Robert R. Taylor Network (RRTN): Career Communications Group, Inc (CCG)

Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) STEM Global Competitiveness Conference2012 Conference Trip Report

College Report

Philadelphia, PA

February 16-19, 2012

Version 6.0

July 20, 2012

Melanie Adams, Nathaniel Porter, Darian Hendricks, and Deborah Salami

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Table of Contents

Title………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..……..………....1

Table of Contents………………………………………….……………………………………………..……………..…..……....2

Background…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………..3

Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………………….….…………………………….5

Conference Trip Overview…………………………………………………………………….……………………..…………..7

Conference Trip Details…………………………………………………………………………………………..……………..…8

Differences This Year……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….12

Conference Trip Outcomes………………………………………………………………………………………………………13

Lessons Learned and Future Goals……………………………………………………………………………………………14

Student Feedback…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….15

Chaperone Profiles…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..18

Appendix………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….20

Resumes Release Forms

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Background

Robert R. Taylor Network, Inc. (RRTN) (www.rrtn.org) is a 501©3 non-profit organization based at MIT which works to develop college and high school students’ professional skills and interests in becoming technology entrepreneurs through a learn-by-doing experience. RRTN’s seeks to create cultural and economic impact through innovation, invention and entrepreneurship by underserved youth. RRTN’s mission is to increase the number of underrepresented populations in architecture, science, technology, and engineering fields, while specifically increasing the number of technology entrepreneurs and companies founded by these individuals.

The Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) STEM Global Competitiveness Conference (www.beya.org), organized by Career Communications Group, Inc (CCG) (www.ccgmag.com), hosted by Lockheed Martin Corporation, The Council of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Engineering Deans, US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine, and sponsored by Aerotek, is the premier annual business, engineering, and career fair conference recognizing the achievements of underrepresented professionals and students in the ASTEM fields, as well as leading corporations, government agencies, U.S. Armed Forces, and HBCU’s advancing diversity in ASTEM fields. The BEYA Conference has been in existence for the last 25 years, held traditionally during the third weekend of February in Baltimore, MD. CCG also organizes an annual Women of Color (WOC) Conference (www.womenofcolor.net) in the Fall (October or November) in Dallas, TX. CCG convenes a BEYA Alumni Planning Conference in the Spring for past awardees, advisers, sponsors, and partners to assist and advise in the planning of CCG programs. CCG is the publisher of US Black Engineer & Information Technology (www.blackengineer.com/artman/publish/), Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology (www.diversitygps.com), and Women of Color magazines (www.diversitygps.com). CCG also has a 501©3 non-profit organization known as The Foundation for Educational Development, Inc. (FEDI) (www.ccgmag.com/page/foundation/?) which promotes career opportunities in engineering, science, and technology to historically underrepresented groups in STEM fields through professional and career development, educational programs, awards programs, and career placement opportunities. FEDI subsidizes student participation in the BEYA and WOC conferences as well as the Technology Access Program (TAP), a two-week technology introduction summer camp hosted by HBCU’s.

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RRTN was encouraged to partner with CCG due to the following:

1. Recommendations from Black MIT alumni, 2. The number of Black MIT Alumni participants and award winners at the conferences, 3. To promote Robert R. Taylor and his Legacy,

a. First black graduate of MIT in 1892b. His advocacy for black achievement in science and technologyc. Connection to the founding and development of Tuskegee University, a HBCUd. Continued Legacy of Black MIT alumni connected to HBCU’s

4. The alignment of mission statements and goals, as well as programmatic synergies between the organizations

As a result, RRTN has developed an expanding partnership with CCG to increase the number of minority college and high school students attending the BEYA and WOC Conferences, especially from MIT. CCG has given special permission to high school students participating with RRTN to register as a part of the College Program at BEYA and WOC conferences. This partnership supports RRTN’s mission to develop the professional skills and exposure of underrepresented youth to ASTEM careers, the job market, skills workshops, and networking. The partnership also serves to cultivate sponsors, speakers, networks, and new program ideas for both organizations, in addition to MIT. Darian Hendricks, CEO of RRTN and MIT alumnus, is the Chair of CCG’s College Program Committee a.k.a Development Institute for Emerging Leaders (DIEL) and serves as the Campus Coordinator of RRTN/MIT for the BEYA and WOC Conferences.

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Executive Summary

The Robert R. Taylor Network (RRTN), in partnership with Career Communications Group (CCG), organized another successful trip to the 26th annual Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) STEM Global Competitiveness Conference in Philadelphia, PA from February 16 – 19, 2012. This was RRTN’s fourth trip to the BEYA Conference and the second with both college and high school students primarily from MIT and Brockton High School (BHS). The trip’s success was credited to a 100% increase in student attendance, compared to the previous trip in 2011; two job offers; positive student feedback; free admission to the Franklin Institute; and exposure of students to universities, transportation-related industries, and STEM careers and professionals. Due to the continuous success of the trip and student advocacy, Brockton High School has decided to formalize this RRTN event as an official field trip, and MIT students would like to encourage more sponsorship and participation from their institution to RRTN’s organized event. The goal for 2013’s attendance to the BEYA Conference is 40 high school students and 20 college students.

For 2012-2013, RRTN seeks to expand its partnership with CCG to include the following:

1. Attend the Women of Color (WOC) Conference in the fall with at least 2-5 students2. Nominate students for the WOC and BEYA Student Leadership Awards3. Encourage students to enter the CCG’s Juxtopia of Urban Learning Technology (JULT):

Engineering Challenge4. Participate in CCG’s 21st Century Genius Challenge5. Plan a RRTN-MIT Alumni networking reception at BEYA 2013 Conference6. Develop RRTN/MIT workshop track at BEYA 2013 Conference7. Increase college and high school student participation at BEYA 2013 Conference8. Cultivate additional sponsors and recruit more students for the trip earlier

The goals of the trip were for college and high school students to experience BEYA, network, and further their professional, educational, and entrepreneurial development. Students participated in professional development workshops, met with prospective colleges and employers, networked with MIT alumni, HBCU college deans and students, as well as corporate leaders, and were mentored 1-on-1 by high-ranking military officers. The trip also served as a scouting event for RRTN to identify prospective, talented students to recruit for the RRTN Xstudio, a summer and academic year program at MIT.

This trip consisted of 34 individuals (22 high school students, 8 college students, and 4 chaperones) as compared to 21 individuals (13 high school students, 4 college students, and 4 chaperones) in 2011. Of these students, two MIT college students, a graduate and undergraduate student, received job offers at the Career Fair. They received full-time and summer internship offers from Northrop-Grumman and Chrysler Group LLC, respectively. The trip was made possible by a MIT University Transportation Center (UTC) Grant, the Harvard Cooperative Society (The COOP), CCG and its Foundation for Educational Development, Inc., the Franklin Institute, MIT/Prof. Cardinal Warde and RRTN.

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RRTN was able to raise over $12,200 in grants and direct/in-kind sponsorships. The expenses totaled $11,416.73. The expenses were divided between registration, transportation and meals. The Franklin Institute contributed 22 admission passes for use by students and chaperones.

The overall consensus of the students was that the conference was extremely valuable, and they would like to attend again given the opportunity. Value was determined to consist of interaction with professional leaders, networking with exceptional individuals, and developing a specific skillset for marketing one’s self.

Going forward RRTN has identified that marketing to students earlier, and co-developing a project calendar with BEYA are crucial to a smoother and more successful experience. Students have requested more pre-conference preparation workshops on resumes, interviewing, networking, and professional dress. RRTN hopes to work with MIT departments and minority student groups to recruit attendance and nominations for student leadership awards and competition. BHS has decided to approve the field trip as an official BHS event so that students receive credit for attendance, and official protocols are applied to field trips.

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Conference Trip Overview

The BEYA 2012 STEM Global Competitiveness Conference trip was made possible through partial funding from a Federal Department of Transportation Regional University Transportation Center Grant at MIT to foster interest among underrepresented high school and college students in STEM fields and careers, especially transportation-related careers. The conference is a perfect venue for students to meet diverse high-level role models and professionals in STEM disciplines and network with recruiters from leading corporations, the government, research labs, universities, and the non-profit sector. The conference was a conclusion to a two-year grant to pilot a summer studio experience to introduce high school students to the business of science, transportation-related careers, and STEM careers.

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Conference Trip Details Conference Trip Dates:

February 16-19, 2012

Conference Location:

Philadelphia Convention Center and Philadelphia Downtown Marriott, Philadelphia, PA

Conference Trip Attendees: (34) Chaperones (4)

o Darian Hendricks (RRTN/MIT Campus Coordinator)o Jass Stewart (Coordinator)o Yolanda Hinton (Coordinator)o Claudia Canals (Parent)o Lloyd Lamarre* (BHS Teacher Liaison) (*did not attend)

College (8)o Melanie Adamso Lucia Cercio Megan Cherryo Niaja Nichole Farveo Adriel Mingoo Nathan Portero Padmanie Seenanano Anita G Wamakimao Darryl Williams* (*no-show)

High School (22) o Thessa Andradeo Gabriela Andradeo Jennifer Alveso Andreisy Borgeso Ashley Castroo Jane Canals o Kimberly Contreraso Jamael Freiaso Kassandra Goncalveso Jeamela Guilloteauo Mario Hernandezo Joanna Joseph

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o Harley Jeano Afolabi Kolawoleo Alezia Lopeso Abigail Narcisseo Simone Mowattyo Deborah Salamio MacKenzie Skeenso Taina Metelluso Deyze Vazo Smithley Vil

Conference Trip Marketing and PlanningRRTN recruited participants for the trip from both Brockton High School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Deborah Salami, Brockton High School Junior and RRTN’s 2011’s XStudio intern, coordinated the high school student recruitment, including participants of 2011 RRTN XStudio. Darian Hendricks, CEO of RRTN, coordinated the recruitment of college students by way of an e-mail campaign to MIT minority student groups, and former 2011 BEYA trip attendees. For the high school campaign, things were executed as follows:

Recruitment: Online and Verbal Spread information about trip & Workshop through word of mouth Invited students to the RRTN Workshop at BHS

Information Session: 1.5 Hour Presentation at BHS RRTN Overview/Conference overview

o Internship experience Applications and Waiver forms were distributed

Application Process: Student Screening 40 students applied (11 College , 29 High School ) Screening process

o Based on talent, passion and interest in math, science, and STEM Applications were divided into accepted and waitlisted groups

o Email notifications sent outo Individual text message and phone call follow-ups

Pre-Conference Preparation: 2 Information Sessions Waiver and Release Forms Distributed and Collected

o Media release and emergency contact formso RRTN conference formso BEYA online form instructions

Resume Workshop/ Trip expectations

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o Resume workshop with exampleso Dress code reviewo Behavioral Conducto Networking

Online Registration Each student and chaperone had to register at www.beya.org using pre-assigned codes from

CCG Created Master sheet of registrants, emergency contact information, and confirmation codes E-mail notification containing transportation logistics, and recommended luggage Students were to submit resumes and waivers ahead of time, or bring them to the bus before

departure

Conference Trip Schedule

Thursday night, February 16, 2012 (Depart to Philadelphia, PA)

9:30pm- Departure from MIT, Cambridge, MA 10:30pm- Departure from BHS, Brockton, MA

Friday, February 17, 2012 (Arrive in Philadelphia, Registration, Hotel Check-In, Conference Day 1, Career Fair, K-12 Program)

5:00AM- Arrival at Le Meridien, Philadelphia, PA 6:00-9:00 AM- Hotel Check-In, Conference Registration 9:30-11:00 AM- K-12 Program/Workshops/Career Fair 11:00-1:00 PM- Lunch, Career Fair 1:00-1:45 PM- K-12 Program 4:00-6:00 PM- Stars and Stripes STEM Mentoring 6:00-8:00 PM- Student Leadership and Scholarship Gala 9:00-12:00 AM- Networking Social

Saturday, February 18, 2012 (Conference Day 2, Career Fair, Franklin Institute, BEYA Gala)

7:30-9:30 AM- HBCU Deans Breakfast 9:45-11:15 AM- General Session/Seminar/Career Fair /Franklin Institute visit (High School) 9:45-4:45 PM- Seminars 10:00-4:00 PM- Career and College Fair 12:00-1:00 PM- Student Lunch (vouchers) 1:00-3:00 PM- Franklin Institute (College) 8:00-10:00 PM BEYA Award Gala 10:00-12:00 AM BEYA Gala After-party

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Sunday, February 19, 2012 (Depart to Boston, MA)

9:00 AM- Departure from Le Meridien, Philadelphia, PA 3:00 PM- BHS arrival, Brockton, MA 4:00 PM- Arrival at MIT, Cambridge, MA

Conference Trip Sponsorship:

Sponsor Funding Amount

Notes

CCG/FEDI $7000.00**In kind sponsorship of subsidized registration, meals, gala and lodging fees per student and chaperone ($200/person) + extra hotel night for Adriel Mingo. CCG subsidizes the overall cost per student and chaperone above the $200 fee.

MIT UTC Grant $4000.00 Regional University Transportation Center at MIT funded by the Federal Department of Transportation.

Harvard Cooperative Society $800.00

Prof. Cardinal Warde (MIT) $400.00 Sponsored Adriel Mingo’s air-fare from Houston to BEYA conference.

Total Funding $12200.00

Note: RRTN staff and chaperones contributed administrative time and personal transportation cost to coordinate and manage the event.

Conference Trip Budget:

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Note: RRTN and chaperones contributed administrative time and personal transportation cost to coordinate and

manage the event.

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RRTN Budget Items Cost # attendees Total Cost Notes

Registration/Lodging $200.00 34 $6993.68* *Additional night for Adriel Mingo.

Transportation $3420.00 -- $3420.00 One 55 passenger coach bus

Transportation $388.10 1 $388.10 Flight from Houston, TX - A. MingoMIT Overhead Fees $614.95 34 $614.95 MIT charged for UTC Grant expense

on bus.TOTAL Expenses $11,416.73

Conference Trip Differences From 2011 BEYA Tripo Application process

o Online registrationo Resume Workshopo Three waiver forms

o Sponsorshipo More chaperoneso Site Visit to Franklin Instituteo Students participated in K-12 programso Students attended workshops (professional and college workshops were combined)o Conference was located in a different cityo Collected resumes and testimonials from all students

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Conference Trip Outcomes

A 100% increase in college student attendance, compared to the previous trip in 2011 Two job offers from Northrop Grumman (full-time position) and Chrysler Group, LLC (summer

internship) to a graduate and undergraduate student, respectively Exposure of students to transportation-related industries, and STEM careers and professionals Continued contact with professional leaders who can provide mentorship and employment

opportunities Positive student feedback and requests to be invited to BEYA Conference 2013

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Conference Trip Lessons Learned and Recommendationso Recruitment for BEYA Conference

Two week’s notice (January 2013) for the conference is an appropriate amount of time, since most students have finalized their schedule by that point.

MIT minority student groups should notify their members of this opportunity, and encourage participation.

An information session could also benefit this endeavor. We recommend that fundraising commence by May 2013 in order to take advantage of

residual department funds or be considered for funding at the beginning of the fall semester.

o Recruitment for Women of Color Conference We recommend that the WOC Conference be promoted around the same time that

BEYA is promoted (January 2013). We recommend that fundraising commence by May 2013 in order to take advantage of

residual department funds or be considered for funding at the beginning of the fall semester.

o Registration Process The registration process for the BEYA 2012 Conference, although hectic due to the small

time frame, was barely adequate. We recommend that the codes distributed by CCG be dispersed sooner than this year

(January 2013) so that errors that arise are not so crippling.o MIT Involvement

Students would like to see more sponsorship and support from the Institute. We recommend that leaders of minority student groups request funding for members

who would like to attend either the BEYA or WOC Conference. We recommend the reservation of classrooms for information sessions geared toward

the orientation and benefits of the BEYA and WOC Conferences.

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College Student Feedback and Comments

Melanie Adams, MIT Junior

I wanted to thank you for the invitation to the conference. I've gained invaluable contacts that I will be very useful in planning my next steps after MIT and during the rest of my time there. Overall, I think things went pretty smoothly. It was also a great opportunity to meet other college students outside of Boston and connect with them as well.

Megan Cherry, MIT Junior

What BEYA meant to me: The BEYA conference was a unique opportunity to for me because it was one of the first times that I had the opportunity to meet with higher ups in innovative and ground breaking organizations. At BEYA I learned about companies that I had never heard of, like Northrop Grumman and MITRE, met a CEO, and met people who would be willing to mentor me. What was even more surprising was that I did all of this while having more fun than I’ve had in some time. In addition to all of this professional networking, it was nice to be in the company of other minority students who have had a vastly different educational experience from me. I would definitely recommend this conference to all of my minority friends at MIT and I hope that I will have the opportunity to go again next year!

Niaja Farve, MIT Graduate Student

I greatly enjoyed my experience while attending BEYA 2012. As a current graduate student, my primary focus was to secure employment opportunities. While I was able to obtain a full time offer, I also was able to make new contacts and further cultivate old ones. I look forward to attending the conference in the future and would strongly encourage all students to attend and take advantage of the wealth of opportunities that the conference provides.

Adriel Mingo, Brockton High School Alum

BEYA was yet again a great experience for me. This was my second time attending BEYA but what was more special about this occasion, was the fact that I was actually involved in the planning of it in Florida last year. It was great to see the things that we had discussed actually being carried out and influencing attendees from all over America. Not to mention, those same events and activities benefited me as well as there were more activities that actually allowed one to gain firsthand interaction with the people and the jobs they do in the engineering field. Also as usual I gained a lot of motivation from seeing my fellow people of color, onstage receiving awards for pretty awesome achievements that I otherwise wouldn't have known of had I not attended BEYA. That made me long for the day when I'd see myself up there

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receiving an award as well. I am definitely looking forward to attending and helping to plan more BEYAs and quite possibly, even receiving awards as I move forward with my tertiary education.

Nathan Porter, MIT Junior

As an MIT student who aggressively competed with CS majors for quality time with employers (who were looking for CS majors) at career fairs hosted on campus, I really enjoyed BEYA. Being in a largely technical career fair in Philly was a small taste of paradise and interacting with professional leaders from multiple organizations was awesome. Over the course of the weekend, I met many other students, people willing to mentor me, CEO’s, Vice Presidents, military officers, and National Presidents for various student organizations. I had a fantastic time getting to know everyone that I encountered, and learned a lot about the importance of networking. In addition, I found that gaining a perspective of myself from the professional field was incredibly valuable, and I hope to attend BEYA again next year. I will definitely be promoting BEYA to fellow students, and encouraging them to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

Anita Wamakima, MIT Freshman

I thought the conference was really good. I was able to talk to a lot of people and gain many connections even though I was not expecting too. I attended one seminar, but I plan to attend more if I am given the opportunity next year. This conference was really an eye opener, and it taught me that even though companies don't say there is something for the Biology field, there was still something there for me. I have met people who gave me the opportunity to be their mentee. I am truly happy for coming to the conference. I am willing to give up another weekend of MIT work for an experience like this.

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Chaperone Profiles

Claudia Canals, Parent, Brockton High School

Claudia Canals is the parent of Jane Canals, a Brockton High School student. She speaks Spanish. She is a resident of Brockton, MA.

Darian Hendricks, CEO, Robert R. Taylor Network, Inc.

Darian C. Hendricks has over 17 years of experience working in both professional consulting and product companies, especially in the financial and energy services, retail, not-for-profit, technology and telecommunication sectors. Mr. Hendricks has been a Director and consultant for Sapient Corporation, Cambridge, MA, and a Senior Product Designer at Lotus Development Corporation, Cambridge, MA.

Mr. Hendricks has started a business and design consultancy in 2002 called Manwarin Scott, Inc. d/b/a havens indesign studios. The company helps businesses create value for the clients and customers by designing integrated digital and analog experiences that create paradigm shifts within their industries.

Mr. Hendricks also has a breadth of experience in non-profit sectors working at both the Board and operational level, including strategic planning, volunteer recruitment and cultivation, team building, conference planning, program development and execution, brand development, membership and resource development.

He currently serves as a President and CEO, Robert R. Taylor Network, Inc. (RRTN); Science Advisor, Science Network, New England Board of Higher Education; and Member, Coordinating Committee, Somerville Cares About Prevention, Somerville, MA; Leadership Team, Unity Center Cambridge, Cambridge, MA.

Mr. Hendricks received a Bachelor of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Benjamin Franklin Programme Diploma from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Science-Po).

Tanu Henry, Independent Writer

Tanu Henry works full-time as the Vice President of Digital Media Innovation at Sundial Brands in New York.

He also works as a consultant with the Robert R. Taylor Network (RRTN). Before joining RRTN, he was the Executive Editor of Black Entertainment Television’s online News channel and Online Manager of the television network’s website. Prior to BET, he worked as an editor of news, business and lifestyle content at America Online.

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With over 10 years of experience in online journalism and media, his writing and multimedia projects have covered a range of categories – spanning politics; technology; business; entertainment; lifestyle, beauty and health; spirituality and religion; pop culture; fine art; music; history; culture; and world affairs.

Henry has also worked previously as the Vice President of Communications at Rush Technologies, Inc., an IT consulting firm based in Silver Spring, Md.

At Reword Communications, his private consulting company, he is “Chief Editorial Officer.”

Henry was a regular contributor to the magazine “Black Issues Book Review” and a contributing writer on Henry Louis Gates’ and Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham’s “African American National Biography” project at Harvard. An interview with South African anti-apartheid activist, Winnie Mandela at Columbia University, is published in the book “Black Women Activists.” A former staff writer for the Web site Africana.com, he has interviewed and profiled a number of notable personalities, including politicians, military officials, businesspeople, artists, academicians and other cultural icons.

At AOL, he worked on the team that led on the transition of the company’s business model from an Internet Service Provider to an ad-revenue based digital media publication.

For Footsteps Magazine, a monthly children’s journal on African-American history, he interviewed actor Ossie Davis and wrote several celebrity profiles as well as kid-oriented historical features.

Before entering the world of digital media he wrote for the print editions of three midwestern daily newspapers: the Toledo Blade, The Oakland Press and the Dayton Daily News.

Henry, the winner of two New York NABJ writing awards in the New Media category, has an undergraduate degree in Mass Media from Wilberforce University in Ohio and a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard.

Yolanda Hinton, Research Engineer, Army Research Laboratory

Yolanda L. Hinton is a research engineer with 21 years of experience in non-destructive evaluation of composite materials. She works in the Vehicle Technology Center of the Army Research Laboratory which is located at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. She has conducted research on the applications of acoustic emission and infrared thermography, techniques used in the detection of defects and damage in composite materials. Her current research involves nonlinear acoustics for measuring fatigue damage in metal structures.

Ms. Hinton has memberships with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM); the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT); and the National Technical Association (NTA). She holds position of President of the Black Alumni of MIT (BAMIT) at the Hampton Roads Chapter and is the

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Chairman of the Membership Committee for Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Furthermore, she is a Trustee for the Technology Broadcasting Corporation (WMBR-FM Radio) and has published 17 journal articles and conference proceedings.

Ms. Hinton earned both her B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT)

Lloyd Lamarre, Writer, Brockton High School

Born in 1971, to Haitian parents who came to the US to improve their way of life, he grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and later moved to Miami, Florida. He attended High School in Miami, Florida and Graduated 29 of 436 Seniors. He was captain of his wrestling team, a Student Editor and Photographer of his High School yearbook.

He graduated From UMass/Boston in the spring 1994 with a Bachelor’s in English and a Certification in Elementary Education. While at UMass/Boston he was captain of the wrestling team his senior year and the 1994 Scholar Athlete.

After Graduation he worked as a minister in the inner city of Boston and Brockton from 1994 to1997. Still with a desire to be a classroom teacher he began working at the Arnone Elementary School in Brockton, Massachusetts. He taught the 6th grade from 1997- 1999.

He returned to the ministry where he and his wife service the Brockton Community. “My desire is to do what I can to make communities like Brockton better. I fell in love with the city and I see the potential and desire to further the city along.”

“My present passion is to find more innovative ways to use technology to advance inner-city youth. I feel that many have certain tech devices but only use them in limited ways. I would to beta test a paperless math classroom in the city of Brockton.

Presently Lloyd is faculty liaison for Brockton High School and RRTN.

“It is truly my pleasure to work with and reach out to students and expose them to the resources and skills they can master with RRTN. I have been so impressed with their growth and maturity as young people. I look forward to see how RRTN grows and impact our students in Brockton and abroad.”

Jass Stewart, Councilor-At-Large, Brockton City CouncilJass Stewart is the first-ever minority or openly gay person elected to Brockton's City Council. Currently serving in his second term, he represents the entire city as one of four At-Large Councilors.

Born in Dallas, Texas on March 13, Jass Stewart earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications and a Master's degree in Education from Boston University. He also studied at MIT as a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning.

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Since his college graduation, Jass Stewart has excelled in a wide field of professional work. He has served in key media outreach positions for major multimillion-dollar national and international media outreach efforts since 1994, including executive leadership roles at Blackside Films (producers of the public television series Eyes on the Prize), Invent Media, Big Picture Learning, and Jobs for the Future.

Jass Stewart remains committed to contributing to the civic and social life of Brockton. He currently serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Brockton. Stewart also served on the boards of Brockton Neighbors United, the Brockton Telecommunications Commission, the Center for the Advancement of Science Exploration at Bridgewater State College, the Mayor's Taskforce on After-School Programs, Neighborhood Crime Watch, and the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs. In addition, he maintains close ties to several organizations in the greater Boston area.

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