BDPA STEAM Academy

🎉 Happy Juneteenth from BDPA STEAM Academy! 🖤❤️💚

Today, we honor freedom, resilience, and Black excellence. Juneteenth marks a pivotal moment in American history — the delayed liberation of enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865 — and a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much further we can go.

At BDPA STEAM Academy, we’re committed to empowering the next generation of leaders in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, especially those from historically underrepresented communities. On this day of reflection and celebration, we reaffirm our mission: to create equitable opportunities and inspire our youth to innovate, lead, and thrive.

💡 Let us continue building a future that honors our past — one that uplifts every voice, talent, and dream.

Techie Expo at Carroll High School Showcases BDPA’s Workforce Training Opportunities

MONROE, La. – The Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) S.T.E.A.M Academy hosted a Techie Expo at Carroll High School on Thursday, Jan. 23, to introduce students and young adults to high-demand technology training programs.

The event highlighted BDPA’s mission to train and certify students for tech careers, offering opportunities for 10th through 12th graders and young adults aged 19 to 30 to gain industry-recognized certifications in fields such as cybersecurity, networking, infrastructure programming, and data science.
According to BDPA S.T.E.A.M Academy Monroe Founder EJ Maxwell, the program is designed to equip students with skills needed for high-paying tech jobs possibly with META and Tech giants in the industry.

“We do these training sessions for our high school students and young adults to show them how to code, develop, and prepare for industry certifications,” EJ Maxwell said.

The BDPA program offers hands-on training through a 24-month IT workforce development initiative, which allows participants to gain practical experience, while earning industry certifications. Students can also apply for scholarships and financial assistance through the Louisiana Workforce Commission and BDPA.

“When we work together, we win” according to EJ Maxwell!

BDPA officials say they plan to expand the program to reach students across Ouachita and other Parishes in Northeast Louisiana , ensuring that more young people have access to cutting-edge technology education and career pathways. Advancing students from the Classroom to the Boardroom
For more information on how to apply for the program, contact [email protected].

About BDPA S.T.E.A.M Academy
BDPA S.T.E.A.M Academy is dedicated to preparing students and young professionals for careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Through hands-on training, mentorship, and industry certifications, the program equips participants with the skills needed to succeed in today’s technology-driven job market.



https://lnkd.in/eS7tTPBh

BDPA STEAM Academy Launches Summer Program Focused on Tackling the City of Monroe Litter Problem by applying Technology

BDPA STEAM Academy is excited to announce the launch of its innovative summer program designed to empower students with vital coding and software development skills while addressing one of the City of Monroe and Ouachita Parish most pressing issues: LITTER!

The program focused on equipping students with the tools to develop a “Love Your Community Litter mobile application. This app is designed to reduce the staggering $90 million litter cleanup cost in the great state of Louisiana. In Ouachita Parish, $400,000 is spent per year with Monroe alone spending $200,000 annually.

Over the course of the program, students are immersed in learning JavaScript and completed their JavaScript 1 certificate. They also gain hands-on experience with gaming, block coding, Python, and HTML. The mobile app development process includes key aspects of Agile software development, such as requirements gathering, creating user stories, and acting as scrum masters—providing students with real-world experience on a project with tangible community impact.

This program would not be possible without the generous support of Louisiana Workforce 81, which provided an excellent work environment with a state of the art computer room and classroom space for the students to thrive.

Our students had the incredible opportunity to explore the BDPA Conference 2024 IT Showcase Technical Posters. These posters covered groundbreaking topics like AI-powered medical image detection and the use of nanotechnology combined with artificial intelligence to revolutionize the medical field. It was an inspiring experience to learn about the latest advancements in technology and their applications in healthcare.

The first poster, by Chaz Browne from Oakwood University, focused on how AI can enhance medical imaging, highlighting the challenges and the potential of AI in improving accuracy and efficiency. The second poster, by Nailah J. Montgomery from Archer High School, explored how AI and nanotechnology can be used to treat cancer more effectively, showing the potential for personalized medicine.

Our students are more motivated than ever to pursue their passions in STEAM fields and contribute to future innovations! 🚀💡

🚀 Our BDPA STEAM Academy students and parents had the incredible opportunity to meet Melvin Greer, Intel Fellow and Chief Data Scientist at Intel! Dr. Greer gave an inspirational talk about the journey to becoming a data scientist and emphasized how valuable the data we produce every day is. From the steps we take being collected on our phones and smartwatches to the vast applications of artificial intelligence, Dr. Greer shed light on the importance of data in our daily lives.

As a technical expert in artificial intelligence, neuromorphic computing, machine learning, post-quantum computing, and blockchain zero trust models, Dr. Greer’s insights were invaluable. With patented inventions in Cloud Computing, Synthetic Biology, and IoT Bio-sensors, and over 400 published research papers, his expertise is unparalleled. He is also a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and serves on the Board of Directors for the U.S. National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.

Our students were inspired by Dr. Greer’s achievements and his message that every step we take in the field of data science can lead to significant advancements and opportunities. Thank you, Dr. Greer, for empowering our future leaders! 🌟

BDPA Northeast Louisiana STEAM Academy Takes 3rd Place in State Farm Esports Competition

Monroe, LA – BDPA Northeast Louisiana STEAM Academy proudly secured 3rd place in the State Farm Esports Competition at the 49th annual BDPA Conference. This prestigious event featured a variety of challenges including game development, team tournaments, and individual competitions, highlighting the exceptional talent of students in the academy.

The esports competition aims to ignite interest and engagement in computer science and STEM fields through the dynamic and exciting world of esports. By leveraging the appeal of gaming, the competition serves as a gateway to coding, offering a perfect entry point for students with no prior coding experience. Participants learn to conceptualize, design, and create their own games, gaining valuable skills that open doors to future opportunities in STEM careers.

The comprehensive curriculum provided by BDPA Northeast Louisiana STEAM Academy is designed to be both fun and educational. Students develop impressive digital portfolios of their unique work, gaining hands-on experience that directly translates to fields they wish to pursue. The engaging nature of the courses ensures that students are both challenged and motivated to achieve their goals.

This year’s State Farm Esports Tournament, hosted by STEAMsport, Inc. and BDPA, welcomed participants of all age groups and featured the popular game NBA 2K. The event attracted a wide range of competitors and spectators. The BDPA conference sponsor participation included major companies including IBM, Intel, Molson Coors, Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, State Farm, and Cisco. Local sponsors included Representative Pat Moore, Representative Andiran Fisher, Senator Katrina Jackson, EJMAX Solution, Success Prep, Louisiana Workforce Number 81, and Carroll High School STEAM Program.

“When we work together, we win,” said EJ Maxwell, Founder of BDPA Northeast Louisiana STEAM Academy. “Our students’ success in this competition is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the collaborative spirit of our academy.”

BDPA, originally founded as Black Data Processing Associates in Philadelphia, PA in 1975, has spent nearly 50 years promoting the upward mobility of African Americans and others who reside in disenfranchised communities. The organization continues to champion innovation, technical upskilling, and professional development in computer science, data science, and STEAM fields while promoting publications, regional technology conferences, and career expos. BDPA STEAM Academy educate, provide exposure and opportunities to ensure a strong IT Workforce within Ouachita and Morehouse Parish. “When we Work Together, we Win”!

For more information about BDPA Northeast Louisiana STEAM Academy contact us at [email protected].