Story by Philippe Djegal
OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — The Hidden Genius Project, an Oakland-based nonprofit, is training the next generation of Black computer scientists and entrepreneurs through intensive technology programs. Founded in 2012, the organization provides free mentorship and technical training to high school-aged Black boys and young men.
Headquartered in downtown Oakland, the project has expanded to nine cities across the United States, including Richmond and Los Angeles. The organization focuses on maximizing access for young people to realize their potential in fields like software development and artificial intelligence.
The organization’s core offering is a 15-month intensive immersion program that provides 800 hours of training from one summer to the next. This free, extracurricular activity connects mentors with youth to build technical skills and leadership capabilities. Brieana Johnson serves as the pedagogy director for the nonprofit, where she oversees the instructors and alumni who teach the youth.
“We are preparing our geniuses for anything that they want to do,” Johnson said.
The curriculum includes specialty tracks in artificial intelligence, mobile app development and game development.
“We have different specialty tracks,” Johnson said. “Once they kind of have had a sample of each one, they can say, ‘actually, I’m really interested in web development,’ or, ‘I’m really interested in AI.’”
The Hidden Genius Project operates the Ubuntu Center, a teen tech center equipped with specialized tools for students to create physical prototypes and digital content. Donovan Nutting, an alumnus who now works as a full-time staff member, credited the organization for providing a path to his career goals.
“I don’t know where I’d be without The Hidden Genius Project,” Nutting said. “It was my gateway to be able to become a game developer, which is my aspiration in life.”
The center includes a 3D printing space, a music production studio and laser engraving equipment for graphic designers.
The program also focuses on entrepreneurship, helping students launch small businesses. Alumnus Nyjel Todd used the tech center’s resources to grow his electronics repair business, Mobile Emergency. The business repairs phones, tablets, computers and gaming consoles.
“Knowledge is power and you know, you have, like, all these different resources to get that knowledge,” Todd said.
Brandon Nicholson has served as the CEO of The Hidden Genius Project since 2015, having been with the organization since it was founded in 2012. Nicholson, an Oakland native, noted that participants are often focused on how their work can benefit their communities.
“We’re really about maximizing access and opportunity for young people to realize their potential,” Nicholson said. He emphasized that the success of the participants often creates further opportunities for other young people in their neighborhoods.
Since its inception, the organization has facilitated programming for more than 18,000 young people globally, with nearly 1,000 students completing the intensive immersion program. According to Nicholson, more than 99% of those students graduate from high school and 85% enter post-secondary education.
“Our work to build Black youth leaders is an effort to build leaders for the world,” Nicholson said.