BLERDNATION™

Websites

•   MyQuestToTeach.WordPress.com/

Favorites (hover / click to see name)

• movies

  • Transformers - All
  • StarGate
  • Star Wars - All

• music

  • Marvin Gaye
  • Kindred
  • Kem
  • Three Days Grace

• publications

  • Mis-Education of the Negro - Woodson
  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X - Haley
  • Googled: The End of the World As We Know It: - Ken Auletta
  • Re-examining the life of Malcolm X - Manning Marable

• I am BlerdNation because...

  I am Blerdnation Because... I work to provide information that is informative, relevant to multiple generations and applies to Blacks and people of color. Writing from my experiences as a educator, parent, mentor, Black man, and community participant. My desire to help others to improve their use of technology to promote the positive aspects of their life and community. The ability and willingness to share content to encourage intellectual thinking, bridging not only the digital divide, but generational divides among Blacks. Working to build the next generation of Blerds teaching at a STEAM Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics inner city and Title One school. When I speak at conferences I try to provide positive information that can be applied instantly and is easy to understand and helps to get people to think.

• Who is your blerd role model? Why?

  My Blerd role model is 1. My mother who as a high school business teacher went from teaching shorthand and typewriter skills in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's to using early IBM business computers to teach students business applications. She was self taught in technology and inspired me to learn as much about technology as possible. My mother taught over 40 years in Camden New Jersey at Camden High School and was pivotal in how high school students learned to be productive in empowered. She was even able to get many boys to take typing classes to enhance their skills for the business world. My mother was a Blerd before the word was created.

• How do you stay connected to other blerds?

  The best way I stay connected to other Blerds is by Social Media applications of Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and joining online discussion groups like BlerdNation. I enjoy reading other bloggers content about their experiences both good and bad to learn how to apply their lessons to my experiences and to share with the students and teachers at my school. Blogging myself on a regular basis I receive feedback from my postings about if and how my blogging is relevant. When I speak at conferences or workshops I share my contact information to make myself available to youth as a mentor and role model. It is important that youth and teens know they have someone they can get advice from. Someone they can trust.

• What’s your most awkward blerd moment?

  My most awkward Blerd moment was when I was at a seminar on Social Media and I started off by yelling, "What's Up My Blerds?" and no one know what I was talking about. They looked at me as if I just insulted them, I had to explain what a Blerd was and that it was a compliment to be referred to as a Blerd. This worked out great at the end of the presentation because it gave me an opportunity to share the great things about technology, Social Media and STEAM for Black youth.

• What’s your favorite word/phrase?

  Malcolm X... Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.

• What are your goals/passions?

  My goals are to be able to speak across the country on the safe use of Social Media. Teach youth, teens and young adults how to effectively Market and Brand themselves using Social Media and the importance of positive and empowering content. To share the value of blogging as a valued skill in education and careers that require writing skills, writing articulation and expression with passion. My passions are teaching technology to Blacks because too many are setting themselves up for failure with text, pictures, videos that are not respectful, intelligent, purposeful with positive information.

• What are you listening to, watching, or reading that impacts you or that is giving you a different perspective?

  There is not a set type of music that I listen to. Whatever inspires me and motivates me at that time. I transition from gospel, classical, jazz, to heavy metal, to showtime music to music from video games. When I write a blog I try to get music that matches my mood. When I watch television or movies I love SciFi. I watch Netflix, Hulu and DirectTV catching the Documentary Channel, Military Channel, SciFi Channel. The specific shows I enjoy are NCIS, Big Bang Theory, Star Trek Next Generation, Falling Skies, Battle Los Angeles, and even some cartoons on Cartoon Network. Reading because of the time element I visit the library and get books on DVD. I enjoy just sitting down during lunch or quiet times and listening to fiction and nonfiction. I value my library card a great deal.

• Are there any famous, or not-so-famous, people that you think would be a great addition to BlerdNation?

  I think people like Tiffany Duhart here in Jacksonville, Florida would be a great contribution because of her Social Media knowledge. Her ability to consume and integrate different types of technology using it as an educational and news resource. The strength of my own knowledge and abilities is from my friendship with Tiffany. A great compliment is from my wife who gets motivation from Tiffany to blog on her cooking ability. Tiffany Duhart https://www.facebook.com/tiffany.duhart

• What advice would you give to other blerds?

  My advice to other Blerds as a Ole School Blerd is to write with passion and a purpose. Be engaging, be innovative with your content, but responsible and make yourself accountable. There are so many people blogging to make tons of money, but the goal should be to blog to educate and leave an anointing of knowledge and wisdom. Remember when you blog you are giving a part of yourself to others, so make sure what you give can be shared and enjoyed.