The Hidden Genius Project extends to Long Beach, concentrates on guiding young Black men

The Hidden Genius Project, an Oakland-based technology and entrepreneur nonprofit, officially staked its claim in Long Beach during Saturday morning’s grand opening in Eastside Long Beach.

The organization focuses on training and mentoring young Black men in technology creation, entrepreneurship and leadership through its 15-month, 800-hour Intensive Immersion Program. The project calls participants and alumni who go through their program geniuses, a play on the project title. 

The Hidden Genius Project instructs 24 geniuses, youth between eight and 10th grade, on how to build websites and mobile apps, AI systems, AI ethics and how to start a business (and how to use tech to promote them). 

According to the Long Beach Site Director, Montanna McDaniel, they have already picked a cohort for this year and began the program Monday. 

He said youth in general often don’t know what to do once they leave high school and extracurricular programs like The Hidden Genius Project can help them lean towards their interests. 

“[It’s] giving young Black men something that’s bigger than themselves to keep them out of God knows what,” McDaniel said. “Society typically deems them as ‘they’re all gonna either be in jail or dead by X amount of age.’” 

The Hidden Genius Project runs throughout the year, with the summer program running Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including business trips on Fridays. While the students are in school (during spring and fall), the program runs every second Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The 24 geniuses will then become “outgoing students” after one year in the program, meaning they’ll choose something to specialize in, continue working on their big project (an app, video game or website) and help mentor the incoming cohort.

Rashaan Young Jones was a genius in the Oakland 7 cohort of The Hidden Genius Project in 2018-2019, when he was a high school sophomore. 

“I learned a lot about computer science but most importantly, I would say I built a brotherhood with some lifelong friends [I still talk to this day], learned a lot about entrepreneurship and also networking with the community.” 

– Rashaan Young Jones

Jones will be one of two Long Beach innovation educators, passing that same knowledge he learned from the program to local youth. 

In addition to the education on computer science, entrepreneurship and business, Jones says the participating youth will be provided with daily food, a MacBook and a stipend. 

“We’re paying them to get educated and we’re giving them all the knowledge they need to succeed in their next steps of life,” Jones said.  

The grand opening, however, comes after The Hidden Genius Project had to suspend operations in Atlanta, Baltimore and Chicago one week ago, which could be a concern for the long-term future of the Long Beach location. 

“We have no idea knowing [if this could happen to Long Beach] and we know Long Beach, Atlanta, [and] everywhere else that are navigating these really hard times,” said Brandon Nicholson, The Hidden Genius Project chief executive officer. “What we can be sure of is insofar as we get to be here every day, we are deeply, vehemently, doggedly dedicated to affecting serious impact for these young people.”  

Nicholson said that the denials of funding and entities’ shifting engagement dramatically were the cause of the shutdowns.

“We see our young people as opportunity … so if there are folks who believe in that, then we are a great organization to support,” Nicholson said. “If there are folks who’d rather that not happen, then that puts us naturally at odds with the landscape where our success is at odds with or a threat to some folks as well.”

“What today is about is saying that we’re actually still very much here,” he said. 

The World Foundation helped launch the Long Beach sector of the project, guaranteeing the non-profit $800,000 for three years, which McDaniel said helped set the groundwork. McDaniel also mentioned receiving $30,000 from individual high schools such as SATO, Franklin, Jordan, Newcome, Washington and Hughes, as well as $80,000 from the Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN).

He said they’ll be looking for private donors, community support and corporate sponsors, as well as other grants.

“[Funding] is extremely important. We’re able to fund our programming as is but we want to make sure it can continue … it’s critical that we have funding continually be available, continue to come in to support young people,” Nicholson said. 

Applications for next year’s cohort will be coming out in the fall, according to McDaniel. He also said if parents want to apply, they should get involved and welcome an introductory conversation so he can put a name to a face when applications open. 

The Hidden Genius Project will host its yearly Brother’s Code event every December during tech week, where youth participants can play with different technology, practice coding and explore the range of career opportunities in tech. To learn more about the Hidden Genius Project and to learn about future events, check out their website and Instagram.