BDPA Foundation

Message from BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President (May 2018)

2018-05-16T13:45:00.000-04:00

Johnson, Harrigan, Harrigan and Murph

Good morning BDPA Members, I am prompted to give you this update because I attended a graduation celebration for one of our BDPA students last night. I will additionally update you on three other BDPA Students in attendance. This was Hadiya Harrigan’s celebration. From left to right Christian Johnson, Hasani Harrigan, Hadiya Harrigan and Austin Murph are shown in the photo.

Christian graduated this spring from North Carolina A&T State University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and he has accepted a Product Engineering position at Microsoft in Dallas Texas.

Second from the left is Hasani Harrigan. Hasani is a junior at Tuskegee University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Hasani has been selected for an internship at Boeing this summer.

Frank Hill

Third from the left is Hadiya Harrigan. Hadiya graduated Summa Cum Laude from Tuskegee University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Hadiya will be attending Duke University in the fall, pursuing Masters and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Hadiya will intern at P&G this summer.

Austin Murph is on the far right. Austin is currently attending the University of Cincinnati at Blue Ash. Austin plans to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Ohio State University in the fall.

As a long time, instructor for BDPA and Cincinnati State, I am continuously energized by the success of students that I have taught. I further believe that there is a great need for people to teach technology at any level and I encourage everyone to actively "get in the game". You are needed and your impact will last forever!

Have a great day!
Frank Hill
President, BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Spring Technology Showcase (BDPA Huntsville)

2018-03-31T10:45:00.000-04:00

Jason Bradshaw is the VP-Membership Management for BDPA Huntsville Chapter. He recently wrote,

"On a beautiful Saturday morning, BDPA Huntsville Chapter hosted a Spring Technology showcase. At the event several BDPA members engaged the youth of Huntsville, AL with technologies. The event kicked off with speaker Patricia King discussing the many accomplishments and struggles throughout her career as an African American female engineer. Mrs. King also discussed how pneumatics work and taught a hands-on application using Legos.

During Part Two of the showcase, BDPA member Casandra Nealy showcased the Lego EV3 Robot with its various configurations and functionalities.

After a brief intermission Bernard Nealy, Casandra's father and a BDPA member, started off Part Three of the showcase by displaying the large hardware and software capabilities of the small Raspberry Pi computer.

The showcase was ended with a cybersecurity briefing by BDPA members Claudia Williams and Sylvia Archie, who are both Certified Ethical Hackers and Cyber Security Analysts for the US Army. Upon closing BDPA VP-Technology Rosalind McCullough and VP-Strategy and Planning Steton Walker, engaged with the children with discussion about embracing their dreams and striving for success in whatever field they desire to pursue.

Networking and socializing the event went very well among parents, chapter members, and children. BDPA Huntsville plans to have several more technology events in the near future. In addition, the chapter will be hosting its first annual Golf Tournament on April 20, 2018."

Grant Declination: Rhode Island Foundation (BDPA Rhode Island)

2018-03-19T17:15:00.000-04:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked with BDPA Rhode Island chapter (president, Tiffany Wiggins) to submit a $10,000 grant proposal to The Rhode Island Foundation. If approved, the grant would provide partial funding for the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in Providence, RI.

Unfortunately, our grant proposal was declined. The declination letter read as follows:

Mrs. Jeanette James
Rhode Island Chapter President

Dear Ms. James:

On behalf of The Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund, I would like to acknowledge receive of the request submitted by your organization.

Please be assured that the fund advisors carefully reviewed your request before reaching the decision that they are unable to provide financial support at this time. The Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund recognizes the outstanding that your organization provides to our community.

Best wishes for continued success in your mission to serve our community.

Sincerely,
Carol Golden
On behalf of the fund's advisors
Senior Philanthropic Advisor
Rhode Island Foundation

BETF will continue to aggressively pursue funding for all 46 local BDPA chapters. However, God loves the child who has his own ... so we encourage you to support BDPA scholarship programs by making a secure online donation.

Top 10 BDPA Chapters (Membership, February 2018)

2018-03-16T11:15:00.000-04:00

The lifeblood of any nonprofit association is its membership. We continue to have a chapter who leads the nation in BDPA members.... BDPA Cincinnati. The chapter ... led by its president, Frank Hill ... continues to amaze others by its consistent growth. The chapter is significantly larger than the second largest chapter as they continue moving towards the next milestone of having 200 members this year.

We would also like to congratulate BDPA Bay Area (led by Gina Tomlinson) and BDPA Greater Tampa Bay Chapter (led by Andrea Johnson) for becoming an 'active' chapter by having more than the minimum level of membership. Gina and Andrea both realize that we need to work hard to keep membership growth and retention higher.

Frank Hill

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:

Cincinnati - president, Frank Hill
Detroit - president, Loraine Stewart-David
St. Louis - president, Marvis Hollis
Indianapolis - president, Delano Robinson
Chicago - president, John Coleman
Atlanta - president, Victor Montgomery
Southern Minnesota - president, Ebenezer Kyei-Baffour
Philadelphia - president, Cedric Edwards
New Jersey - president, Anthony Dupree
Washington DC - president, Perry Carter

The number of chapters now belonging to the 'BDPA Century Club' has grown to three. The benefit of having powerful leadership is obvious when we see that Cincinnati,Detroit and St. Louis 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.

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?

Message from BDPA New York Chapter President

2018-03-12T13:00:00.000-04:00

Jeannine Andre-Burns

I want to personally say Happy New Year and I am looking forward to working with each of you. Your membership has shown to BDPA New York that you want to be apart of a network of like-minded technology savvy people that wants to network, increase their skill-sets and give back. So thank you for your passion and mission.

We have been building relationships with colleges and finding a home to meet every month. We are lining up speakers and making sure that all planning will be geared towards meeting our members’ needs. There are lots of opportunities for our New York Chapter to reboot and thrive. I want us to all be apart of this exciting time. That is why 2018 will represent the “BDPA New York Reboot” movement and it will begin with the “Take 5” initiative.

This movement will be an outreach to you as a member by getting down to the “Top 5” basics. Determining the top 5 needs of our membership, speaking on the top 5 trending topics of 2018, having meetings at the top 5 areas to service our membership, and partnering with a college to build students’ top 5 skills. We are happy to say that we are moving forward with developing a BDPA New York Club at Pace University. This alliance will put a hop in New York Chapter’s skip with keeping BDPA New York in line with promoting student relationship, building Chapter spirit, and empowering them by partnering with seasoned members to be the dare devils of the technology industry.

We are looking for a home in the heart of Manhattan. If anyone has corporate space that their company will allow for our monthly meetings, please reach out to locations@bdpa-ny.org if you have any questions or can provide any input to gathering space.

Upcoming:

Our 2018 BDPA Conference this year will be in jazzy New Orleans! Early Bird specials end March 31, so log into www.bdpa.org to register.
BDPAFuture# is the theme of our overall vision through the United States with 30 chapters alive and well. For the first time, BDPA is offering monthly Tech Talks with the first kick off this Friday. Topics such as BDPA Digital, AI, and Branding Yourself are already scheduled out till March. Register for free at BDPA Career and Tech Talks.
We are looking for volunteers for the following committees: Planning Committee (speakers, business events, and locations), Social Media Committee (maintain BDPANY social media platform with trending content), Membership Committee (survey members and email outreach).
We have Board positions opened: President Elect, Director of HSCC, Webmaster, Board Secretary. Please email candidates@bdpa-ny.org if you are interested in any of these positions.

Last note, I’m really excited about the Reboot Movement with "The Take 5" initiatives and looking forward to getting to know you.

Jeannine Andre-Burns, president

BDPA New York

Eli Lilly and Company Honored as BDPA Gold Level Sponsor

2018-03-11T21:45:00.000-04:00

Once again Eli Lilly and Company has hit the $50,000 Gold Level Sponsorship mark at Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) 40th Annual National Technology Conference & Career Fair. The event will take place on August 9-11, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, 601 Loyola Avenue New Orleans, Louisiana. BDPA’s Career Fair will be held on two days, Friday August 10, 1pm-5pm and Saturday, August 11, 9am-2pm. It is free and open to the public. Expecting over 1,000 Information Technology (IT) professionals, along with 40 Fortune 500 Companies, BDPA is excited about bringing one-stop interview opportunities to IT applicants. Patrons can register online via www.bdpa.org website.

The Lilly story began 140 years ago, when founder Colonel Eli Lilly combined scientific rigor and passion for discovery, with caring for the individuals and communities the company served. Employees honor his legacy by embodying his call to "Take what you find here and make it better and better."

Diversity Inc., has ranked Eli Lilly the following;
    • Top 50 Companies for Diversity (No. 16)
    • Top Company for People with Disabilities (No. 8)
    • Progress (No. 8), Mentoring (No. 9)
    • Employee Resource Groups (No. 11)
    • Supplier Diversity (No. 11)

Tim Coleman

“We are proud to again partner with and support BDPA. The organization’s work to ensure a diverse talent pipeline for the future and to encourage young people to explore careers in science and technology aligns with our beliefs at Lilly,” said Tim Coleman, Eli Lilly and Company Vice President. “Education is so vital to creating the professionals who will contribute to the discovery of innovative medicines of the future.”

For 40 years, BDPA has enabled the upward mobility of African Americans and other minorities in the Information Technology (IT) and STEM fields. Through its 40+ local community chapters in major cities across the United States, BDPA has been at the forefront of promoting the minority agenda within the IT profession since 1975.

Michael Wulf

"We extend a hearty thank you and recognize Eli Lilly and Company for its unwavering belief in BDPA and their commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce,” said Dr. Michael Wulf, National BDPA vice president. “In 2018 BDPA raises the bar even higher with a distinct shift and focus on persistent member experiences, radically enhanced pipeline programs and building strategic partnerships with academia and other high performing organizations, like Eli Lilly. Lilly's sponsorship helps fill the information technology (IT) pipeline by supporting local and national STEM professional development programs for youth and adults. Their sponsorship and willingness to invest incredible leadership resources like our newly elected BDPA National President, Mr. Terry Morris, is a distinct testimony that BDPA will remain the premier IT professional development networking organization delivering a network of diverse IT talent for years to come."

For corporate sales please contact corpsales@bdpa.org or 301-584-3135 ext. 108.

Grant Proposal: Goldman Sachs Foundation (BDPA Cincinnati)

2018-03-03T17:45:00.000-05:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked closely with the officers of the BDPA Cincinnati chapter to submit a grant proposal to the Goldman Sachs Foundation seeking $8,000 for the 2018 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. We should get an answer within a couple of months.

BETF is willing to work with any of the 46 local BDPA chapters to obtain the funding that they need to successfully deliver their 2018 SITES program. Simply reach out to the BETF executive director if you have questions or wish to discuss further.

Rest In Peace: Malcom Mathis (BDPA St. Louis Chapter President)

2018-02-17T22:15:00.000-05:00

We are deeply saddened to inform our BDPA membership that BDPA St Louis Chapter President, Malcom Mathis II, and his 22 month old son, Malcom Mathis III, passed away in a tragic incident. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Susan and a devoted father to his children. Malcolm was a generous and caring friend and colleague and the personification of Servant Leadership. His absence will be felt greatly.

Malcom served as BDPA St Louis Chapter President from 2016 - 2018, where he embodied BDPA beliefs and purpose, “to serve and elevate others and prepare students and young professionals today for leadership tomorrow”. Malcom also served as a member of the BDPA St. Louis Corporate Advisory Council. He generously gave his time and talents in many capacities in his community, including on the School Board for the Jennings School District.

For those who were fortunate to know Malcom well, you couldn’t help but admire how deeply he cared for his community and the people he worked with. He spent more than 6 years at the Monsanto Corporation most recently as a business architect and an active leader in the African Americans in Monsanto Network (AAIM). He was always a strong advocate for diversity in Monsanto.

A benefit account has been established at Commercial Bank for The Mathis Family. Make checks payable to The Mathis Family Benefit. This account has been verified by the Maryland Heights Police Department. This account was established to help raise funds for funeral expenses.

Contributions can be mailed to:
      Commercial Bank
      Attn: The Mathis Family Benefit
      2330 West Port Plaza Drive
      Maryland Heights, MO 63146

Grant Proposal: HSBC (National BDPA)

2018-02-08T13:00:00.000-05:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked closely with the officers of the National BDPA to submit a grant proposal to the HSBC seeking $25,000 for the 2018 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. We should get an answer within a couple of months.

BETF is willing to work with any of the 46 local BDPA chapters to obtain the funding that they need to successfully deliver their 2018 SITES program. Simply reach out to the BETF executive director if you have questions or wish to discuss further.

Message from BDPA Atlanta Chapter President (February 2018)

2018-02-07T15:30:00.000-05:00

Victor Montgomery

Hello and Happy Black History Month. I hope your year is off to a tremendous start. I’m sure 2018 New Year Resolutions are being actively pursued and dreams are being realized. I have been in the role of President for the BDPA Atlanta Chapter for over a year now. I have seen a great deal of progression, however, there is still much more to do. I am excited to work hand-and-hand with National BDPA leadership to continue to move the needle forward.

As members of BDPA Atlanta, I want to provide you an update on the State of the BDPA Atlanta Chapter. This update will focus on professional membership, collegiate membership, Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) & National High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Programs.

Professional Membership

Last year we had a number of sessions for professionals, however, we did not engage our professional members as much as we would have liked to. This year we are seeking to ensure we host activities to reignite excitement around BDPA Atlanta. We want to host activities that benefit our membership. The first step to achieving success is by being transparent. As a chapter, we have to bring focus to our professional members. We are committed to this, however, we need your assistance. We need your participation and volunteerism. We want to ensure we are serving you in a way that contributes to your advancement. You will see more communications from the Atlanta team, we simply ask that you respond by participating and volunteering.

If your membership has lapsed, I humbly ask that you give BDPA Atlanta Chapter another opportunity. I believe if we work together we can reignite the success of the Atlanta Chapter.

If you are interested in speaking or have an idea for a session, please email president@atlantabdpa.org.

Collegiate Membership

In conjunction with National BDPA, BDPA Atlanta is excited to announce plans to start collegiate chapters. The initial chapters will be at the following institutions:

Atlanta University Consortium (Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, and Spelman)
Georgia State University
Kennesaw State University

We are in the beginning stages of establishing these chapters. If you know of students at any of these institutions or surrounding institutions please share this great news. We will notify members of information sessions for each collegiate chapter.

SITES & HSCC

Last year was an exciting year for our youth programs. We had over 40 high school students participate in HSCC, as well as a college student participate in the Mobile App Competition. Our HSCC team finished 2^nd place for the coding competition. That makes two 1^st and one 2^nd place finish in the last three years. In addition, we won the 2017 Mobile Application Competition for High School participants. Overall, we have achieved a great deal.

This year, we have over 75 participants in HSCC. We are looking to maintain that count until the August competition. The students are very excited! We are also anticipating a significant increase in Mobile Application Competition participants.

Closing

As you can see, we have been doing a great deal in Atlanta, however, we know we can do more. From National competitions, our students have been awarded over $40K+ in the last three years because of the commitments we have made to them, “From the classroom to the boardroom”. As a member of BDPA Atlanta, you have contributed to that success.

I am committed to our students and I am committed to you. Please join me in making this a year that BDPA Atlanta will never forget.

Sincerely,
Victor Montgomery, president
BDPA Atlanta Chapter

Grant Proposal: Cincinnati Bell (BDPA Cincinnati)

2018-02-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked closely with the officers of the BDPA Cincinnati chapter to submit a grant proposal to the Cincinnati Bell seeking $5,000 for the 2018 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. We should get an answer within a couple of months.

BETF is willing to work with any of the 46 local BDPA chapters to obtain the funding that they need to successfully deliver their 2018 SITES program. Simply reach out to the BETF executive director if you have questions or wish to discuss further.

Grant Declination: Cisco Foundation (BDPA Atlanta)

2018-02-05T11:00:00.000-05:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked with BDPA Atlanta chapter (president, Victor Montgomery) to submit a $15,000 grant proposal to the Cisco Foundation. If approved, the grant would provide partial funding for the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in Atlanta, GA.

Unfortunately, our grant proposal was declined. The declination letter read as follows:

Dear Wayne,

Thank you for submitting an Initial Information Form for your program titled "Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program" to Cisco for funding consideration.

We have carefully completed an evaluation of the Initial Information Form you submitted. While we recognize the value of your program and applaud your contributions, we are unable to invite you to submit a formal proposal for consideration.

We hope you will consider other Programs which may assist your organization:

1) You can find more information about our product grant program including program guidelines, eligibility criteria, and how to apply at http://csr.cisco.com/pages/product-grant-program

2) For matching gifts and volunteer matching please contact volunteers at your organization that are Cisco employees to find out how you can qualify as well as http://csr.cisco.com/pages/employee-volunteers

3) Techsoup.org: The technology place for non-profits: www.techsoup.org

Broadly, our social investment strategy focuses on three areas where our products, services, and employees can make a lasting impact: Critical Human Needs and Disaster Relief, Education, and Economic Empowerment. Our approach encourages innovation to create technology-based solutions that are replicable, scalable, and sustainable. To achieve our objectives, we partner with organizations around the world that share our values and align with our focus areas. A list of our community partners can be found at http://csr.cisco.com/pages/community-partners.

Please accept our best wishes for success as you continue to provide your services.

Sincerely,
Cisco Public Benefit Investment Grant Evaluation Team

BDPA Chicago Program Meeting: 'Cryptocurrency, FinTech & Diversity' (January 2018)

2018-01-29T11:00:00.000-05:00

BDPA Chicago hosted a powerful panel discussion on 'Cryptocurrency, FinTech & Diversity' with chapter president John Coleman, Panel Moderator Pat Perkins and Panelists (Nicole Villa, Adrian Cortez, Linda N Lee, Hannah Rosenberg and Marquis Davis).

We encourage our Chicago-based supporters to check out program meetings offered by BDPA Chicago. We also invite you to support BDPA Chicago HSCC Scholarship Fund!

Grant Declination: Walmart Community Grant Request (BDPA Greater Tampa Bay)

2018-01-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked with BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter (president, Andrea Johnson) to submit a $2,500 grant proposal to the Walmart Community Grant Request. If approved, the grant would provide partial funding for the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in Tampa, FL.

Unfortunately, our grant proposal was declined. The declination letter read as follows:

Thank you for submitting a request, Request ID 38527597, to facility #3197 for a grant through the Walmart Community Grant Program. Your grant request was not selected for funding at this time.

The Community Grant Program is a competitive application. On average, we receive more than 150,000 applications from more than 65,000 local organizations striving to improve their communities each year. A number of variables may influence each funding decision. Common reasons grants may be declined include lack of: alignment with our focus areas, local connection with the store, program timing, limited resources and clarity of programmatic work within the facility community.

Thank you again for your interest in the Walmart Community Grant Program. We appreciate your efforts to help people live better and wish you success in your future endeavors. If you would like to learn more about all of Walmart’s giving programs, we encourage you to visit http://giving.walmart.com.

Sincerely,
The Walmart Community Grants Team

Vincent Shorter Encourages You to Support #BDPAFuture

2018-01-27T09:30:00.000-05:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud of our effort to raise funds for National BDPA. We encourage you to follow the lead of Terry Morris by using our BDPA Future account. We're proud that Vincent Shorter supported BETF's efforts with his video:

I encourage BDPA supporters to make a secure online donation to the #BDPAFuture Crowdrise effort. We seek to raise $250,000 by the end of March and we need your help. Doable?

BDPA Welcome Walgreens Sponsorship Highlighting Diversity and Inclusion

2018-01-18T12:15:00.000-05:00

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Walgreens joined National BDPA as a diversity and inclusion sponsor with its basic corporate sponsorship package by BDPA Job Board (www.ITDiversityCareers.com), corporate memberships and web banner and hosting the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) held in Chicago. Walgreens is the second-largest American pharmacy store chain in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A commitment to continuously improving diversity and inclusion has always been part of Walgreens DNA, and these values remain central to their cultural beliefs. By embracing and leveraging the rich diversity of Walgreens’ team members' backgrounds, experiences and insights, Walgreens is uniquely positioned to be the first choice for health and daily living for everyone.

Terry Morris, BDPA newly elected National President stated, "Walgreens and BDPA emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and the commitment to improving our communities. BDPA thanks you for your partnership and your daily assurance that diversity matters."

BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and David Wimberly to close the digital divide for underrepresented minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). BDPA has over 40 chapters nationwide with more than 2,500 STEM professional and student members. BDPA offers over $100,000 in scholarships annually to hundreds of high school and college students who wish to pursue STEM careers.

BDPA Chicago President Reggie Rush stated, "Walgreens diversity and inclusion efforts will continue to make room to support the technology community efforts BDPA has for 2018 and beyond!"

For more information on the 2018 National BDPA Technology Conference and Career Fair or a sponsorship, contact BDPA’s corporate sponsorship at (301) 584-3135 ext.108 or corpsales@bdpa.org. Also, please visit www.bdpa.org.

BDPA Commends BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan Bronze-Level Sponsorship

2018-01-17T13:30:00.000-05:00

BDPA recently commended #1 ranked BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan (BCBSM) for their bronze-level sponsorship of the 2018 National BDPA Technology Conference and Career Fair to be held August 9-11 in New Orleans, Louisiana. BCBSM has been recognized for their commitment to diversity and inclusion on the DiversityInc Top 11 Regional Company List. The DiversityInc benchmarking survey assesses a company’s performance versus all competitors overall and in four key areas of diversity management – Talent Pipeline, Talent Development, Leadership Accountability and Supplier Diversity. This year, BCBSM is the proud recipient of esteemed recognition and prominent awards related to its Diversity & Inclusion efforts including the 2017 Corporate PACEsetter Award.

“2017 was a banner year for BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan’s Diversity & Inclusion programs. As a result of our initiatives and policies, partnerships across the company, employee and leader engagement, and BlueCross’ Employee Resource Networks in promoting an inclusive culture, BCBSM continues to make great strides in furthering a diverse and inclusive culture. BDPA continues to play a crucial role in developing STEM and IT professionals while providing a healthy pipeline of diverse candidates to address the growing demand for technology professionals,” said Angela Williams, Director of Information Security at Blue Cross BlueShield of Michigan. “BlueCross is proud to support an organization that has been a pioneer in leading the upward success of their members ‘from the classroom to the boardroom'.”

BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and David Wimberly to close the digital divide for underrepresented minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). BDPA has over 40 chapters nationwide with more than 2,500 STEM professional and student members. BDPA offers over $100,000 in scholarships annually to hundreds of high school and college students who wish to pursue STEM careers.

Terry Morris, National BDPA President said, "Like BDPA, BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan is concerned with developing opportunities for a diverse and inclusive technology work environment. We thank you for your commitment to the BDPA partnership and your consistent effort to enable opportunities for diverse talent.”

For more information on the 2018 National BDPA Technology Conference or a sponsorship, contact BDPA’s corporate sponsorship at (301) 584-3135 ext.108 or corpsales@bdpa.org. Also, please visit www.bdpa.org.

2018-2019 National BDPA President is Terry Morris (Eli Lilly and Company)

2018-01-16T15:30:00.000-05:00

BDPA is pleased to introduce Terry Morris as the BDPA National President! Terry Morris has been a leader in technology at Eli Lilly and Company and an Indianapolis community servant since arriving nearly 17 years ago. At Lilly, he has been a strong technology advocate and leader in transitional areas such as Next Generation Develop. In addition to his core responsibilities, he has been a champion and leader in the people development and diversity efforts of Information Technology.

Terry, a Florida A&M University graduate, has been very engaged in various civic entities, such as Mt. Zion Apostolic Church where he serves as a trustee and leader for strategy and operations. Terry has been a member of BDPA for a decade, and most recently served as the Indianapolis chapter president (2014-16), helping to raise over $100k for high school and college student scholarship and program sponsorship. Terry has also been helping to transform the Indianapolis community by servicing on the Board of Directors for the Center for Congregations and the IUPUI Informatics Diversity-Enhanced Workforce Advisory Board.

Terry’s plan and vision for BDPA in 2018 are geared to both strengthen and transform BDPA by reshaping the experience of its constituency.

BDPA’s priorities are all about new experiences, growth in our strategic partnerships, and a strengthened operations. These goals can only be accomplished by transforming the way that we engage. Terry’s new endeavors such as tech talks, leadership discussions, and career dialogue on the 2nd and 4th Friday’s of every month do just that. BDPA is excited for the growth and transformation that lie ahead under the leadership of its new National President.

Grant Proposal: Rhode Island Foundation (BDPA Rhode Island)

2018-01-14T21:00:00.000-05:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked closely with the officers of the BDPA Rhode Island chapter to submit a grant proposal to the Rhode Island Foundation seeking $10,000 for the 2018 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. Our proposal was sent to the Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund. We should get an answer within three (3) months.

BETF is willing to work with any of the 46 local BDPA chapters to obtain the funding that they need to successfully deliver their 2018 SITES program. Simply reach out to the BETF executive director if you have questions or wish to discuss further.

Grant Declination: L Brands Foundation (BDPA New York)

2018-01-12T19:45:00.000-05:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) works hard to seek out grant funds to support BDPA programs on a local and national level. Sometimes we are successful, however, more often than not we get turned down. We share the information with you in either case. It is part of our commitment to be transparent to our donors and supporters.

BETF and BDPA New York worked together on a $5,000 grant proposal that we submitted late last year to the L Brands Foundation. We were disappointed to learn that our request has been turned down.

Here is the declination message that we received:

Dear Mr. Hicks,

Your request to support the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program of the New York Chapter has been received by L Brands Foundation. Because the level of community need far exceeds the funds available for grant-making, the Foundation faces many difficult choices. Unfortunately, your request was not fulfilled because it was not competitive against the other applications received or did not fit within our philanthropic focus outlined on our website. Thank you for your interest in L Brands Foundation and thank you for your efforts to improve your community.

Sincerely,
Janelle N. Coleman
President

BETF will continue to seek out funding sources that will smile favorably on our request for funds. Let us know if you have any thoughts or suggestions...

Grant Declination * New York Life Foundation (BDPA New York)

2018-01-11T20:15:00.000-05:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) works hard to seek out grant funds to support BDPA programs on a local and national level. Sometimes we are successful, however, more often than not we get turned down. We share the information with you in either case. It is part of our commitment to be transparent to our donors and supporters.

BETF and BDPA New York worked together on a $5,000 grant proposal that we submitted late last year to the New York Life Foundation. We were disappointed to learn that our request has been turned down.

Here is the declination message that we received:

Dear Mr. Hicks,

Your organization does not fit the Foundation's focus or geographical area.

Furthermore, we don’t accept unsolicited requests.

However, there may be an opportunity for funding through the Educational Grant Program "Aim High," which the Foundation funds. Click here for details of the program, application and contact info for questions: https://www.newyorklife.com/foundation/afterschool-alliance.

I've also included a FAQ sheet for your information.

Best of luck in finding the funding you're seeking.

Denise Zayas, Office Manager
New York Life Foundation

BETF will continue to seek out funding sources that will smile favorably on our request for funds. Let us know if you have any thoughts or suggestions...

Message from National BDPA President (January 2018)

2018-01-03T09:45:00.000-05:00

BDPA’s Future is now present. #BDPAFuture is our national platform and how we will be presenting our 2018 goals: Create New Experiences, Grow Strategic Partnerships, and Build a Stronger Operational Foundation.

Terry Morris

The Digital economy is here and BDPA and its membership will play a key role in how tech is developed around the world. To make this real, we must increase exposure of high tech innovations and real-world applications. We must also empower our membership and friends with the leadership skills and career passion necessary to thrive in this vibrant landscape.

We are introducing BDPA Digital as our capability to articulate the evolution of IT and Business Trends occurring in the Digital Landscape. These trends include Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, Robotic Automation, Wearables, Internet of Things, and Blockchain. These digital trends are built on an IT foundation of Security, User Experience, Operations, and Solution Delivery.

In addition to the BDPA Digital capability, we are launching a new focus on Leadership and Career Development. Many of our members have great skills and knowledge that need to be leveraged to the extreme of their potential. To aid your ability to reach your potential we are creating some focused attention on building your leadership foundation, including communication, influence, political awareness, performance management, etc...In addition, we are bringing a focus on career development to help our members chart and navigate the roadmap of their future whether they have corporate, non-profit, or entrepreneurial aspirations.

Our National Technology Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 9-11. We have also created two new channels to develop and expose our member to the tools and resources they need.

Leadership/Career Talks - On the Second Friday of each month from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm we will have leadership skills or career development talk aimed at helping you reach your full potential. This content will also be delivered by a strategic partner or experienced BDPA member.
Tech Talks - On the Fourth Friday of each month from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm we will have a tech talk from the High Tech industry or one of our BDPA members with deep experience in one of the BDPA Digital areas of focus.

In addition to what has already been shared, we are launching communities of practice in entrepreneurship, analytics, Security, and others over time. Stay tuned for additional press releases and posting about these new areas of focus.

For your youth and college students, we are looking to build upon the successes of our “Classroom to Boardroom” motto by enriching our current experiences (ie Mobile App Showcase, IT Showcase, HSCC, and YTC) using the BDPA Digital framework. We will be leveraging strategic partners in High Tech and Academia to created a modern and standardized experienced around the country. We are also reinvesting in our college chapter construct to create more continuity and opportunities for students, schools, and corporations alike.

BDPA is a great organization with a rich and profound legacy. We appreciate the sacrifices, investments, and efforts of our founders (David Wimberly and Earl Pace), previous national and local leadership, sponsorship, and of course the many members and students around the country.

BDPA has been primarily a membership and volunteer-based organization. This construct has made it difficult to always deliver consistently at optimal levels. However, with the increased focus on value to membership and stakeholders, the organization is poised and ready to experience #BDPAFuture now. The time to get engaged and stay engaged with BDPA is NOW!

If you aren’t a member, JOIN US
If you are a member, ENGAGE WITH US
If you are a partner, SUPPORT US

Click here for a welcome video from National President, Terry Morris.

Message from BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

2018-01-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year BDPA Members, Sponsors and Supporters!

Frank Hill

As incoming BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President, I first want to thank the chapter board of directors, led by Na'Shawnda (Mitchell) Peterson for continuing the tradition of strong chapter leadership. I would also like to recognize and thank Debbie Sanders for continuing in the vital role of VP-Finance for another term. I commit to continue the long history of BDPA service to the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky community during my term.

Over the years since I joined BDPA, I have observed that the organization has contributed to the professional growth of members through mentorship and developmental opportunities. I have seen reserved individual contributors develop skills in BDPA and rise to dynamic leadership roles in Corporate America.

I am particularly gratified by the growth of our student population through the Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) programs. I have personally seen how the BDPA experience has helped our students gain access to highly competitive education and technical opportunities. The following are a subset of recent SITES student achievements:

Yaw Asante led our National Competition Team and completed a software development internship at Children’s Hospital Medical Center last summer. Yaw received multiple BDPA scholarships. Yaw is currently attending Princeton University majoring in Computer Science.
Hasani Harrigan graduated HS 2016; attending Tuskegee University; majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Hasani received multiple BDPA scholarships. Hasani was awarded the University of Southern California Summer Research fellowship in the summer of 2017.
Mouhamadou Guisse graduated HS 2016 with a scholarship to Ohio State University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering
Adam Goines graduated HS 2016; attending University of Dayton majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Adam won the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship which provides for funding Bachelors through PhD
Hadiya Harrigan graduated HS 2015; attended Tuskegee University; received multiple BDPA Scholarships; recognized as one of the top 25 high school women in technology nationally and recognized as one of the top 10 Girl Scouts in the world for her Gold Project. Hadiya received internships from General Electric and Procter & Gamble.
Kamin Johnson graduated HS 2013; graduated Full Sail University with degree in Game Development; currently Software Game Developer at Even Holdings Inc. in Austin Texas.
Chidima Okafor graduated HS 2013; attended St Louis University; Completed BS double major in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Chidima is currently attending graduate school at the University of Cincinnati.

In a technology driven society, BDPA’s role is increasingly important to ensure that minorities gain access to the mentoring and training required to be successful in STEM related careers. I look forward to meeting all of you to formulate and execute strategies to further propel our community “From the Class Room to the Board Room”.

Have a great day!
Frank Hill, president
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

BDPA Congratuales CSRA Sponsorship

2017-12-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

BDPA congratulates CSRA (an IT Services Company) and Black Employee Resource Group for their strong commitment and leadership in helping students.

Black Employee Resource Group Co-Chair LaChandra Spencer said, "It has been an immense pleasure supporting BDPA student members. CSRA is focused on helping our U.S. government customers achieve their critical mission outcomes by leading them on the next stage of their digital journey. CSRA believes in building shared vision and next-generation partnerships with companies that enhance our information technology services and solutions.”

“Toward this end, our recent success stories are uniquely aligned to our tech industry, complex public-sector challenges, and defense industrial base requirements. As we celebrate our Chapter's 40th anniversary in 2018, National BDPA's Washington, D.C. chapter looks forward to CSRA's continued relationships with our student members and BDPA's youth technology alumni attending local universities. Our students continue to support technical program alignments and emerging workforce pipelines," added Perry Carter.

BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and David Wimberly to close the digital divide for underrepresented minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. BDPA has over 40 chapters nationwide with more than 2,500 STEM professional and student members. BDPA offers over $100,000 in scholarships annually to hundreds of high school and college students who wish to pursue STEM careers.

For more information on BDPA, contact BDPA’s corporate sponsorship office at (301) 584-3135 ext.108 or corpsales@bdpa.org. Please visit www.bdpa.org.

Grant Proposal: Express Scripts Foundation (BDPA St. Louis)

2017-12-03T13:30:00.000-05:00

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked closely with the officers of the BDPA St. Louis chapter to submit a grant proposal to the Express Scripts Foundation seeking $10,000 for the 2018 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. We hope to have an answer by March 2018.

Diversity is an important enabler of the inclusive company culture at Express Scripts, and they gain strength from the amazing tapestry of employee perspectives and experiences. Diversity goes beyond surface human characteristics – fundamentally, we’re all diverse in our backgrounds, beliefs and interests, and in how we think, work and live. Because Express Scripts embrace diversity and inclusion, their employees can be honest and open about who they are, and can bring their “whole self” to work.

Express Scripts is proud to have been named a leader among Fortune 25 companies with a workforce that is 69% female and 39% minority. Over 45% of it's leaders (director level or higher) are female and our commitment to diversity has been publicly recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (100% on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index) and by DiversityInc (listed as top 25 noteworthy company for 2016).

BETF is willing to work with any of the 46 local BDPA chapters to obtain the funding that they need to successfully deliver their 2018 SITES program. Simply reach out to the BETF executive director if you have questions or wish to discuss further.