Community Engagement
On November 4, Open Technology Group participated in LUNGevity Foundation’s 2023 Breath Deep TOGETHER 5k in-person event on the National Mall in DC to kick off Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Raising over $33,000 for lung cancer research, OTG was the top fundraising team in the nation-wide event.
Since 2015, Open Technology Group has raised over $173,000 to fight lung cancer, and we remain as committed as ever to the fight against this disease that takes countless lives every day. Lung cancer remains America's most lethal form of cancer, taking more lives than colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer combined. As a result of increased awareness and funding to support the researchers who work tirelessly on life-saving developments, we see tremendous strides toward a cure ever day.
LUNGevity Foundation is the nation’s leading lung cancer organization focused on improving outcomes for people with lung cancer through research, education, support and engagement for patients, survivors and caregivers. LUNGevity seeks to make an immediate impact on quality of life and survivorship for everyone touched by the disease—while promoting health equity by addressing disparities throughout the care continuum. LUNGevity works tirelessly to advance research into early detection and more effective treatments, provide information and educational tools to empower patients and their caregivers, promote impactful public policy initiatives, and amplify the patient voice through research and engagement. The organization provides an active community for patients and survivors—and those who help them live longer and better lives.
Summer Institute on Education, Equity, and Justice
Eradicating the Stigma: Prioritizing Mental Health in PreK-16 Education
The annual American University School of Education Summer Institute on Education Equity and Justice (SIEEJ) was developed to convene local and national educators and education advocates to highlight new practices and strategies for addressing the educational needs of Black, Brown, and indigenous students. The 2023 theme was Eradicating the Stigma: Prioritizing Mental Health in PreK-16 Education with major speakers including Dr. Tyrone Howard, Dr. Norma Day-Vines, Dr. Joanne Frederick, Dr. Carlos Hipolito-Delgado, Dr. Ian Levy, and many more. The event thoroughly examined the intersection of racism in education, and intentionally centered the voices and experiences of people of color. All SIEEJ learning sessions were offered virtually with recordings of sessions available only to registered attendees after the institute concludes.
Alpha Phi Alpha STEM Symposium
Sponsored the Alpha Phi Alpha STEM Symposium for 8th-12th graders considering pursuing STEM fields after high school. The workshop offered hands-on experience designed to increase students’ ability to grasp critical scientific concepts with an emphasis on technology that will enhance their tech proficiency, giving them a broad foundation in technology and helping them prepare for future college studies and careers in STEM majors and minors. Key topics included cyber security, cloud computing, engineering, and data science.
Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Youth STEM Scholarship
Donated to the Brigadier General Charles McGee Youth STEM Scholarship Program, which aims to increase the STEM pipeline for historically underserved and underrepresented American youth while continuing the legacy of the legendary fighter pilot and Tuskegee Airman who gave us the mantra, “perceive, prepare, perform and persevere.” Need-based scholarships are awarded to students in grades 4-8 to attend STEM summer camps and to high school and college students who pursue STEM degrees at any of our Nation’s 102 HBCUs.
A Sound Mind, Mental Health in PreK-12 Schools
Co-sponsored “A Sound Mind,” a mental health seminar and fundraising event enabling Pre-K through 12th-grade educators to advance their knowledge about mental illness and promote empirical research for the public good. Over 300 people attended the event, which explored culturally responsive approaches to mental health in our schools and raised over $3000.