Press Releases
Recent announcements and updates
For press inquiries, please email press@www.smash.org.
IIT Scholarship for SMASH Alumni
Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) today announced that, in support of their ongoing partnership with SMASH and the Creating Pathways and Access for Student Success (CPASS) Foundation, the university... Read More
SMASH STEM Program Launching in Illinois in Partnership with Illinois Tech, SIU Carbondale and CPASS Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2019 Contact: Kim Bardakian, 510.499.5723, kim@kaporcenter.org First State-Wide Program Model for Free World-Class STEM Program for Students from Underrepresented Communities Chicago, IL (January 24, 2019)... Read More
Google officially opens new office in Detroit
Tech company grows presence, commitment to Motor City, Michigan; commemorates occasion with $1 million in grants to increase access to STEM education opportunities for underrepresented, low-income high school students ... Read More
Wayne State to partner with SMASH, cutting-edge STEM program on initiative for Detroit high schoolers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 4, 2018 Contact: Ashleigh Richelle, 408.387.4353, ashleigh@www.smash.org Darrell Dawsey, 313.577.1204, darrell.dawsey@wayne.edu DETROIT — In an effort to encourage first-generation and underrepresented local high school students to pursue... Read More
SMASH STEM Program Prepares for Launch at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 26, 2017 Contact: Ashleigh Richelle, 408.387.4353, ashleigh@smash.org Peter Winicov, 215.746.6471, winicov@wharton.upenn.edu First Ivy League Institution to Host Free World-Class STEM-Business Program for Students from Underrepresented Communities... Read More
Level Playing Field Institute to Expand Top STEM Education Program Nationally With Support from AT&T
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2017 Contact: Ashleigh Richelle, (408-387-4353), ashleigh@www.smash.org Level Playing Field Institute to Expand Top STEM Education Program Nationally With Support from AT&T Oakland, CA (June 20,... Read More
Level Playing Field Institute Welcomes New Board Members, Ellen Pao and Steven Wolfe Pereira
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 30, 2017 Contact: Ashleigh Richelle, (408-387-4353), ashleigh@www.smash.org Level Playing Field Institute Welcomes New Board Members, Ellen Pao and Steven Wolfe Pereira Oakland, CA (March 30, 2017)... Read More
Young People of Color “Hack” Violence at Black History Month Youth Hack Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 25, 2017 Contact: Ashleigh Richelle, (408-387-4353), ashleigh@www.smash.org Young People of Color “Hack” Violence at Black History Month Youth Hack Day Atlanta, GA (February 25, 2017) –... Read More
ADVISORY: Black History Month Youth Hack Day in Atlanta Focuses on Innovating Conflict Resolution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 22, 2016 *MEDIA ALERT/PHOTO & VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES* Black History Month Youth Hack Day in Atlanta Focuses on Innovating Conflict Resolution Free Hackathon Gathers Middle &... Read More
SMASH Academy Prepares for New Site Launch at UC Davis
Oakland, CA (March 24, 2016) – In a partnership between the University of California, Davis, and the Level Playing Field Institute (LPFI), the Summer Math and Science Honors (SMASH) Academy... Read More
LPFI Launches SMASH Pathways Pilot Program at Morehouse College
Oakland, CA (March 8, 2016) – The Summer Math and Science Honors (SMASH) Pathways program announces today a new pilot program in partnership with Morehouse College, and has begun accepting... Read More
LPFI Welcomes Eli Kennedy as its New Chief Executive Officer
Oakland, CA (March 7, 2016) – The Level Playing Field Institute’s Board of Directors announced today that Eli Kennedy has been named its new Chief Executive Officer. Eli will succeed... Read More
ADVISORY: Fairness Matters Forum 2015
For Planning Purposes Only Contact: Derek Turner Derek@www.smash.org, 323-388-9441 LPFI Honors UC Berkeley Prof. Dan Garcia and Slack Engineer Erica Baker as Tech Diversity Champions at Annual Fairness Matters Forum... Read More
LPFI Hosts Social Impact Hackathon for Underrepresented Students in Tech; David Johns of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans Offered Keynote Remarks
(Atlanta) – Nearly one hundred 8th 9th and 10th grade students from Atlanta gathered at Morehouse College this weekend for the “Level the Coding Field” hackathon, a two-day event designed... Read More
LPFI to Host Social Justice-Themed Hackathon In Atlanta
For Planning Purposes Only Contact: Derek Turner derek@www.smash.org 323-388-9441 ***PRESS ADVISORY*** Students to Leverage Tech to Tackle Social Justice Issues During LPFI Computer Coding Event in Atlanta Finalist Pitches, Keynote & Award Ceremony ... Read More
LPFI Hosts Social Impact Hackathon for Underrepresented Students in Tech
The winning team creates an app for students to give feedback to their teachers (San Francisco) Yesterday, the Level Playing Field Institute (LPFI) concluded its “Level the Coding Field” hackathon, a two-day... Read More
Diverse Students Leverage Tech to Tackles Social Justice Issues During LPFI Hackathon
Finalist Pitches and Award Ceremony August 23rd, 2015 1:30pm – 3:30pm Twilio Headquarters, 645 Harrison St, San Francisco CA Press RSVP Required at Derek@www.smash.org On August 22nd and 23rd, the Level Playing Field Institute (LPFI)... Read More
With $40 Million Dollar Investment, Kapor Organizations Double Down on Tech Diversity at White House Demo Day
(Washington, DC) – During the first inaugural White House Demo Day, impact investors Mitch Kapor & Freada Kapor Klein announced that the Kapor family of organizations — Kapor Capital, the Kapor Center for... Read More
ADVISORY: Level Playing Field Institute to Release New Report on Severe Disparities in Computer Science Education in California
(Oakland, CA) On May 7th, students across the nation will sit down to take the Advanced Placement Computer Science exam. Unfortunately, very few test takers in California will be students of color or... Read More
LPFI and #YesWeCode Host Hackathon in Detroit
The first hackathon of its kind was held in Detroit and was fantastic! Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this event. Read about the... Read More
Level Playing Field Institute Partners with TEALS and Oakland Unified Schools to Advance Computer Science Education
February 21, 2015 (Oakland, CA) – Over 100 people gathered at the East Bay Community Foundation to discuss the unique joint effort between the Level Playing Field Institute (LPFI)... Read More
Statement of Twitter Diversity Data from the Level Playing Field Institute
The Level Playing Field Institute (LPFI) has issued the following statement in response to Twitter’s decision to release its diversity data that shows the social media company is mostly white... Read More
Benjamin Todd Jealous Joins LPFI Board of Directors
Former head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Ben Jealous, Joins Level Playing Field Institute Board of Directors FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Bianca Escalante, Associate Director... Read More