Google was busting out of the seams with energetic Bay Area youth who recently visited their Tech Corners location for ‘Tech Slam’ – a unique computer science meets sports event featuring Golden State Warriors Champions Andre Igoudala, and JaVale McGee.
Photo Credit: 510Media for Google
Google, in partnership with The Hidden Genius Project and TEAM, hosted over 250 Bay Area youth for Tech Slam, the fourth event in the “CS+” event series. Attendees were treated to unique and interactive computer science exhibits, including virtual reality demos, tech apparel, athletic shoe design, coding activities, and sports video analysis with members of the Warriors team.
Daraiha Greene (Head of CS in Media Multicultural Strategy, Google) and Justin Steele (Principal, Google.org) kicked off the program, raising the energy of the room as Warriors champions Andre Iguodala and JaVale McGee took their seats alongside David Drummond (SVP, Corporate Development, Alphabet), Tom Torlakson (California Superintendent of Public Instruction), and Glenn Hendricks (Mayor of Sunnyvale, CA).
(l-r) David Drummond, Mayor Glenn Hendricks, Justin Steele, Andre Iguodala, JaVale McGee, Daraiha Greene, Supt. Tom Torlakson (Photo Credit: 510Media for Google)
Following welcome remarks from Mayor Hendricks and Superintendent Torlakson, David Drummond announced Google’s $1 million dollar grant to Oakland based nonprofit, The Hidden Genius Project, supporting their efforts to increase STEM and STEAM training and education opportunities for young men of color.
Drummond then went on to conduct a fireside chat with Iguodala and McGee, where they shared their motivation and interest in investing in tech. Both advocated for increased diversity in tech and how their daily lives are impacted personally and professionally by technology.
“Tech Slam” is a part of Google’s “CS+X” series, a program that travels the country talking to students about how their passions can become coding careers. Prior CS+X events were “Dress Code,” which explored the intersection of fashion and CS; “Hacking the Note,” which highlighted CS+Music; and “Program the Beat,” which encouraged students to see how dance comes alive with code.
For more information on Google’s $1 million grant to the Hidden Genius Project, visit: https://www.blog.google
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