPA Hartford chapter in 2005. Over the years he served in a variety of leadership positions including HSCC coordinator and vice president. He currently serves as the chapter president. His immediate goal is to increase the chapter’s membership, build relationships with students at area high schools\colleges, and provide area companies access to a pool of talented IT professionals. One of his biggest accomplishments was the establishment of the Computer Learning Program for the state Department of Children and Families (DCF). From 2006 to 2009, Mr. Lampkin forged an educational partnership with DCF that allowed for foster youth in Connecticut to receive 15 to 20 weeks of Information Technology training from experienced BDPA members. The training culminated in 5-7 youth attending the National BDPA conferences in 2006 (Los Angeles) and 2007 (Washington, DC). Although Matthew has spent the past 18 years of his life in the Mid-Atlantic and New England States, he is a native of Houston, Texas. He attended Syracuse University and graduated in 1997 with a BS in Information Management Technology. Currently he is employed by Computer Sciences Corporation in East Hartford, CT as a Security Administrator. In addition, Matthew is one of the owners of OnPoint Consultants, LLC. OnPoint has been in business for more than 10 years. Matthew used this radio interview to share his plans for growing the BDPA brand in Connecticut over the coming year.

Michelle Cooke - HSCC coordinator, National BDPA - Michelle Cooke has been working on the national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships for a number of years. She has more than 10 years of experience in Software Quality Assurance and System Analysis with a strong background in full SDLC, implementation, testing, user training, and support documentation. Experience as the SME for QA testing related policies/procedures and helped enforce such policies/procedures. She stepped up to become the National BDPA HSCC Coordinator earlier this year. Her goal is to increase the number of students and chapters participating in the 2012 National HSCC Championship that will be held in Baltimore, MD. This will be the first opportunity for much of BDPA-Nation to hear directly from Michelle. She shared some unique insights into the importance of BDPA’s efforts to provide STEM-based experiences for young people that will help them to ‘win the future’.

Wayne Hicks - executive director, BDPA Education and Technology Foundation - Wayne has been a member of BDPA since 1989. He has twice served as the executive director of the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation. He has also been a chapter president (Cincinnati, 1999-2001) as well as a successful national BDPA president (2004-2005). He provides a unique perspective to the value-proposition that BDPA offers to its stakeholders.

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!

Grant Declination: PNC Bank (BDPA Cincinnati)

2012-05-23T17:00:00.000-04:00

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:

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

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.

Grant Award: BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BDPA Dallas)

2012-05-22T03:45:00.000-04:00

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) who has a wonderful volunteer grant program known as the Blue Corps Employee Volunteer Program.

The program coordinator wrote the following:

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

Geeks Gone Great: Steve Pemberton (Walgreen Company)

2012-05-21T21:15:00.000-04:00

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.

Happy Mother's Day

2012-05-13T11:00:00.000-04:00

Your Mother is always with you.

She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flower you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day, She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning.

Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows every emotion.....Happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow.....and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feeling in life.

She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, not space....not even death!

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

2012-05-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

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)

2012-05-12T17:15:00.000-04:00

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

2012-05-11T17:00:00.000-04:00

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

2012-05-10T10:00:00.000-04:00

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

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.

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

Growing Roots for More STEM

2012-05-09T14:15:00.000-04:00

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.

BDPA Leaders: George Brooks & Jimm Middleton

2012-05-08T14:00:00.000-04:00

George Brooks (l) and Jimm Middleton (r) posed for this photo at the National BDPA Board of Directors meeting held in Cleveland on May 2005.

George is a long-time BDPA member with ties to our chapters in Chicago, Detroit and Columbus. He served as president of the BDPA Columbus chapter from 2004-2005.

Jimm is a long-time BDPA member with ties to our chapter in Washington DC and Orlando. He served as a chapter president in both chapters ... and in fact, is the founder of the BDPA Orlando chapter. Jimm met his soul-mate in BDPA. They are now married and living the good life in Orlando!

BDPA iRadio Show - May 8, 2012

2012-05-07T11:00:00.000-04:00

Listen to internet radio with BDPA on Blog Talk Radio

The guests on the May 8th show:

Kendall Norris - chapter president, BDPA Middle Tennessee - Kendall joined Deloitte Services, Information Technology Services’ Program Management Office as the U.S. Leader accountable for the successful delivery of information technology projects. Kendall is a member of the Information Technology Senior Management Forum. Earlier this year Kendall accepted leadership role as president of BDPA Middle Tennessee Chapter. The chapter is fortunate to have a man with executive leadership experience in the presidency. We look forward to hearing what he and his chapter leadership team envision in 2012 for BDPA stakeholders in the greater Nashville area.

Dr. Donna Grant - assistant computer information systems professor, North Carolina Central University - Dr. Donna Grant earned her Ph.D. in computer science from DePaul University. She is currently an assistant professor at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). She recently earned the NCCU Awards for Teaching Excellence. Dr. Grant learned about BDPA during her time in Chicago. She introduced a number of DePaul students to BDPA programs. There are very few African American Ph.D. graduates in the computer science field every year. We want to know what Dr. Grant thinks about the death of Blacks advancing to the highest academic levels in STEM-centric curriculum. How can BDPA ‘make a difference’ in this area as we look to win the future? In addition, Dr. Grant has done some outstanding research about the low number of Black girls that are advancing in the STEM-related fields. Our audience would like to learn more about this research as well.

Coram Rimes - director, BDPA Northeast Region - Coram has over 35 years of corporate work experience with various roles in marketing & sales, technology, auditing, physical security and information technology for the past 20 years. During his career, he served with increased responsibility from supervisory level, middle management and corporate officer. For the past decade he has been a director. His past employers have been major corporations including, AT&T, Verizon, Bank of New York, and Federal Reserve Bank of New York, TIAA-CREF and Prudential. Coram also has a remarkable history with BDPA. Coram is one of a handful of BDPAers in history to be elected to public office. He was elected to serve on the Orange (NJ) City Council in 2000-2008. Coram is also a business owner. He has operated a tax preparation business since 1985. We look forward to learning the vision and plans that Coram has for the newly-created BDPA Northeast Region.

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!

Taking Time Out to Revitalize STEM

2012-05-06T14:00:00.000-04:00

by Keith Peden, SVP
Raytheon

For years, the United States has been losing ground to other countries in the race for qualified workers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; the so-called STEM fields. It's not that American kids start out any less curious about the world than kids abroad. But they are clearly not getting the kind of motivation they need.

National Volunteer Week, which took place in late April, provided a perfect opportunity for local scientists, tech professionals and business leaders to share their enthusiasm with the next generation of researchers.

The basic numbers are clear enough: On international tests, U.S students are ranked 31st in the world in math. In 2009, when the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranked countries based on how many of their young workers had STEM degrees, America came in 23rd, well below the OECD average and trailing Spain, Portugal, and Turkey.

The problem shows up throughout the educational pipeline. By the time they reach 12th grade, only 17 percent of students are both interested in a STEM career and considered "proficient" in math. That's not good enough.

The demographic gaps are also troubling. One-quarter of African American 12th graders are interested in STEM but not proficient in math, and only 20 percent of engineering students are female.

Read the rest of this Gainesville Sun article.

National Girls Collaborative Project - Find Summer Camps!

2012-05-04T22:30:00.000-04:00

The online NGCP Program Directory lists organizations and programs that focus on motivating girls to pursue STEM careers. The purpose of the directory is to help organizations and individuals network, share resources, and collaborate on STEM-related projects for girls.

When you sign up for the Program Directory, you will enter your program description, resources available within your organization, program or organizational needs, and contact information. You can search by summer camp offerings in your zip code as well.

Message from the National BDPA President

2012-05-03T19:30:00.000-04:00

by Monique Berry
National BDPA President

Why You Should Attend the BDPA Technology Conference

As strange as this may sound it has never occurred to most members to go to the BDPA Technology Conference. They know about it - they've been getting emails since joining letting them know about it, but it has never even come up as something to do.

This is how I felt when I joined. The conference was is in Dallas, Texas and I lived hundreds of miles away, and I already had my own summer plans.

As it turned out, my plans changed, I had some free time so I went to the 2004 conference in Dallas. I can honestly say it was the single best thing I'd experienced with my BDPA membership since I joined in 2001.

There were a number of reasons the conference was fantastic - any one of them alone made it worth going:

I was not a minority among attendees. Do you know what it's like to attend a conference where there may be one or two (.5%) other people who look like you?
I networked with members of Chapters from around the country. I sat next to them in seminars, ate with them at the plenary luncheons and socialized with them during the corporate receptions.
We talked about our careers, issues, challenges, opportunities, the companies we worked for and companies that we wanted to work for.
We talked about our chapters; what we've done that was successful; mistakes we've made; and new ideas for how our chapters could move forward.

I walked away from the conference with a notepad full of action items for my personal development as well as ideas for the Chapter (enough to keep us busy the whole year if we wanted); a pocket full of business cards of peers, recruiters and decision makers; and a stronger feeling of optimism for my Chapter and what we could accomplish than I would have ever imagined.

Perhaps the most important thing I got from the conference was competency. I was amazed at how much tangible, real-world advice was given. There were talks on how to use technology, chapter building, closing the digital divide, leadership skills, team building, and much more. In short, I received a lot of information on developing oneself and everything necessary to know how to run a successful Chapter. I've attended dozens of conferences and this was by far one of the most tangible and beneficial.

So within a two-week span, I went from never attending a program meeting to showing up in Dallas not knowing anyone or what to expect, to meeting two new BFFs (Allstate employees: Marvie Barton and Kimberly Vaughn), falling in love with BDPA and the conference.

When I later became president of the Philadelphia chapter, the conference was at the top of our budget. Every year, we were going to send several of our members and students to the conference. We would take full advantage of BDPA Education and Technology Foundation grant awards or disbursements, but whether we get those or not, conference, airfare, and lodging fees, would be covered for that year. Our goal was to win the Chapter of the Year Award to cover some of the registration fees.

So if you haven't attended a Technology conference where you are one of the 99.5% and not the 0.5%, this is the conference for you. This is my personal invitation to you. I would love to meet you in Baltimore!

Warm regards,
Monique

HSCC Testimonial: Frederick Watson, Jr. (BDPA Chattanooga, 2007-2009)

2012-05-02T22:30:00.000-04:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) has awarded more than $377,000 in college scholarships over the past 13 years. We are very proud of the hundreds of young people we helped get into college. These are the young people that BDPA sends out to win the future. Of course we can't do it without the assistance of our donors.

We heard from one of our Bemley Scholars this week. He wants to use his Bemley Scholarship to support his education at Middle Tennessee State University. Take a moment to read his testimonial:

My name is Frederick Antonio Watson, Jr. I am a Business Management student at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. For three years, I participated in BDPA Chattanooga Chapter’s High School Computer Competition Program. In preparation for the National BDPA competition our team attended weekly computer training sessions, which also included problem solving, team building and project and time management. Our team represented Chattanooga and was one of the winning teams in the 2007 national HSCC championship.

The HSCC experience and exposure to this program has been very beneficial. As a team, we received mentoring from our instructors and established a bonding friendship; all of us from the 2008 team currently attend MTSU. I am grateful I was afforded the opportunity to participate in it; I gained computer skills that I used on my job as a high school CAD Operator to complete assignments and projects and I actually continue to use those acquired skills today.

Each year, I looked forward to attending the National BDPA Conference. I enjoyed the competitiveness of the competition, listening to the enlightening speakers, meeting so many different and unique people from all over the country, and observing the professionalism exemplified by the organization as a whole. I’m also very thankful for the doors BDPA opened for me and other youths and commends the organization on its outstanding student programs.

Thank You BDPA Chattanooga Chapter!

Take Five: Kai Dupé (BDPA Dallas)

2012-05-01T11:00:00.000-04:00

Kai Dupé is a brother who has been advocating for Blacks in technology via his articles, blogs, presentations and online radio shows. Kai agreed to participate in our recurring 'Take Five' interview series.

How did you get involved with BDPA? - I actually do not remember how I got involved with BDPA. I know that my first interaction with BDPA was via BDPA Dallas vice president of member services Donna Tyler. She sent out a request for speakers. She told me that she received my name from you (Wayne Hicks) as a result of my presentation done at the National Conference that year. I think that may have been 2007 when the conference was in Washington DC. Once I connected with BDPA and you that was it for me. BDPA for Life!
What do you see as the biggest benefit of BDPA membership? - In my mind the biggest benefit of BDPA is the community. One of the main challenges our people face when choosing a career in Information Technology whether it be in corporate America or on the college campus is isolation. As as software developer for over 25 years, I have always been the only Black software developer on the team and it has been no different on most of my corporate positions since college. This problems persists today. The ability to connect with a community of Black IT professionals, and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and experience of those who have taken the same journey is is the biggest benefit in my opinion.
What future evolution or change would you like to see in BDPA? - I would like to see a move toward publishing. BDPA publishing. :-) The same way BETF initiated the BDPA iRadio program, I would like to see information products based on the years of learning from the programs related to encouraging African Americans to embrace technology and technology careers.
What would you like the Black community to know about BDPA? - I would like MORE of the Black community to be AWARE that BDPA exists. I am baffled by this. But as I speak, mentor and connect with our people and direct them to connect with BDPA more times than not, they are not aware of BDPA. This is unfortunate. I work very hard to make sure that our people who are interested in careers in technology locate their local chapter and take advantage of all of the good work that BDPA is doing.
Any advice for people considering a donation to BETF? - My advice would be to donate. We have many problems and issues in the Black community for sure. But I consider the digital divide to be our generation's civil rights issue. We must close this gap. Technology gives us access to the economic engine of this country and we cannot continue to lag. No organization is more equipped and more dedicated to closing this gap than BDPA. My advice would be to give and give often.

Share some love with Kai in the COMMENTS section!

Abbott Fund

2012-04-29T00:01:00.000-04:00

Abbott Fund invests in creative ideas that promote science, expand access to health care, and strengthen communities worldwide. In partnership with others, they strive to make a lasting impact on people’s lives and encourage others to action.

Established in 1951 Abbott Fund is a private 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization in the state of Illinois and is funded solely by Abbott, a global broad-based health care company. Their approach is to support programs that are results-driven and make a lasting impact on people’s lives. They support and partner with a broad range of organizations, including community-based charities, academic institutions, medical and health professional associations, international relief agencies and not-for-profit organizations. Many of these programs are helping create solutions to address the global health needs shaping our world today. Where appropriate, these programs are also able to benefit from Abbott’s health and technical expertise, leadership, and products.

Abbott Fund is active in communities around the world where Abbott has a significant presence. They pursue local partnerships and creative programs that address unmet needs of a community. Emphasis is placed on improving access to health care and promoting science education. The Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program hosted by BDPA seems to be a good fit for the Abbot Fund.

Our funding opportunity appears to be with their 'Community Vitality Grants' (min grant size: $10,000). However, the program in question must be co-located with an Abbott site community. Local BDPA chapters co-located with Abbott include: Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles and Richmond.

Please let me know if your chapter is interested in pursuing a grant proposal to the Abbott Fund.

Where Are They Now: BDPA Member of the Year Award Winners

2012-04-28T11:45:00.000-04:00

Earlier we asked for your support in finding the current location of the 1999 BDPA Chapter Presidents. Today, we reach out to our BETF-Blog readers to see if they can help us locate the winners of the National BDPA Member of the Year awards from 1986 through 2010.

Where are they now?

1986 - Vivian Wilson (Cleveland)
1987 - Linnie Frank (Washington DC)
1988 - Whitman Able (Memphis)
1989 - Ray Larkins (Detroit)
1990 - Unknown
1990 - Unknown
1992 - Howard James (Philadelphia)
1993 - Unknown
1994 - Phillip Murphy (Flint)
1995 - Gerry McClamy (Cleveland)
1996 - Renee McClure (New York)
1997 - Unknown
1998 - Unknown
1999 - Wendy Wonsley (Gr Tampa Bay)
2000 - Juanita Robinson (Chicago)
2001 - Gina Billings (Cincinnati)
2002 - Mildred Allen (Gr Columbia)
2003 - Tiffany Bonds (Charlotte)
2004 - Dee Pearson (Dayton)
2005 - Milt Haynes (Chicago)
2006 - Chiji Ohayia (New York)
2007 - No award given out this year
2008 - No award given out this year
2009 - Danna Sturdivant (Boston)
2010 - Monica Bowe (Cleveland)

Can you tell us 'Where Are They Now?' We're hopeful we can get each of them to autograph this post ... or at least get them to POST A COMMENT!

BDPA Brotha on Promoting Your Chapter to Local Media

2012-04-27T11:00:00.000-04:00

I have been in BDPA since 1988. Some of y'all refer to me as the BDPA Brotha! One of the constant concerns that I hear expressed by most local chapters is that they are the 'best-kept secret' in their community and industry. Perhaps it it time to remember that there are still ol' school marketing opportunities with your local media.

Media are constantly looking for new stories and information that will interest their audiences. Chances are, your town has at least one major newspaper, several smaller papers, a few TV stations, a bunch of radio stations, and at least one cable company. Here are a few things to consider:

Local media like to cover local stories. You have a much better chance of getting free publicity from a reporter in your area than from national media.
Local talk radio stations and programs are constantly in need of interesting guests. Watch for times when your area of expertise fits with a breaking story, holiday, or issue the media is covering.
Send your local media a press release when you have something new to announce: a new board member appointment, new chapter service, public service program, or alliance with another business.
Local chapters often make good feature stories. Work up a sheet of helpful tips related to your chapter. Make sure they are things the media audience will be interested in.
Work with local charities and blow your own horn.

I hope that these chapter marketing tips are helpful to you. Feel free to contact me by email or phone (513.284-4968) if you would like to discuss additional ways to market your nonprofit business.

In the meantime, You I will continue to share these 'BDPA Brotha' tips on a semi-regular basis!

Monsanto Executive Vincent Shorter Answers Question, 'Why BDPA?'

2012-04-26T11:00:00.000-04:00

Monsanto is a long-standing corporate sponsor of BDPA programs, scholarships and services on national and local (St. Louis) level. Here is company executive Vincent Shorter explaining the value-proposition that Monsanto made when they decided to invest in BDPA:

The investment is making a difference as evidenced by the increased growth of BDPA St. Louis chapter membership as well as the improved performance of the chapter's High School Computer Competition team in recent national championships! We encourage other corporate executives to reach out to BDPA to learn more about our corporate sponsorship program.

Message from New Jersey Chapter President

2012-04-25T11:00:00.000-04:00

BDPA New Jersey invites YOU to attend our 9th Annual Families in Technology Day on the campus of New Jersey Institute of Technology, Kupfrian Hall on May 5th.

Time is running out...but you STILL have time to register and attend this truly remarkable event! We promise you will not be disappointed. Come join in on the fun, and just think, your child or student could be the lucky recipient of a refurbished laptop!

Flyer: 9th Annual Families in Technology Day (New Jersey)

View more documents from Wayne Hicks

On behalf of BDPA New Jersey, we look forward to seeing you at our event for a day filled with education, networking, and most importantly FUN!

Warm Regards,
Goldie K. Bonney, President
BDPA New Jersey Chapter

Message from BDPA Twin Cities HSCC Coordinator

2012-04-23T11:00:00.000-04:00

BDPA Twin Cities HSCC Coordinator shared his joy about the efforts of the students who participated in the 2012 computer camp hosted by his chapter. It is wonderful to consider the different that Michael Wulf and the other volunteers from BDPA Twin Cities are making for their community with this STEM-based experience for young people. Well done Michael!

Take Five: Kendall Norris (BDPA Middle Tennessee)

2012-04-22T11:00:00.001-04:00

BDPA Middle Tennessee welcomed a new chapter president earlier this year. Kendall Norris (Deloitte) is working with his leadership team to take the chapter to the next level. Kendall took a moment to be part of our ongoing 'Take Five' Interview Series.

How did you get involved with BDPA? - I have been involved for ~9 years and joined the organization while working at EDS, via corporate sponsorship.
What is your favorite part of working with BDPA? - Working on, or developing, programs that encourage youth to look at IT career opportunities.
What future evolution or change would you like to see in BDPA? - I would like to see our name, Black Data Processing Associates, changed to Black Data Professionals Association. I believe this change would take advantage of the current Big Data trend and enhance the brand image of BDPA, while keeping the acronym in place.
Why should someone pay $100 membership dues to join BDPA? - I believe BDPA offers the best value in the industry for individuals seeking networking, professional development, entrepreneurial and volunteer opportunities.
Any advice for people considering a donation to BETF? - There are many professionals in BDPA that are dedicated to the organization’s mission. A donation to BETF is an investment in the advancement of information technology and the future IT leaders.

Share some love with BDPA Middle Tennessee chapter president Kendall Norris!