May 2021 | Page 51

STEM career pathways event ( pre-pandemic ) with Blue Heart Foundation members and mentors including Josh Williams , SDG & E Electrical Engineer
In the workshop , I learned breathing techniques and that mindfulness was a purposeful act . I am excited to start meditating … 30 minutes a day . Just me and my thoughts .” – Josiah Johnson , Blue Heart President , Class of 2021
Through support from companies like San Diego Gas & Electric and its Inspiring Future Leaders giving initiative , Blue Heart members and mentors are able to develop workshops specifically for STEM careers . In addition to learning team building skills and project management , they explore STEM careers in energy . STEM has become a key aspect of programming at Blue Heart , as it offers young Black men critical thinking skills and confidence building opportunities . This year ’ s STEM project , for example , challenges the young men to build and program an interactive , exercise “ smart mirror ” with facial recognition capability based on Raspberry Pi technology and HTML coding .
Over the past few years , I have had the fortune to volunteer with the Blue Heart Foundation , and it is amazing to see how dynamic and brilliant these young men are . The Blue Heart Foundation is more than just an organization , it is a family , it is a brotherhood .” – Josh Williams , SDG & E Electrical Engineer
Community support and partnerships play a critical role in enabling Blue Heart to serve all the essential needs of its members and their families . To learn more about The Blue Heart Foundation or to lend your support , please visit theblueheartfoundation . org .
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