Duane Pierre, Keynote Speaker, Founder of World Wide Youth Network

On Saturday, February 4 Bronx Community College (BCC) in collaboration with the Amadou Diallo Foundation hosted the 10^th Annual Amadou Diallo Youth Arts and Sci-Tech Day. The Science and Technology Entry Program, TRIO Pre-Colligate Programs and the Male Empowerment Network at BCC also participated.

Amadou Diallo was killed by four NYPD officers on February 4, 1999. His death was the spark for almost 25 years of social and political protest around the killing of unarmed Black and Latino youth by the police across the United States.

The program at BCC for the Amadou Diallo Youth Arts and Sci-Tech Day focused on providing Bronx middle, high school and college students with career information on the billion-dollar video gaming industry. Research indicates that Black and Latino youth disproportionately spend their time and money on video game technology.

More than 70 students participated in workshops led by professionals in the video game field. Duane Pierre of Connecticut’s World Wide Youth Network, an organization dedicated to teaching inner-city students about the business aspects of video gaming, gave the keynote address.

Participants also heard from Mrs. Kadiatou Diallo; the mother of Amadou who spoke to the audience via Zoom. She encouraged the students to pursue their aspirations in school. “You must acquire the academic skills and social awareness needed to make real changes in this country,” she said.

After the workshops and presentations, the youth participated in organized video game competition activities using Nintendo Smash Brother consoles and PlayStation systems.

BCC was honored to host this prestigious event as part of its Black History Month celebration.