Afterschool programs teach students tech as LAUSD restructures



When Jonathan Marcelino’s parents told him he could either own a computer or a cell phone, the decision was not difficult for the 17-year-old to make.

As the eldest of four children born to Mexican immigrants living on a tight budget in Nickerson Gardens, a Watts public housing project, Marcelino knew that although he would have liked to have a phone to regularly text friends, a computer would be more productive.

“Regardless of where I go, I want to study computer science,” he said. “I want to do cool stuff, make money and then do a nonprofit. That’s why you don’t see me running with a phone.”

The lack of exposure to technology and its practical applications in daily life is a reality many students living in and around South Los Angeles face, Marcelino said.

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Teens Exploring Technology celebrates grand opening of community space



A student at TXT. | Stephanie Monte

A student stays focused on his laptop at TXT. | Stephanie Monte

Teens Exploring Technology, or simply TXT, celebrated the opening of its multi-purpose, innovative space called “The Cube” last weekend. The Cube, at 1481 West Adams Boulevard, provides the community with a variety of technological services and educational programs.

TXT, formerly known as Urban Txt, believes that technology should be accessible to people of all socio-economic statuses. The organization hopes to use The Cube to develop a culture of innovation, collaboration and resilience to make a social impact in disenfranchised communities. The space is designed to cater to the wishes and needs of South L.A. residents to offer support with tasks such as research for school assignments or creating a resume for job applications. The Cube will also host a variety of free workshops involving technology. Community members can learn coding for websites, Adobe Photoshop and Avid Pro Tools. A library of books on entrepreneurship, technology and coding is also available. TXT’s founder and executive director, Oscar N. Menjivar, received a $25,000 grant from the Annenberg Foundation to launch The Cube.

See also: Teen tech leaders compete in Demo Day 2014

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Teen tech leaders compete in Demo Day 2014



URBAN TxT Demo Day 2014

URBAN TxT Demo Day 2014 | Willa Seidenberg

“South L.A. is a tech desert, but URBAN TxT is changing that,” proclaimed Oscar Menjivar, founder of Urban TxT (Teens Exploring Technology) at the organization’s Demo Day 2014, held Saturday at the University of Southern California’s Salvatori Hall.

URBAN TxT, which announced it is rebranding itself as TxT, is a non-profit that works with inner-city boys to develop tomorrow’s technology leaders and to bring change to their communities. [Read more…]