YR Interactive’s Storm White and Lo Benichou
Photo Credit: Johnathon Henninger
This past weekend, Youth Radio teamed up with young people across the Bay Area, and professionals across tech and design industries, for the My Brother’s Keeper Hackathon at Qeyno Labs.
Young people kicked off the Hackathon by pitching ideas for apps or websites that would address community needs. Teams then got to work, further developing the framework and design for these ideas.
After a weekend of hard work, Hackathon teams presented their app and websites designs.
Youth Radio youth and staff led the first and second place winning teams to victory. First place went to an idea pitched by YR Interactive Project Associate Storm White and Jabril Sohan from Contra Costa College. Their team, with support from YR Interactive New Developer Lo Benichou, created the plans for “My Study Buddy,” an app that would provide Peralta College students with resources to plan study groups and build community based on their classes and majors.
Prototype for “My Study Buddy”
Designed by YRI’s Storm and Lo
Storm was even featured in USA Today for the idea. The story talked about her aspirations to combine graphic design with computer science to “figure out how computers work and how I can artistically manipulate technology.”
The second placed winning team, which included YR Interactive Manager Asha Richardson, brought 8th grader Haji Conda’s “Fund Me PC” to life. This website aims to bridge the digital divide by allowing students to create crowdfunding campaigns for needed computers, which people could donate via the website or text message.
Other app ideas included a game to make history fun; “happy for life,” an app where young people could notify their friends when they are feeling down and send affirmations to support each other; and an app to make youth feel more safe in their communities.
Youth Radio Interactive was proud to be a part of this wonderful experience collaborating with young people and professionals across different career and education paths.