Teens Exploring Technology at the White House

Oscar Menjivar, CEO and founder of Teens Exploring Technology (TXT) was an invited guest at the White House’s first South by South Lawn event earlier this month. Inspired by Austin’s SXSW, the event brought together artists, innovators, and social and business entrepreneurs to discuss ideas, art and action within their communities.

Menjivar, who received a shout-out from President Obama,  was on the ‘LA, a Case Study in Innovation’ panel, offering that he has found that the more tools and resources provided to teens from low-income or working class families, the more they are naturally able to come up with innovative solutions to problems within their own communities. Teens in TXT’s program are currently exploring new ways of incorporating gaming into learning to help improve their ability to study for their SATs. Menjivar told the assembled that Los Angeles is experiencing an innovation renaissance “due to the collaboration of the government, private and nonprofit worlds.”

You can watch the recording of the panel here.

Menjivar was also featured in USC News for his work mentoring under-served teen boys throughout Los Angeles in technology skills. TXT has been a project of Community Partners since 2010.