January/February 2024
Jasmine Jackson - The Accelerated Training Program (T-ATP)
“Eradicating The Digital Divide, One Student At A Time”
I knew I wanted to major in Computer Science after my first job at Access to Software for All People (ASAP), a non-profit created to provide inner-city kids with technology skills. Before ASAP, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. When teachers or family members would ask me that question, I gave the standard answer–a doctor or lawyer--but I didn’t mean it.
ASAP set me on the path of lifelong learning. After starting at ASAP, I wanted to learn everything about technology because it was fun. The only problem was that I didn’t own a computer at home, but that didn’t stop me. I would go to the public library, use their rotating 15-minute computers, and create websites. At 17, I received my first computer, and six months later, I was starting college, majoring in Computer Science.
Once I started college, it was a complete 180. First, I noticed I was either the only African-American, woman, or both in most of my computer science courses. In high school, I had classmates from different races and backgrounds. Second, I realized how behind I was from my classmates. I discovered that a few of my classmates started programming in elementary or middle school, while I started coding less than a year before college. It was hard, but I graduated with my Bachelor's in Computer Science. Afterward, I graduated with my Master’s in Computer Science and a Graduate Certificate in Information Security and Privacy.
While I have known I wanted to major in computer science since my first job at ASAP, I also knew I wanted to work in cybersecurity. As a teenager, I initially thought it would be in cryptography after discovering a Yahoo! Group discussing different techniques. About five years after graduating with my master’s, I transferred to the cybersecurity field from being a developer. The cybersecurity field reminded me of my college years, where I was the only African-American, woman, or both at work.
Due to the lack of diversity and accessibility in the cybersecurity field, I started my non–profit, The Accelerated Training Program (T-ATP). T-ATP teaches cybersecurity fundamentals and digital literacy skills to underrepresented and underserved K-12 students with little experience in a one-month workshop. Currently, we’re on our third workshop. With more of our assets becoming digital, everyone needs a basic understanding of digital literacy and cybersecurity. This initiative of learning digital literacy and cybersecurity is highlighted in Pillar 1 of the White House’s National Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Strategy. Some of the topics accelerators learn in our workshops are Digital Forensics, Web Application Hacking, and Web Development. Accelerators who complete the workshop receive a laptop. Our thought process for providing laptops to accelerators is for them to continue learning after the workshop ends. To learn more about T-ATP or get more information about our upcoming workshops, please visit our website at https://www.t-atp.org.