Ke’Andre Jones, Hidden Genius Alum of the Oakland 10 Gold Cohort (OAK10 Gold), has steadily grown into a thoughtful leader, emerging technologist, and committed member of The Hidden Genius Project community. Introduced to the program through his father, Ke’Andre embraced the opportunity and quickly discovered a space where he could build confidence, develop new skills, and form lasting brotherhood. From strengthening his leadership and critical thinking abilities to developing his own AI chatbot, Ke’Andre’s journey reflects both personal growth and expanding ambition. Now 17 years old and a senior at Lodestar Public School, he’s preparing for his future with plans to attend a four-year university and study Computer Science. He continues to stay connected with The Hidden Genius Project by supporting incoming Geniuses—giving back to the community that helped shape him.
How have you been?
Life has been great. I’m starting to feel as if all my plans are falling into place with school, college applications, and friends. I’ve already received acceptances for some of the colleges I applied to, like San Francisco State, Sacramento State, and CSU Northridge. School has also been really great lately, as I’m able to maintain my grades while also exploring various new opportunities.
How did you first learn about The Hidden Genius Project?
I first learned about The Hidden Genius Project from my dad, who at the time was looking to put me in a youth mentorship program. He learned about it from a friend and saw that it would be a great fit for me. Initially, I thought that the Immersion Program would only focus on social bonding and connection. But after being a part of the OAK10 Gold cohort, I can confidently say that I gained so much more in addition to the brotherhood. I learned all about coding, especially AI, the importance of mentorship, and how to be a leader in my community.
What was your experience in the program like?
My experience with The Hidden Genius Project was amazing. I was able to build great leadership skills as well as find better ways to contribute my unique perspective to others. As far as technology is concerned, it was a great experience to develop a new skill. Before The Hidden Genius Project, I was not too familiar with tech and what it could offer. After learning about technology and the various pathways it provides, I was able to develop my skills in AI and web development to the point where I could see myself doing it as a full-time career. One of my top highlights of the program was finding a sense of brotherhood. I was able to meet so many wonderful people, and we all challenged each other to grow and achieve great things. Another great highlight was being offered the chance to participate in a commercial for Comcast. Because of that commercial, I got to take a trip to New York City with The Hidden Genius Project for an award ceremony.
Tell me about some of the challenges you’ve faced while in The Hidden Genius Project. How did you overcome them?
Some challenges I faced included learning a completely new language, like coding, and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Even though everyone at The Hidden Genius Project was welcoming and kind, it was still a new environment and a new experience. Thankfully, that feeling didn’t last long. After the first summer, or really even the first month, I found friends I could connect with and bond with on a level I’d never experienced before. We had fun together, supported each other, and when it was time to work, we all showed up on time and ready to focus and be productive.
Describe the final project you created during your time in the Immersion Program.
With my final project, I was able to build an AI chatbot, similar to ChatGPT. Making my AI chatbot took me through a series of ups and downs. Every time I felt like I was getting something done, like a large piece of code, I would run into some errors. Some of these errors were small, like a spelling issue, or the entire line of code could be wrong or in the wrong order. But through all of this, I was able to learn from my mistakes. With this, I was able to build a great project that I’m personally proud of.
How is The Hidden Genius Project different from other mentorship or training experiences that you have been involved in?
The Hidden Genius Project is different from other mentorship programs because I was surrounded by inspiring young Black men who looked like me. The staff really showed up for us and gave us what we needed, when we needed it. All while making sure we had a great time. My time there wasn’t just about working hard; it was also a safe space where I could be myself and build meaningful connections.
What specific skills learned in The Hidden Genius Project have been most beneficial for you? List your top 4 skills with descriptions.
While I learned many skills while at The Hidden Genius Project, there are four that have really stuck with me. The first is technology creation. By learning about technology creation, I was able to build my own projects and then go on to do other programs focused on tech and coding. Another skill is critical thinking. The Hidden Genius Project helped me further develop my critical thinking skills by allowing me to find methods to get around issues, like finding the best way to get around a bug in code or problem-solving in general. This ties into my problem-solving skills, which helped me find strong solutions. My last skill is leadership. The Hidden Genius Project helped me improve my leadership skills by allowing me to work in teams and take action with my group while sharing our knowledge with upcoming cohorts and guiding them on the right path.
What was the most important thing you gained on a personal level from participating in The Hidden Genius Project?
The most important thing I gained from participating in The Hidden Genius Project was my community. The people I met through the program continue to support me to this day, whether it’s helping with college applications, finding employment, or simply coming by the office to catch up. Beyond the community, The Hidden Genius Project helped me grow personally. Before joining, I lacked the drive to be different or make things out of the ordinary. I was simple-minded and often dependent on others, but the program helped me develop a stronger mindset, set bigger goals, and think outside the box. It also gave me the opportunity to discover something I was good at and gain real practice with it, which guided me toward a major and career I now want to pursue: computer science. Looking back, if I hadn’t participated in The Hidden Genius Project, I think I would have faced more challenges in school and college, and I wouldn’t have grown as independent or gained the broader understanding of the world that I have today
In what ways has the staff of The Hidden Genius Project stayed connected and continued to support you since graduating from the program?
The staff has stayed connected to me in a couple of ways. They call to check up on me, especially if they haven’t heard from me in a while, and invite me to events in the Bay Area, like a Jordan event for NBA All-Star Weekend. They also support me by emailing to make sure I’m doing well with things like college applications or by reaching out about upcoming workshops, whether they are academic or just for fun. I personally try to stay involved as much as possible. I go to the office when I can, go to events, and help out in any way I can. I also participate in volunteer events like Interview Day to help find great candidates for the incoming cohorts.
If you could talk to yourself just before you applied, what is one thing you would say?
If I could talk to myself before I applied, I would tell myself to really take advantage of everything The Hidden Genius Project has to offer and really realize how great an opportunity it is. I would say this because I feel like, at times, I didn’t give it my all when I should have. Programs like this don’t come by often.
What words of encouragement do you have for future Geniuses?
Really just give it your all, lock in, and get it done. Have fun and enjoy yourself, but know that when it’s time to work, work. Chances to have fun can wait for later.
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