Black Data Processing Associates
{{About|the professional organization|the chemical compound BDPA|Koelsch radical}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Black Data Processing Associates
| logo =
| type =
| founded_date = 1975
| founder = Earl A. Pace Jr.
| location =
| area_served = United States
| origins =
| key_people = [http://www.bdpa.org/leadership.php Leadership]
| focus = "Advancing Careers From the Classroom to the Boardroom."
| method =
| revenue =
| owner =
| homepage = {{URL|https://bdpa.org/}}
| footnotes =
}}
Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) is an American non-profit organization that serves the professional well-being of African Americans and other minorities working within technology.{{Cite web|last=Gruman|first=Galen|date=2021-02-23|title=Where to find and recruit Black tech pros|url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3608714/where-to-find-and-recruit-black-tech-pros.html|access-date=2021-12-22|website=Computerworld|language=en}} BDPA provides resources that support the professional growth and technical development of minority individuals in the information technology industry. Through education and leadership, BDPA promotes innovation, business skills, and professional development. The organization has over 50 chapters throughout the United States. BDPA National headquarters is located in Largo, Maryland.[http://www.bdpa.org/?page=About_BDPA About BDPA]
History
BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl A. Pace Jr. and David Wimberly after the two met in Philadelphia to discuss their concerns about ethnic minorities in the data processing field. The founders cited a lack of minorities in middle and upper management, low recruitment and poor preparation of minorities for these positions, and an overall lack of career mobility. The founders built an organization of 35 members, hosted presentations to improve data processing skills and launched a job opportunities announcement service. This nucleus has grown to over 50 chapters throughout the United States and thousands of members. The organization is a catalyst for professional growth and technical development for those in the IT industry.{{citation|title=Digital Inclusion, Teens, and Your Library: Exploring the Issues and Acting on Them |author= Lesley S. J. Farmer|year= 2005|publisher=Libraries Unlimited|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qQ4q6osfFPAC&q=%22Black+Data+Processing+Associates%22&pg=RA1-PA106|isbn=978-1-59158-128-4}}
BDPA has been active in community involvement, mentorship, and classes, especially during COVID-19. In summer 2020, BDPA offered STEM-related mentorship and classes for high school students in Indiana.{{Cite web|last=Lovrinic|first=Joanne|date=2020-07-09|title=Virtual summer program provides IT training to Indianapolis youth|url=https://news.iu.edu/stories/2020/07/iupui/08-idew-summer-program-it-training-indianapolis-youth-diversity-workforce.html|access-date=2021-12-22|website=News at IU|language=en}} In 2021, BDPA collected laptops and other electronics for children's e-learning efforts for Afghan refugees at Camp Atterbury.{{Cite web|last=Winfrey|first=Katiera|date=2021-09-28|title=Laptop, tablet donations help create lab at Camp Atterbury|url=https://www.wishtv.com/news/multicultural-news/laptop-tablet-donations-help-create-lab-at-camp-atterbury/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-22|website=WISH-TV {{!}} Indianapolis News|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929010533/https://www.wishtv.com/news/multicultural-news/laptop-tablet-donations-help-create-lab-at-camp-atterbury/ |archive-date=2021-09-29 }}
BDPA High School Computer Competition
The National High School Computer Competition (HSCC) was founded in 1986. The competition started as a two-team event between Washington, DC, and Atlanta, Georgia, and now has over 20 teams from chapters throughout the nation.[http://www.bdpa.org/?SITES_HSCC High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Program], bdpa.org
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://bdpa.org/ BDPA]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100710073512/http://www.betf.org/ BDPA Education and Technology Foundations (BETF)]
{{Authority control}}
Category:African-American professional organizations
Category:Information technology organizations based in North America
Category:Professional associations based in the United States
Category:1975 establishments in the United States
Category:Diversity in computing