Black Family Technology Awareness Week, February 16 – 21, 2009

Black Businesses in America:

In our ongoing tribute to Black History Month, we pay homage to Black
Data Processing Associates (BDPA) who have created a conduit through which
Black History meets Black progress via technology.



BDPA (Black Data Processing Associates) was founded in 1975 in
Philadelphia, PA and continues today to bridge the Digital Divide with
its educational technological programs and services.


The New
York Chapter,  a 501(c)(6), is the 4th largest chapter of 56 Chapters
across the United States. Chartered in September 1982, the New York
Chapter of BDPA has successfully bonded with urban and underserved 
communities through networking, education programs, seminars,
workshops, and annual conferences. We also serve as community partner
for the Community Technology Centers and engage everyone to learn about
technology, careers, and higher education.



BDPA’s Career Development committee is charged with providing its
members and the community-at-large with career enhancement skills. Such
projects consist of training workshops, study groups, leadership
training and job placement referrals. In addition the BDPA Career
Development Committee  also serves as representative for the New York
Chapter at various career fairs throughout the tri-state area.



BDPA’s Education Committee provides  members and the community with
workshops and seminars on new technology trends as they affect us in
today’s society.  Responsibilities also include providing resources and
assistance to youth about National and Local Scholarships as well as
Student Youth Programs, training of the New York student competition
team, providing speakers for student events, and liaison to various
high schools.



BDPA also has an Entrepreneur Committee that promotes the
establishment and growth of technology companies by helping
entrepreneurs make the connections and access the resources they need
to thrive in this face paced environment.



As part of their Black Family Technology Awareness Week (BFTAW)
2009 program, the New York Chapter of BDPA is offering a series of
family and business events, coming up in various locations throughout
New York City.  BFTAW is a collaborative public awareness campaign
between the BDPA, the Community Network of SBC and the W.E.B. DuBois
Learning Center, focusing on  closing the digital divide by helping
bridge the gap between Black families and technology by encouraging
more African Americans to incorporate technology into their businesses
and daily lives.



The events focus on various technology themes geared towards
increasig technical aptitude within the community.  Themes include: 
Black Businesses in America: Introduction to Week’s Activities,
Personal Computer & Internet, Starting Your Own Business, Health
& Technology Day: Using Technology as a Resource for Health &
Nutrition Information, Education & Technology Day: Educational
Resources on the Internet; Educational statistics, Discover Your Future
Day: Using Technology for Career and Educational Advancement,
Technology Pioneers Day: Black Leaders in Technology & Science,
Everybody Can Play: Using the Internet to Communicate, Shop, Organize,
Entertainment, Etc.



Monday, February 16 BFTAW will kickoff the series at 3 MetroTech
Center in Brooklyn with Black Family Technology Day, which will include
the Introduction to the Week’s Activities, Personal Computer, Internet
and Educational Forum featuring Jesse L Bemley, PhD, JP Morgan Chase.  
Tuesday, February 17,  there will be a tour of the Technical Data
Center at the United Nations and many more adventurous events will
happen throughout the week, as outlined above.



Those interested in participating as a presenter, or would like to
help with the event planning may  contact Cheryl Nedwell, Committee
Chair, at [email protected]


For more info visit http://www.bdpa-ny.org/bftaw.htm

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leading Pan African weekly investigative newspaper, please call (212)
481-7745 or send a note to [email protected]

Also visit out sister publications Harlem Business News www.harlembusinessnews.com and The Groove music magazine at www.thegroovemag.com

“Speaking Truth To Empower.”

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