To assist in bridging the digital divide, the Middle TN BDPA chapter has three focus areas: scholarships, technical training, and professional development.  By focusing on these areas we feel our impact within the community will be far reaching.

Scholarship Program

By developing and offering scholarship opportunities we help students interested in technology.  The program provides assistance in the following areas:

• Participate in BDPA events—participating in BDPA will expose students to technology and provide networking opportunities for them within technology professionals.
• Financial assistance—our chapter has developed a program that will distribute scholarships to students.
• Summer internships—working with local companies we will facilitate introductions between students and local companies.

Technical Training

Our technical training program will focus on providing learning opportunities for students and adults.  The program is divided into several categories:

• Community Training—technology training at various levels of experience will be offered at community centers and schools in the Metro Nashville area.
• High School Computer Competition—this program will work with students who have a passion for computers.  Students participating on the team will gain knowledge from experts currently working in the field of computers.  It will also give students an opportunity to compete on a national level with students across the country at the National BDPA Conference. 
• Black Family Technology Awareness—this is an annual family event geared to exposing people to the various forms of technology and how it affects our everyday life.

Professional Development

Continued professional development for the members of our chapter is very important to us.  To accomplish this we will:

• Provide invaluable opportunities for networking with a variety of industry and non industry professionals.
• Sponsor one BDPA member in the ITSMF Executive Protégé Program.
• Develop a curriculum of interest for program meetings on a variety of business, education, and technical topics.
• Provide opportunities for members to play active roles in planning, developing, and implementing local and national projects.