With advanced technology and large language models shaping the future of STEM, it’s evident that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay. Perficient believes that educating the next generation of leaders about AI concepts is vital. Today, we’re thrilled to share that Perficient has received an Innovation in Philanthropy Award from the St. Louis Business Journal for our collaboration with the Mark Cuban Foundation to host no-cost AI bootcamps for high school students.
The award program honors local partnerships for going above and beyond standard philanthropic practices and initiatives to improve the community. Bill Davis, a Senior Vice President at Perficient, recently sat down with the St. Louis Business Journal to share more information about our award-winning partnership and what’s ahead for 2024. Read the published article to learn more.
“We do a lot of work across many disciplines, but certainly around machine learning, and artificial intelligence for many years,” said Bill. “Our partnership with the Mark Cuban Foundation is an opportunity for [our employees] to give back in an area where they have an innate interest, passion and experience and expertise already.”
READ MORE: Perficient’s 2023 Community Impact Report Spotlights Our AI Bootcamp Partnership
Perficient Expands Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Partnership
Since 2019, the Mark Cuban Foundation has hosted AI Bootcamps in more than 30 cities in the United States, with a mission to educate students on AI capabilities so they can create a more equitable future. The four-week AI Bootcamps are designed to introduce students in grades 9-12 to foundational AI concepts through educational presentations, interactive lessons, and lab exercises. 
This marks Perficient’s third consecutive year collaborating with the Foundation to provide free AI Bootcamps to underserved constituencies and communities. Through the AI Bootcamps program, Perficient is addressing the inequality in access and availability of AI educational resources by providing students with food, laptops, transportation, and educational materials that will assist them in their future careers.
Our Innovation in Philanthropy Award recognition follows Perficient’s partnership extension with the Mark Cuban Foundation to continue offering AI Bootcamps in Dallas, Houston, Detroit, and St. Louis, while creating additional programs in Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Fargo, North Dakota.
READ MORE: Learn About Perficient’s 2023 Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps
Our Colleagues Are Making a Difference Through Mentorship
Perficient colleagues are incredibly passionate about giving back and strive to make a collective impact on the communities in which they live and work. With each Perficient-hosted AI Bootcamp, our colleagues can volunteer as mentors and share their knowledge with participants. By volunteering their time and talent to educate and prepare students for future STEM careers, many colleagues leave the AI Bootcamp programs feeling inspired to continue giving back.
“The bootcamp was incredible,” said Alex McBride, a senior project manager in Perficient’s Houston office. “From an educational perspective, it was a great opportunity for kids to see basic theories and principles around AI design. The kids learned enough in four days to participate in a capstone project that gave them the opportunity to pitch their own AI-based concepts and solutions.”
LEARN MORE: Watch The Video to Discover How Our Colleagues are Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders
Parents and students interested in attending a Perficient-hosted AI Bootcamp can learn more about the program and find applications on the Mark Cuban Foundation website. Explore the pictures below to see first-hand experiences from our award-winning partnership and Perficient-sponsored AI Bootcamps.
At Perficient, we continually look for ways to champion and challenge our talented workforce with interesting projects for high-profile clients, encourage personal and professional growth through training and mentoring, and celebrate our people-oriented culture and the innovative ways they serve Perficient and the community.
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