By: Ron Brown Scholar Program x The Hidden Genius Project
Date: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Media Contact: Karen Lewis, Going Public PR, (323) 424-9400 or [email protected]
(Oakland, CA – March 12, 2024) – The Hidden Genius Project proudly announces that its CEO, Dr. Brandon Nicholson, will be honored with The American Journey Award for Emerging Leadership on March 22 at The Ritz Carlton in Washington, DC. Dr. Nicholson, selected as a Ron Brown Scholar in 2001, is recognized for his outstanding contributions to training and mentoring Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills, thereby transforming lives and communities.
“As a Ron Brown Scholar Alum and CEO of The Hidden Genius Project, receiving the Ron Brown American Journey Award is a profound honor. It symbolizes a continuation of Ron Brown’s legacy of fostering opportunities, nurturing achievements, and embodying the transformative vision of mentorship and service. This award serves as a reminder of the power we hold to cultivate a network of leaders who will shape the future of America for the better,” said Dr. Brandon Nicholson.
Established in 2009, The Ronald H. Brown American Journey Award celebrates individuals who embody the transformative vision of former Secretary of Commerce, Ronald H. Brown, fostering opportunities and nurturing the achievements of others. Like the late Ron Brown, awardees demonstrate the importance of mentoring, service, and nurturing a network of leaders in America.
Dr. Nicholson possesses a deep passion for investing in and developing youth of color. His dedication to educating and mentoring youth of color about technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership goes beyond the traditional scope of his role as a nonprofit CEO, but as a charismatic, servant leader who is unapologetic about helping young people realize their true potential.
Under Dr. Nicholson’s exceptional leadership, The Hidden Genius Project, a global institution, has evolved from a small, grassroots organization with a shoestring budget in Oakland to a multi-million dollar enterprise spanning seven cities across the United States, serving over 11,000 young people of color.
Joining Dr. Nicholson as esteemed honorees are Ms. Sheila Johnson, Founder and CEO of Salamander Collection, recipient of the Ronald H. Brown American Journey Award; Dr. Carmelle T. Norice, Clinical Director at Merck Research Laboratories, awarded the Robert B. Binswanger Communitarian Award; and Margaret Ivey, Actor and Teaching Artist, granted the Christopher A. Pilaro Fellowship in the Arts. Notably, Dr. Norice and Ms. Ivey are also distinguished Ron Brown Scholar Alumni.
The American Journey Awards ceremony, slated for March 22, is an occasion to celebrate these exceptional individuals and their impactful journeys. Attendees are invited to visit the American Journey Awards website to purchase tickets and explore sponsorship opportunities. All event proceeds directly support scholarship and mentoring initiatives for Ron Brown Scholars.
For further information, please contact Karen Lewis at (323) 424-9400 or [email protected].
About The Hidden Genius Project
The Hidden Genius Project, a national nonprofit organization, trains and mentors Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities. Through their student-centered, project-based approach, they invest in young Black men, give them access to technology training, and plug them into an ecosystem of innovation and empowerment. Visit www.hiddengeniusproject.org to learn more.
About Ron Brown Scholar Program
Established in 1996, the Ron Brown Scholar Program (RBSP) aims to advance higher education and improve the lives of service-minded and intellectually gifted African Americans, and to accelerate their progress into impactful leadership roles and opportunities. This is done through Program initiatives which focus on college access and persistence, leadership training and workforce development. The Program supports more than 2,000 students annually through its three initiatives: The Signature Scholarship, The Guided Pathway Support Program (GPS) and the Ron Brown – Ruth and Norman Rales Leaders Network. Visit www.ronbrown.org to learn more.
