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2019 BAY AREA BLACK YOUTH

TECH-A-THON

The Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce 2019 Bay Area’s Black Youth Tech-A-Thon is a series of events orchestrated to bring together some of Northern California’s brightest, creative and talented young African American minds to design, create and present the best software solution or STEM demonstration to a pre-determined challenge or objective using the many facets of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), computer science and business principles.

This techfest is made up of youth from elementary, middle, high schoolers and young adults (18-24) assembled into teams comprised of programmers (coders), engineers, product designers, marketers or presenters who strive to work together as a team with the hopes of demonstrating their creative solution to an agreed upon problem or objective to win a prize, award or both.

REGIONS

Currently there are 3 Regions committed to this program:

  • Oakland serving Alameda County
  • East Palo Alto serving San Mateo County
  • Silicon Valley serving Santa Clara County

Each region will recruit and teach its own groups of youths.  If you would like to participate and you are in another County, give us a call (408) 288-8806 or email us at  Techleader@blackchamber.com

Although presentation finals are Sat Feb 3 rd , 2018, you must register well in advance to be guaranteed a chance to learn and be part of a team to compete for the awards and prizes. Last year we gave away over $10,000 in cash and prizes.

Oakland Region

Oakland regional leadership is led by Cat Bobino and Ethan Berry. 

  • If you would like to volunteer as a technical assistant or general helper, click here.
  • If you would like to register as a youth to participate in the Tech-a-thon, click here.
  • If you are a parent and would like to register your son or daughter, click here.
East Palo Alto Region

East Palo Alto (EPA) regional leadership is led by Olatunde Sobomehin. 

  • If you would like to volunteer as a technical assistant or general helper, click here.
  • If you would like to register as a youth to participate in the Tech-a-thon, click here.
  • If you are a parent and would like to register your son or daughter, click here.
Silicon Valley Region

Silicon Valley regional leadership is led by Johnny Clarke. 

  • If you would like to volunteer as a technical assistant or general helper, click here.
  • If you would like to register as a youth to participate in the Tech-a-thon, click here.
  • If you are a parent and would like to register your son or daughter, click here.

Tech-A-Thon Leaders

Project Leaders
Brian Miller

Project Leader

Code Writing Kids
Karl Welch

Production & Operations Leader

Trinya Lynn

Marketing Leader

Regional Leaders
Cat Bobino

Oakland Regional Leader

In The Know with Cat Bobino
Ethan Berry

Oakland VP

Code Forward - Ethan Berry Inc. Non-Profit
Olatunde Sobomehin

EPA Regional Leader

Johnny Clarke

Silicon Valley Regional Leader

Featured Speakers

Michael Greene

Michael Greene is Intel Vice President and General Manager of the System Technologies & Optimization of Intel’s Software and Services Group. Greene leads a worldwide organization responsible for a broad range of development, enabling, architecture analysis and optimization efforts including system firmware, virtual platforms, modeling and simulation solutions, power analysis, client/server and big data software stack optimizations for a “Best in Class” user experience. 

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Ben Berry

Ben Berry is a strategic aerospace manufacturer and has led technology for large-scale organizations with diverse missions. He is the Aerospace Entrepreneurial CEO and Chief Digital Officer for AirShip Technologies Group’s AirShip Endurance EAGLE Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Micro Intelligence StingerMAV, and AirScape intelligence-as-a-service. He has held various senior leadership technology positions serving the Royal Saudi Air Force, Kingdom of Saudi Arabian International Airports, and Hughes Aircraft Company – Los Angeles. He is a Board of Director at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum.

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Our Previous Partners

We want to thank our previous partners

Our Previous Sponsors

Why a Tech-a-thon?

A tech-a-thon is more than a hack-a-thon in that it encompasses all the sciences, including computer science. It’s a series of events that introduces and/or exposes our African American youth from 1st grade thru 12th grade and young adults (18-24) to the sciences and technologies that will govern their future with regards to jobs or starting businesses.Youth, Parents and Volunteers are encouraged to register and be a part of this life changing series of events.

Please register and spread the word.