By: Nick Tomoyasu | LA Rams
Date: Thursday, July 11, 2024
Oakland-based The Hidden Genius Project was founded in 2012 by five Black male entrepreneurs/technologists to bridge the gap between the high unemployment of Black male youth and abundance of career opportunities within the local technology sector.
The solution: starting a program connecting young Black males with the necessary skills, mentors and experiences to become high-performing entrepreneurs and technologists.
The Hidden Genius Project has sites across the country, including Los Angeles. One of key players in carrying out that mission is L.A. Site Director Sherida Harris, and her efforts in doing are why she was recently recognized as the Rams’ fourth “pLAymaker” honoree of 2024.
“I am deeply honored and grateful for the recognition I received by the LA Rams for my community service,” Harris said. “Your acknowledgment means a great deal to me and serves as a powerful validation of the efforts I have invested into my community. It has always been my privilege to contribute to the betterment of greater Los Angeles, and I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such supportive and dedicated individuals. This recognition from an organization such as yours who is also an active participant in social justice initiatives throughout SoCal is not only a personal honor but also a testament to the collaborative spirit that drives our collective efforts.”
Nick Tomoyasu/ LA Rams/© Nick Tomoyasu / LA Rams
Harris’ career has been rooted in providing mindful and enriching experiences for Black and Brown families throughout South Los Angeles for more than two decades. At The Hidden Genius Project’s L.A. site, she uses an empowerment and an asset-based approached to support all youth and their families.
The organization’s programming ranges from its Intensive Immersion Program – a 15-month holistic mentorship experience focused on computer science, software development, entrepreneurship and Leadership training to Black male high school students – to its Catalyst Program offering free single and multi-day events geared toward networking and skill development. The Hidden Genius Project also has alumni who are trained serve as Youth Educators to support the next generation through its Catalyst and Community Partner programs.
“We are a national nonprofit organization that trains and mentors Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities,” Harris said. “Through our student-centered, project-based approach, we invest in young Black men in our 15-month Intensive Immersion Program (over 800 hours), give them access to technology training, and plug them into an ecosystem of innovation and empowerment.”
That latter element of that ecosystem is also central to how Harris inspires change.
“I believe that in order to inspire change you have to start with the empowerment of others to believe in their potential and capabilities,” she said. “It involves providing the tools, resources, and support needed for individuals to take charge of their lives and make positive changes. Empowerment is about building confidence, encouraging self-reliance, and helping others recognize that they have the power to influence their own destinies and contribute to the broader community.”
For Harris, inspiring change in one’s own community is a combination of understanding community needs, fostering relationships with local stakeholders, and actively engaging in initiatives that promote growth and improvement. Those three variables are what help cultivate the necessary flexibility to carry it out.
“It’s essential to understand the needs of the community in order to adjust strategies,” Harris said. “One size doesn’t fit most.”
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