A nonprofit organization that started in Oakland with a mission to mentor Black young men and transform their life through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics now has spread across the country.
“I want to be an entrepreneur, but I’ve also been thinking about inventing,” Hayward High School freshman Adrian Buttram said. “I like tinkering.”
Those are some of the ideas born outside of the classroom and inside the walls of “The Hidden Genius Project,” a space for young Black men to learn technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills while creating community.
“I’ve learned how to use technology to its fullest capabilities, but not only that, but also learn what brotherhood really is,” Buttram said. “Being around people who look like me and are like me, and just having community overall not just doing STEM.”
The program is free and runs for 15 months providing mentorship, resources, and college advisement. It even …