In this economy, many African Americans in technology are concerned about opportunities for both employment and advancement. It is important to recognize exceptional companies that provide African Americans with challenging and fulfilling career opportunities in Information Technology. The Best Companies for Blacks in Technology are announced each year and recognize the outstanding achievements of companies who have demonstrated a commitment to people and an understanding that Diversity has a bottom line business case value.
BDPA Epsilon Awards Recognizing Outstanding Achievement are awarded to companies and technologists who are nominated by BDPA Chapters or sponsor government organizations, companies and corporations.
TheBDPA Greater ColumbiaHigh School Computer Training Program (HSCTP) will start up on Saturday, March 12, 2011 and run through Saturday, July 23, 2011. The first class has an orientation hour starting at 8:30am. All students and at least one parent are requested to attend. Class will then start at approximately 9:30am and go to 1:30pm.
Hung Vois a young man who understands the value of his BDPA student membership. He joinedBDPA Atlanta chapterin 2008.Since that time he earned three (3) scholarships from BDPA to support his college education at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The scholarships earned by Hung are:
BDPA-Oracle Scholarship, 2011
BDPA-Oracle Scholarship, 2010
Eli Lilly Scholarship for BDPA Students, 2009
Hung shared hisBDPA testimonialwith us back in 2009.He updates the story today.
Dawud Roman is a student member of ourBDPA Baton Rouge chapter.He regularly attends the computer camp sessions hosted by his chapter on Saturdays.
BDPA Baton Rouge co-founderGlenda Chappell wrote,
"Dawud Roman is one of our students here in Baton Rouge. He is a middle school student who is always actively participating in class, and does extra research outside of class. He has presented to our membership at a program meeting, after making this presentation to the class.
He is one of our brightest up and coming, and we are so PROUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
We are proud to shareDawud's technology presentationwith our blog readers as well!
A new report published by Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) provide the findings of year-long research project that looked at how computer science education standards were reflected in current state standards and the results are both startling and worrisome.
Running on Empty: The Failure to Teach K-12 Computer Science in the Digital Agefinds that roughly two-thirds of the country have few computer science education standards for secondary school education, and most states treat high school computer science courses as simply an elective and not part of a student's core education. The results are particularly shocking because computer science and the technologies it enables now lie at the heart of our economy, our daily lives, and scientific enterprise. As the digital age has transformed the world and workforce, U.S. K-12 education has fallen woefully behind in preparing students with the fundamental computer science knowledge and skills they need for future success. To be a well-educated citizen as we move toward an ever-more computing-intensive world and to be prepared for the jobs of the 21st Century, students must have a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of computer science.
The Howard University Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (HU MSEIP) is hosting its second annual summer camp from June 19 - July 14, 2011.
Please encourage rising students who will be classified as seniors in the 2011-12 school year to consider applying to take advantage of this opportunityto participate in this program. The uniqueness of the program is based on the continual engagement in web based research throughout the academic year with the guidance of research mentors. HU MSEIP will host this program with the intention of providing high school students an opportunity to explore the sciences, engineering, and mathematics.
In conjunction with Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), the Empowering Leadership Alliance (ELA) is startingan initiative to reach out to high school seniors interested in computing fields before they matriculate on their respective university campuses.
ELA is an NSF-funded program that engages underrepresented minority (URM) students in computing disciplines at research institutions in a nationwide network composed of leading universities including Rice University, UC Berkeley, and UT Austin.
The Computer Science Collaboration Project (CSCP) Program Directory lists organizations and programs that focus on motivating underrepresented youth to pursue careers in computer science.
The purpose of theCSCP Program Directoryis to help organizations and individuals network, share resources, and collaborate on computer science related projects. The Directory contains Program descriptions, resources available within each organization, Program or organization needs, and contact information. Submitted entries undergo review and verification prior to publication.
This past week I attended theBest Practices Conference (BPC) for SharePointin La Jolla, California. This is a 3-day conference that discusses not only "how'” to do things in SharePoint, but also asks the question "should you”.
It's that very question – "should you” – that I think is makes this particular conference so important. As more organizations ‘implement' (there's a loaded word) SharePoint in their environment, there is a danger of falling into the belief that a Click Next wizard and knowing how to get to Site Actions means you're good-to-go. In fact, there are a ton of questions along each step of the way that we need to ask in order to discover how best to use & configure SharePoint for our particular needs, while leveraging and complementing the functionality that SharePoint was meant to provide. Each presentation in the BPC was meant to try to give a small slice of that answer, centered around audiences ranging from End Users to Developers.
The organizations on our list know that hiring diverse employees and leveraging differences sharpen their competitive edge.
Regaining its footing after one of the worst economic downturns in our nation's history, corporate America continues to shift its strategic priorities. Black Enterprise has found that a disturbingly high number of C-suite executives have scratched diversity from their action plans. Recently we highlighted results of a two-year global study, Developing the 21st Century Leader (See "Global Diversity Ranks Last,” Diversity Watch, May 2010). Conducted by the consulting group AchieveGlobal, the study ranked six areas critical to leadership success. Business initiatives to drive profits ranked No. 1. Diversity fell dead last.
2011 National BDPA Conference Registration Now Open
Please accept our invitation to join us in the City of the Big Shoulders by registering for the 33rd Annual National BDPA Conference, August 3-6, 2011 at the Hilton Chicago.
Early bird registration for $350 now open!
Click here to register for the 2011 National BDPA Conference today!
PS: Please share this information with your friends, co-workers, church members, etc so that they can help us pass the word. The key is that we must share what we know with others so we can all grow and prosper.
To: BDPAMembers, Chapter Presidents, Government Organizations, and Corporate Sponsors
In this economy, many African Americans in technology are concerned about opportunities for bothemployment and advancement. It is important to recognize exceptional companies that provide African Americans with challenging and fulfilling career opportunities in Information Technology. TheBest Companies for Blacks in Technologyare announced each year and recognize the outstanding achievements of companies who have demonstrated a commitment to people and an understanding that Diversity has a bottom line business case value.
BDPA Epsilon Awards Recognizing Individual Achievementare awarded to technologists who are nominated by BDPA Chapters or sponsor government organizations, companies and corporations. BDPA Epsilon Awards go to individuals nominated by BDPA sponsor companies or BDPA Chapters in the following five categories:
in the following five categories:
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION
COMMUNITY SERVICE
MOST PROMISING TECHNOLOGIST
The Epsilon Awards Selection Panel is looking for role models, people who can inspire both young people and professionals. We look for "first African-American" stories.
Would you like to nominate someone for the prestigious BDPA Epsilon AwardReocognizing Individual Acheivement? Please clickthis linkto register for the program (http://www.bdpa.org/?page=EpsilonAwardsReg) and request a nominaton packet.
Epsilon Awards Program Schedule:
Registration opens byMarch 1st
Register for the program and request nomination packet byMarch 15th
Submit completed nomination packet byApril 15th
Best Companies for Blacks in Technology and Individual Epsilon Winners announced byMay 15th
BDPA Foundation Blog pauses to share memories of one of
our fallen leaders, Ollie Morgan, who passed away on Monday, March 2, 2009 in
Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Ollie Morgan is a legend within the BDPA family. Ollie served on the national
BDPA board of directors for a number of years as BDPA Chicago chapter president,
national president and immediate past president. Over the past decade he was
an
author and photographer
living out his dreams in New Mexico.
Francisco Nunez
holds a unique position within the 25-year history of the BDPA High School
Computer Competition (HSCC) championships for two reasons. First,
he may be the first student to ever compete in five (5) different HSCC
championships. Second, he is the
only student to ever represent 3 different BDPA chapters in the national
championships.
Syed Azfar (HSCC
Alumni, 2004-2006) created this
slideshow of testimonials from a variety of HSCC Alumni who competed in the
national high school computer competition championships between 1998-2008.
A number of these students earned Jesse Bemley Scholarships from the BDPA
Education and Technology Foundation (BETF).
There are over 50
testimonials available on the BETF website ... and we would love to add
more.
Nazir Hassan was
part of the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team trained by
BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter. He
participated in national championships held in Washington DC (2000) and Chicago
(2001). He agreed to share his memory of the HSCC experience with us.
My memory is not the greatest, but I do have some advice.
I do remember that it was quite an amazing experience and that it was one of the
first times that I had gone out of town without my parents so I was slightly
nervous but extremely excited throughout the whole trip. Not only was it a
competition but a life changing experience.
BDPA is proud to announce the winners of the BDPA Oracle
Scholarship. The winners will each receive up to $5,000 stipend to further their
education in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) related
field of undergraduate study.
The following are the 2011 scholarship recipients, including their BDPA chapter
affiliation:
BDPA Cleveland chapter holds the distinction of being the
3rd chapter ever created in BDPA-Nation. The chapter has
a long and proud history. As such, it is truly an honor to introduce you
to the 2010-2011 BDPA Cleveland chapter president --
Henry A. Wiggins.
Henry stepped in as Interim President in 2010. He agreed to
carry out the leadership responsibilities until the chapter holds its next
election. Over the past year, Henry brought several speakers to uplift the
members, giving then information on seeking employment, social networking,
technical recycling, and community involvement. Henry is also working
closely with the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF)
to raise scholarship funds for
the student members in his chapter.
Renetta English is This Year's BDPA New York Chapter
Prez. Members of the BDPA New York chapter have elected Renetta English
to serve as 2011-2012 chapter president. English has been a member of BDPA since
2004 and served in several leadership roles. In 2008 she was the New York
chapter's HR director. Last year she was the chapter's VP of membership
management; chapter membership grew by thirty percent during her tenure.
BDPA has some remarkable African American women in its
ranks. We boast Nubian queens with outstanding skills operating within the
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields ... from the
classroom to the boardroom ... from young 'uns like Brandee Lyles to full-blown
technology divas like Stephanie Lampkin or Lydia Barron or Diane Davis.
However, there are many obstacles for African American
women in the IT industry. African American women earned only 0.34% of Ph.D.s
in computer science and 0.58% in engineering, as of 2006, according to the
Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology.
Well, it’s been a whole week with my HP Slate 500 table pc,
and I feel like I’m starting to get my tablet swag back. :) Initially the
pen writing felt awkward because it’s been a while since I’ve used a tablet on a
daily basis, but I feel my rhythm returning.
So, as any respectable geek would do, I started looking at
ways to customize and
personalize my Slate – in other words, what can I do to trick out my tablet
pc? In addition to picking
a nice subtle wallpaper for my desktop, I decided to customize the native
Flick Gestures that come with Windows 7. These gestures allow me to
‘flick’ my finger quickly in 1 of 8 different directions, and perform a task as
a result.
The Monster Diversity Leadership Program (DLP)
is now accepting applications for its 2011 tour. Since 2002, Monster.com has
brought together more than 13,000 college sophomores, juniors and seniors of
diverse backgrounds for this unique, three-day weekend event which focuses on
leadership and career development and provides attendees with the opportunity to
network with some of the top employers in the country.
The cost of room and board is covered by the program
sponsors, so attendees only need to pay for their travel expenses – and the
DLP offers a $50 travel voucher to attendees who complete the program.
This offer is not available for students with F1 visa.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
is
awarding 12 full scholarships (tuition, room and board) to
highly talented students majoring in Computer Science or Information Technology
and Systems. Criteria for selection includes: strength of curriculum and
academic performance, SAT/ACT scores, supplemental essay, demonstrated financial
need, U.S. citizen, and full-time enrollment at Marist starting Fall 2010.
Thank you all for believing in the network and the power of
working together. This is a great honor to be nominated in the same category as
the past nominees who inspired me. I am EXTREMELY grateful for the
opportunity to serve YOU and YOUR Business. My mentors (past nominees) of Elohim
CleaningContractors and Top of the Clock have inspired me along with the
mentors (some up close and some afar) of Della Clarke, Jacqueline Hill, Sulaiman
Rahman, Melinda Emerson, and Tara Colquitt (who is also a client).
The Internet has fast become the place to go to for all of
our needs. Who uses yellow pages anymore? Don’t you just look it up
online? How about when your kids need to write a report, do they open up
an encyclopedia like their parents did when they were in school? Nope,
they go to the Internet for that too. Heck, you don’t even need to watch
your favorite show on the TV anymore. You can watch it on the Internet.
So what do you do when you have a question about technology? Why, you go
to the Internet, of course! Check out these 10 Internet shows all about
technology.
Part of your college tuition grants you access to some of
the most cutting-edge technology and research in the world. From journal
subscriptions to reference e-books to high-tech computers, you have all kinds of
resources to help you with your school work, and won’t have to pay extra for any
of it. Whether you’re an online
student or living in the dorms, here are 10 impressive college computer labs
you’ll want to check out for inspiration. Just don’t get too jealous.
2011 National BDPA
Conference Registration Now Open
Please accept our invitation to join us in the City of
the Big Shoulders by registering for the 33rd Annual National BDPA
Conference, August 3-6, 2011 at the Hilton Chicago.
Early bird registration for $350 now open!
Click here to register for the 2011 National BDPA
Conference today!
PS: Please share this information with your friends,
co-workers, church members, etc so that they can help us pass the word. The key
is that we must share what we know with others so we can all grow and prosper.
Location: OSI-New York Event Date: February 28, 2011 Event Time: 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Join Randal D. Pinkett, PhD, MBA, and leaders in philanthropy, education, community building, and social entrepreneurship as they discuss strategies for Black men and boys to "redefine the game" at work, at home, and in their communities. The event is hosted by the Open Society Campaign for Black Male Achievement, in partnership with the Association of Black Foundation Executives, the 21st Century Foundation and the Schott Foundation for Public Education Black Male Donor Collaborative.
In this economy, many African Americans in technology are concerned about opportunities for both employment and advancement. It is important to recognize exceptional companies that provide African Americans with challenging and fulfilling career opportunities in Information Technology. The Best Companies for Blacks in Technology are announced each year and recognize the outstanding achievements of companies who have demonstrated a commitment to people and an understanding that Diversity has a bottom line business case value.
BDPA Epsilon Awards Recognizing Outstanding Achievement are awarded to companies and technologists who are nominated by BDPA Chapters or sponsor government organizations, companies and corporations.
Over 130 High School & College Students throughout the North Carolina region attended the 20th annual Minority Student Day hosted in Charlotte, NC by Blacks @ Microsoft (BAM). A number of BDPA Charlotte chapter members were in attendance, including the chapter president Julius Clark and chapter president-elect Markus Beamer.
The Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) program has been in existence for 25 years. This is an intensive program designed to identify, select and foster professional and computer programming skills of 9th through 12th graders.
The goal of the SITES program is to teach students how to use computer software to solve business problems. Students will be coached on how to conduct themselves in a professional manner. They will learn how to analyze a problem, and design and implement a solution. They will learn how to lead and participate as effective members of a team.
BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) joins with the rest of BDPA-Nation in congratulating past national BDPA president Renee McClure for the recognition that she is receiving later today from the Women United in Philanthropy.
Renee is being honored at the fifth annual 'Power of Women to Make a Difference' Awards Luncheon as one of New York City’s most dedicated women working to make a difference in the lives of these children.
With every passing year, technology grows in leaps and bounds. From smart phones to I-Pads, it’s become a daily chore to keep up with each advance. Unfortunately, as with a host of things, those with less money are often left in the wake of such advances, playing catch up with each change. As highlighted by Aaron Smith, a Pew Internet Project Senior Research Specialist, in his September 2010 report, "Technology Trends Among People Of Color”, within the past decade, "African Americans have made up substantial ground in the last year when it comes to home broadband adoption.”
COLUMBIA, SC - February 16, 2011 - Congratulations to Jerron Jamerson, the winner of the first annual BDPA IT-oLogy scholarship. IT-oLogy is the new program of the Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management, a 501 (c)(3) organization formed in 2009 as a collaborative effort between IT companies and educational institutions to advance IT talent from the classroom to the boardroom.
Jamerson was selected based on the quality of his application, essay and letters of recommendation. In his essay, Jerron wrote, "Continuous advances in computer science have helped to make business processes more efficient and technology more cost effective for consumers, while computer applications become more and more user-friendly.” Jamerson is a senior at Phillip O’Berry Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina and plans to study Computer Science at South Carolina State University.
BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) wants to introduce you to an amazing 13-year old African American student, Stephen Stafford. This young squire is a mathematics and science prodigy who was home-schooled by his mother before being accepted into Morehouse College. He is currently in his second year and doing quite well.
Well, after quite a long wait, my HP Slate 500 has finally arrived. As I’m sure you already know, I’ve been a tablet PC user & evangelist for years. But this latest incarnation for me represents a form factor and price point that I’ve been waiting for a long time.
Expect to see many posts in the near future regarding my Slate 500 experiences. For now, you can start to do your research on just what the Slate 500 is by checking outHP’s promotional video. I’ll say for now, tho, that this device is targeted at business users, and not the consumer market. Thus, it shouldn’t be compared to the iPad or any of the other tablet ‘appliances’ coming out these days. Nevertheless, I’ll be sure to point out some of the advantages of a Windows 7 tablet ‘PC’ over devices like the iPad, simply because I love to expose the smoke-n-mirrors marketing that has everyone convinced that Apple products are the best. :)
How do you measure the ROI (return on investment) on a business network? ROI comes in many shapes and sizes but the most common measurement techniques are time and money. These techniques work in any relationship. How you spend your time and money determines the value. If you join a network but dedicate no time - then you have thrown your money out the window. Invest in your network - that is the only way it can pay dividends!
PS: Please share this information with your friends, co-workers, church members, etc so that they can help us pass the word. The key is that we must share what we know with others so we can all grow and prosper.
When you do an Internet search on the acronym "BDPA" you often find the following statement:
"Black Data Processing Associates was founded by Earl A. Pace, Jr. and David Wimberly in May 1975."
I think it's fair to say that everyone in BDPA knows about Mr. Pace.
On the other hand, we know very little about David Wimberly. Think about it. Have you ever seen a photo of Mr. Wimberly? All that we know about him is that he joined Earl Pace to create BDPA back in May 1975.
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.
Todd Q. Adams is a long-time BDPA Cleveland chapter member. He is also a sustainable communities strategist with a focus on public interest projects in the areas of Smart Grid, public safety, transportation, education, and Health IT. He shared a strong message for all African American information technology (IT) professionals ... including those of us in BDPA. I encourage you to read and consider what Todd has to say.
This week is Black Family Technology Awareness Week. The Black Family Technology Awareness Week campaign is aimed at helping those Black families who aren’t taking full advantage of today’s technologies.
If you do the research and dig a little deeper it is not hard to see this is most black families. The digital divide these days is less about access and more about use.
The work being done with this program is crucial. I am especially inspired by the idea to focus the program within the family unit. The family should be the approach we take with many of the problems facing our communities. It places us at the center and situates us in a position of power.
Network World — It's time for a change. Across the board, the IT job market is showing promising signs of life, and IT pros who stayed in less-than-ideal jobs during the recession are jumping at a chance to move their careers forward.
"The IT employment market has definitely improved and is continuing to improve every month and every quarter," says John Reed, executive director of Robert Half Technology. Of CIOs surveyed by the staffing firm, 11% said they plan to add IT staff in the current quarter, up from 9% in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Please accept our invitation to join us in the City of the Big Shoulders by registering for the 33rd Annual National BDPA Conference, August 3-6, 2011 at the Hilton Chicago.
Early bird registration for $350 now open!
Click here to register for the 2011 National BDPA Conference today!
PS: Please share this information with your friends, co-workers, church members, etc so that they can help us pass the word. The key is that we must share what we know with others so we can all grow and prosper.
BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) encourages you to use your birthday to change the world! We all get things we don’t need for our birthdays, why not use this special occasion to raise money for a cause you really care about? This feature allows any Facebook user to create a Birthday Wish and ask their friends to donate to the cause of their choice as a birthday present.
We are pleased to announce thatCIGNA Foundation recently awarded a $2,500 grant to the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF). The grant funds will be used for the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in Philadelphia, PA. BDPA Philadelphia will train 24 students in this program. Many of these students will be taken to the 2011 BDPA Youth Technology Camp in Chicago, IL. In the end, the top five students are selected to represent Philadelphia in the 26th annual National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) to be held August 3-6, 2011.
Perry Carter and the folks at bdpatoday are to be commended for taking time to create this slideshow commemorating the efforts of BDPA over the past decade. The slideshow features photos taken at local, regional and national events over the past decade. It pays tribute to BDPA corporate sponsors and shows the impact that the organization is having in a wide range of information technology industry niches.
I cannot believe that it is already February and we are celebrating Black History Month. This is the month that BDPA New York will host our annual Black Family Technology Awareness Event, in recognition of Black Family Technology Awareness Week. I am so excited and looking forward to seeing you on Feb 26th at the Abundant Life Christian Center in Brooklyn, NY, as we share the importance of Education, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Careers with the community.
Last month, we had a very successful Meet and Greet on January 19th at the Empire Hotel Rooftop in New York. Members and guests had the opportunity to meet and mingle with myself, and the rest of our 2011 Executive Board, and learn more about what our chapter has planned for 2011.
I had a great time hanging with the members of theDayton SharePoint User Group this past Tuesday. We discussed "Business Process Automation with SharePoint and Workflow – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”. I talked about how the tools and development experience of automating process using SharePoint have improved in SharePoint 2010 (the Good) versus SharePoint 2007 (the Bad, the Ugly). [I gave them the disclaimer that the "Bad” and "Ugly” bit was just for effect – MOSS 2007 is still awesome] :)
I then showed the demo of designing workflow using one of my favorite workflow products, Nintex. Kudos to Nintex for providing the virtual demonstration environment to its partners like ICC – I was able to access a fully-loaded SharePoint environment and do a hands-on demo of Nintex for the folks at DaySPUG.
How do you measure the ROI (return on investment) on a business network? ROI comes in many shapes and sizes but the most common measurement techniques are time and money. These techniques work in any relationship. How you spend your time and money determines the value. If you join a network but dedicate no time - then you have thrown your money out the window. Invest in your network - that is the only way it can pay dividends! Just attend a couple of events and refer a few clients to your network. Thank youDavid Simmswho referred Beckett Concepts andPhiladelphia Diamond Company. Thank youKen Blackwho then referredOmega Optical. That is how WE GROW!
With more than 80 million users worldwide, LinkedIn has established itself as the premier social networking site for professionals. If you're job searching, looking to broaden your network or hunting for new partnerships, these 10 tips and tricks will propel you toward success.
PS: Please share this information with your friends, co-workers, church members, etc so that they can help us pass the word. The key is that we must share what we know with others so we can all grow and prosper.
This document provides menu of opportunities for any corporation that wishes to invest in BDPA at local, national or conference levels.
This is ideal information for corporations of ANY size ... from a sole proprietorship to a Fortune 100 company!
For more info on creating a corporate relationship with BDPA you can contact its Corporate Sales Department directorRobert Gavinby emailor phone (301.584-3135).
BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud to be administering a$25,000 grantfrom the American Honda Foundation (AHF).One of the objectives of the grant funding is to have a greater impact around the nation with the BDPA Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program.
BDPA chapters are encouraged to implement high school computer camps for students that are interested in gaining knowledge of a variety of science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) topics.There were at least five BDPA computer camps operational last Saturday, January 29. These five camps were hosted by BDPA chapters inChicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Rhode Island. There were 74 students who braved the inclement weather conditions to attend these computer camps.
Black Family Technology Awareness Week, also known as BFTAW, is a national public awareness campaign designed to encourage more African Americans to incorporate technology into their daily lives. BFTAW occurs annually during the month of February, to coincide with Black History Month. Our event is scheduled for Saturday, February 26, 2011, from 10:30 am – 3:30pm at the Abundant Life Christian Center, located at 32 East 98th Street between East New York and Sutter Avenues, in Brooklyn, NY. Our day of workshops will focus on helping bridge the gap between black families and technology. By showcasing science and technology in a fun and interactive way, we endeavor to motivate more minority students to pursue careers in these fields. It's also an exciting time for students and families as they spend a full day immersed in a variety of fun and interactive workshops.
Perry Carterand the folks atbdpatodayare to be commended for taking time to createthis slideshow commemorating the efforts of BDPA over the past decade.The slideshow features photos taken at local, regional and national events over the past decade. It pays tribute to BDPA corporate sponsors and shows the impact that the organization is having in a wide range of information technology industry niches.
Wetold you earlierabout the success ofZack Garbowas the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) coordinator forBDPA Southern Minnesota chapter. The HSCC students trained by Zack have won the national championship in 5 of the past 6 years. Whatever Zack is doing in Rochester, Minnesota is working ... and perhaps it's time for the other 44 chapters to look to him for some 'best practice' advice.
BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) has given out over $344,000 inscholarshipssince 1999.The vast majority of these scholarships go to young people who compete in the BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships each year. These high-performing students earnJesse Bemley Scholarships.
Gregory Chambers is a Bemley Scholar.He was a member of the HSCC team trained byBDPA Hartford chapterthat earned the silver medal in the2005 HSCC championshipsheld in Detroit. Gregory used his scholarship to defray the cost of his education at Tufts University. He is currently aweb and database developer.
BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) seeks to find the funding to support the BDPA IT Corps.BDPA IT Corpsaims to broaden the experience and professional preparation of its student and member participants through technology-based problem solving and cultural exchange between communities in the United States and other developing nations.
This is truly a global initiative for BDPA -- think of it as a 'Peace Corps' opportunity for the information technology (IT) professional.
BDPA Richmond chapteris pleased to announce the start of its Annual High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Program! The goal of this exciting training and competition is to increase our youth's interest in information technology.
BDPA Richmond is now recruiting rising 9th to 12th grade students to enroll in the HSCC Program. The program provides an environment where high school students have an opportunity to compete on an academic level and showcase their technical skills and creativity. Selected students receive several weeks of introductory and advanced training in computer technologies such as HTML, ASP.NET, and relational databases. Participating students also gain essential skills such as presentation delivery and teamwork.
On Tuesday, I'll be the guest speaker at theDayton SharePoint User Group (www.dayspug.org). I'll be speaking onBusiness Process Management/Automation using SharePoint and Workflow.
As I consider this topic, I thought I might share someguidance on the process of automating your organization's business processes, regardless of whether you use SharePoint or any other automation technology. Anyone who has endured the fun of auditing, documenting, and ultimately automating the way in which their company does things will tell you that the planning side of it is just as significant, if not more so, than the technical implementation.
Here are some tips that could help you and your team have a smoother and less frustrating experience.
BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) continues to work withTech Corps OhioandTech Corps Texasto create a national pilot program forTechie Campsthat would take place in June-July 2011. Our vision is to have 10 classes -- 2 each in 5 cities - one class for elementary school students, the other class for middle school students. 20 students in each class -- the student is responsible for $350 tuition to attend Techie Camp. Two BDPA instructors for each class who would be paid a stipend for their week in these 40-hour (M-F) Techie Camps. There are four existing curriculum for BDPA to choose from --programming,web development,roboticsorandroid mobile applications, however, we are going to limit the 2011 summer pilot program to only programming or web development.
We have targeted five cities for the pilot program:Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Philadelphia (or No. Delaware) and Washington DC. We have heard back from the chapter presidents in Cincinnati, Dallas and Washington DC. These 3 chapters are on-board and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is being drafted to share with these 3 chapters. We have not heard back yet from Philadelphia (or No. Delware) or Chicago chapter as of the typing of this update.
Android Is Now the Most Popular Smartphone Platform. Global sales of Android phones in the fourth quarter of 2010 was 33.3 million... READ FULL STORY
The Web Academy is Teaching Google Android App Inventor
Course Description: An introduction Google Android App Inventor allows you to create simple applications for the Android smart phone. You do not have to have a programming background because App Inventor uses "drag and drop" module blocks for application development. An Android phone is not necessary because you can build applications in the Google Android App Inventor Emulator.
Maybe you've seen the recentbackandforthdiscussions about Google's search quality from the A-list. It has created enough buzzGoogle even responded. Perhaps you are wondering why everyone seems so upset? Or maybe you have no clue what I'm talking about and have been enjoying a high quality search experience, ignoring the early adopter pontification.
Either way, the truth is most people think search engines do a good job.
Asurveyreported by Search Engine Land shows this nicely – 89% of users are satisfied with their search results (and a big0%say poor):
There are some jobs that don't hold as much appeal today as they did a few years ago, and unfortunately, the IT industry is home to most of them. It's a pity that this is the state of affairs, but the fact is that the dotcom crash and the economic crisis that followed soon after did nothing to boost the reputation of the IT industry. However, the fact is that the world thrives on technology, and without it, life as we know it would come to a screeching standstill. So as long as technology exists and continues to advance, there will always be a demand for skilled IT professionals. However, if you're planning to make a career for yourself in this industry, here's what you should know.
If you like to create and explore, open courses online are a great way to improve your DIY skills. Whether you're interested in computers, science, art, or other creative subjects, there's something for you to find. Check out these online college courses to learn about advanced topics in DIY.
Please accept our invitation to join us in the City of the Big Shoulders by registering for the 33rd Annual National BDPA Conference, August 3-6, 2011 at the Hilton Chicago.
Early bird registration for $350 now open!
Click here to register for the 2011 National BDPA Conference today!
PS: Please share this information with your friends, co-workers, church members, etc so that they can help us pass the word. The key is that we must share what we know with others so we can all grow and prosper.
BETF-Blog Readers, would you like to see
information about programs and services being offered all over BDPA nation?Here
are some recent newsletters issued from around the country:
We celebrate the
15th anniversary of the 1996 National BDPA High School Computer Competition
(HSCC) Championship this year.BDPA Detroit chaptertook home the gold
medal that year. However, there was a scrappy team fromRichmond, Virginiain
the national HSCC championships that year. The members of that team wereSunday
Jones, Anton Luddington, Khalif Oliver, Deneen Webster and Joi Younger. The
BDPA Richmond HSCC team finished in 5th place ... the highest finish in the
history of the chapter.
We asked Khalif to share his
reflections on BDPA and his HSCC training. Here is what he had to say:
Does your family have a technology plan? Next month isNational
Black Family Technology Awareness Week (February 13 – February 19). In light
of that, I began wondering how many black families actually have a household
technology plan. Many of us have plans for everything in our household. Why not
a technology plan?
We have budgets, which is nothing more than a plan for your money. We have
health plans. Some of us spend a great deal of money monthly for expensive gym
memberships in attempt to stay in shape and lead a healthier lifestyle. But how
many of us have a technology plan?
Tech news, events, social comments and BDPA local and
National information.
Five finalists have been chosen in a federally sponsored
contest to create the next generation of hash algorithms for IT.A federally
sponsored contest seeks to develop next-generation hash algorithms. One of five
new algorithms, chosen from among an original field of 64, will be used for
everything from storage access to cryptography—making it a key instrument in the
toolbox of modern IT organizations.
Hash algorithms improve data storage access times, provide random number
generation, ensure the authenticity of digital documents—from digital signatures
to authentication codes—as well as streamline cryptographic applications. The
contest winner will augment the hash algorithms currently specified in Federal
Information Processing Standards Secure Hash Standard, authorizing a
third-generation of Secure Hash Algorithms (called SHA-3).
The Central Illinois chapter of Black Data Processing
Associates will sponsor an information technology showcase Jan. 29 at Heartland
Community College’s Workforce Development Center, 1500 W. Raab Road. The free
event is open to students and community members.
"This event is for more than just minorities,”
Javelin Lawrence, vice president of BDPA, said in a statement. "We hope to
attract any and all high school students in McLean County who are interested in
developing and sharing their IT expertise.”
I must start this post acknowledging that I have not
written to my group of leaders in awhile.
Why? I lost my mojo for encouraging leaders to show up and
demonstrate your ability to collaborate and communicate with passion. I have
spent a 30 year career encouraging and supporting leaders who desire to
demonstrate a collaborative leadership style for the purpose of working
effectively with otherpeople to get the job done.
Yet, I am finding that those same good leaders are losing
their jobs like mad. So as a leadership expert, it makes me wonder what doesit
really take to have a successful career in this new mad world that has been
created over the last couple of years?
Dice.com just released the results of their
salary survey of nearly 20,000 IT professionals taken last fall. You can see a
summary of the results on
eWeek. This survey is self-selecting, but I think you can still draw some
conclusions from the results, one of the main conclusions being that you need to
know Java.
No matter how many people say that it is a candidate’s
market out there, it sometimes feels like no one wants you – especially if you
aren’t entry level anymore, but aren’t quite mid-level yet either.
If you are a year or two out of college, you are switching
careers, or you have taken a break since your last job, chances are it is going
to be tough finding a new job. Before coming to FastUpFront, I worked for a few
years as a recruiter. I know that recruiters don’t like these types of
candidates so much, and that you might need to look at alternate avenues – job
boards cheapen you to prospective employers and recruiters will ignore you.
Everyone who is on a job search has different preferences
however, for practical reasons, your job search can’t be longer than what is
reasonable. Unfortunately, many job seekers aren’t aware of the intricacies
involved in the recruitment process of any organization which can result in
longer job search lead times. The second unfortunate thing is that a good
percentage of these job seekers have wrong ideas, or worse yet, overestimation
of their skills and abilities. This can result in total failure at the
prescreening stage.
If you've recently lost your job or are considering making
a change, you may want to jump right into your job search. But before you start,
you need a plan. Have you thought about these first steps?
The iSchool Inclusion Institute (i3) is a bold new project
headquartered at the University of Pittsburgh with the support of the Andrew W.
Mellon Foundation. i3 is a series of summer institutes and projects designed to
introduce all undergraduates, regardless of class standing.to the challenges and
opportunities available within the Information Sciences. i3 aims to create the
next generation of leaders to ensure that the Information Sciences discipline
and professions reflect the face of the population. Our field needs the full
spectrum of perspectives and creativity to address society’s needs.
New Web site GoBlackbook.com Hopes To Be The New Tech Hit
By: ANN BROWN
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
GoBlackbook.com is looking to become the place where black
professionals meet and mingle. And while principals of the recently launched
site say it is not comparing itself to Facebook or LinkedIN, they want to become
THE place for blacks to network.Launched just a month ago, the Chicago-based
site boasts nearly 50,000 members, says founder/CEO James Parker.
Please accept our invitation to join us in the City of
the Big Shoulders by registering for the 33rd Annual National BDPA
Conference, August 3-6, 2011 at the Hilton Chicago.
Early bird registration for $350 now open!
Click here to register for the 2011 National BDPA
Conference today!
PS: Please share this information with your friends,
co-workers, church members, etc so that they can help us pass the word. The key
is that we must share what we know with others so we can all grow and prosper.
The 2011 conference is rapidly approaching, and we are
gearing upto take thisexciting eventtonew heights in Chicago! We are
actively seekingpresenterswho will...
Ignite,InspireandEmpower:
our conference workshopattendees and equip them with the
necessary tools, resources, and/or information needed to prepare them for
becoming the best technologists they can be.
Please reviewtheattached submission requirements
andspecifications for "Call for Presenters"or click on the link below:
The New BDPA and Our Membership
Guarantee. This is a
series of video clipstaken
by Henry Fordat
the program meeting hosted by BDPA Cleveland chapter on January 18, 2011. There
were a number of speakers including Sylvia Calhoun, Henry Ford, Norman Mays,
Beverly Peterson, Henry Wiggins and Ken Wilson.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you at our January events. We are making a
conscious effort again to continue our mission of "Back To Basics" in
2011. Our goal is to ensure that the needs of our membership are being met.
What's new for the Chicago Chapter!
The Windy City Eclipse
As we continue our mission "Back to Basics with Focus", we would like to
introduce to you our chapter newsletter, theWindy City Eclipse!
TheChicago Chapter
Board of Directorswould like to use this newsletter to exchange news and
information with our members. So, just as you will be hearing from us, we would
also like to hear from you. Please don't hesitate to submit any feedback
regarding the newsletter, or feel free to send news/updates for inclusion in the
newsletter to:communications@bdpa-chicago.org.
Today, Monday, as I reflect on the impact of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King on our
country and throughout world, I remembered he was a leader in organizations like
theNAACP, Southern Christian Leadership
Conference (SCLC) and theMontgomery
Improvement Association.
This blog told youabout theNCWIT
Award for Aspirations in Computinga few months ago. This is an award that
honors young women at the high-school level for their computing-related
achievements and interests.Awardees are selected for their computing and IT
aptitude, leadership ability, academic history, and plans for post-secondary
education. TheNCWIT Award for
Aspirations in Computingoffers both a national and local "affiliate"
competitions (includingstatewide
in Ohio) to generate support and visibility for women participation in
communities nationwide.
I was having a discussion via
Facebook recently regarding technology integration in our schools. Many
people still wish to hold on to this idea that our schools should not focus on
technology and just focus on the basics. They are mistaken. These
attitudes are why the digital divide still persists. I am so tired of
hearing this silly argument.
This mindset must be changed. And to be honest I spend a great deal of time
trying to change this mindset. I do not want the next generation of our young
people to be the designated serfs of the information age. What exactly are
the BASICS? Most folks would define the basics as reading, writing and
arithmetic.
Attention business owners, please type this into your
computer...not the computer on your desk, or the laptop in your bag. Please type
this into the computer that you would go nowhere without. The computer that you
make sure is safely tucked in your pocket, pocketbook or even around your neck -
your cellular phone. Your phone has a display screen, processor, memory cards
and keyboard (could beatouchpad) so technically, your phone is a computer.
Microsoft's Imagine Cup
competition is in the United States this year. Is anybody attending? Here's some
background information:
My name is Shelley Stern-Grach with Microsoft. Happy
New Year and I hope you had a wonderful Holiday. This year Michelle Obama
announced that the Microsoft Imagine Cup World Finals are being held in the US
for the first time ever and in October President Obama recognized winners in
some Imagine Cup categories at the White House. With the Microsoft Imagine
Cup world finals in the US we would love to US team dominate the competitions
and we can only do that if US students participate. We would love to see
your institution representing the US in Imagine Cup World Finals.
Please accept our invitation to join us in the City of
the Big Shoulders by registering for the 33rd Annual National BDPA
Conference, August 3-6, 2011 at the Hilton Chicago.
Early bird registration for $350 now open!
Click here to register for the 2011 National BDPA
Conference today!
PS: Please share this information with your friends,
co-workers, church members, etc so that they can help us pass the word. The key
is that we must share what we know with others so we can all grow and prosper.
The 2011 conference is rapidly approaching, and we are
gearing upto take thisexciting eventtonew heights in Chicago! We are
actively seekingpresenterswho will...
Ignite,InspireandEmpower:
our conference workshopattendees and equip them with the
necessary tools, resources, and/or information needed to prepare them for
becoming the best technologists they can be.
Please reviewtheattached submission requirements
andspecifications for "Call for Presenters"or click on the link below:
Gibran McDuffieis the coordinator of the Student
Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program conducted each
year byBDPA Chicago chapter. One of the components of the SITES program is
the annual High School Computer Competition (HSCC).
There have been25 HSCC championshipsheld in the United States since the first
one took place back in 1986.In recent years the HSCC championships have
beendominated by the BDPA chapter in Rochester, MN.
2006 HSCC Champions (Chicago)
However, there is one team that has beaten BDPA Southern Minnesota over the past
six years.BDPA Chicago's HSCC teamwon the national championship in 2006.
BDPA New Yorkis officially inviting high school and college students to
participate in our 2011 Information Technology (IT Showcase) program.
TheInformation Technology (IT) Showcase allows student presenters to showcase
their talents by presenting technology based research projects. The
presentations represent advanced STEM based topics delivered by highly motivated
high school and undergraduate college students. Each student researches a
technology based topic and drafts a college level research paper. The students
also prepare a poster or information board presenting the results of their
research. The papers are submitted for presentation to corporate, educational
and industry leaders. Student papers are sometimes publishedand the students
may be invited to present at professional Technology workshops such as theTeraGridand
the National BDPA Annual Technology Conference.
BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) works
each year to obtain any software needed byBDPAfor its programs and services.
One of our partners in this effort isMicrosoft.
We work through the folks atTech Soup torequest software donationsfrom
Microsoft.We were pleased to learn that Microsoft approved $17,910 in
software donations.
Tyrone Taborn, the publisher of Career Communications
Group, served on the BDPA Board of Directors for a number of years. Tyrone uses
the media to document the progress of African Americans in science, engineering
and technology.His company created the following video that shares our
legacy in these fields.
Cortlan James Wickliff,at nineteen (19) years old,
was the youngest African-American male to attain a bioengineering degree from
Rice University in Houston, Texas. Cortlan is now attending Harvard Law School
to complete a JD in Intellectual Property and Patent Law. He also plans to
complete a PhD in Biomedical Engineering.
From an early age he has displayed a profound and unusual sense of the world in
which he lives and the role that he has been called to play as a student, leader
and community activist, regularly seeking to give back and encourage his peers
to likewise pursue stretch goals. A few weeks after his 15th birthday, Cortlan
left home to began his college experience at the University of North Texas.
2010 has been a year of significant change for the IT
industry – but what does 2011 hold for the IT professional? This report provides
insight into the IT market, including job prospects and IT strategies for the
year ahead. Discover what skills you might need for 2011, how to grow and become
more efficient.
Please accept our invitation to join us in the City of
the Big Shoulders by registering for the 33rd Annual National BDPA
Conference, August 3-6, 2011 at the Hilton Chicago.
Early bird registration for $350 now open!
Click here to register for the 2011 National BDPA
Conference today!
PS: Please share this information with your friends,
co-workers, church members, etc so that they can help us pass the word. The key
is that we must share what we know with others so we can all grow and prosper.
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