Program Overview

Howard University Robotics & AI Community Outreach Program

The Howard University Robotics & AI Community Outreach Program is a groundbreaking initiative that provides cutting-edge experiences to local high school students. This program is made possible through support from Amazon Fulfillment Technologies and Robotics and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Program Description

The program is designed to bridge the gap in access to hands-on experiences with cutting-edge robotics and AI technologies. It offers students the opportunity to interact with AI-enabled devices while learning from robotics experts. Students will gain firsthand exposure to drones, Vex Robotics, Amazon Astro home monitoring robots, and Howard University "Mecca Bots" autonomous robots.

Program Details

• Date: March 17, 2025
• Time: 8 am – 4 pm
• Location: Armour J. Blackburn Center, 2397 6th St NW, Washington, DC 20059
• Participating Schools: Banneker High School, McKinley Tech, Theodore Roosevelt High School, and Thomas Jefferson High School
• Partners: Amazon Fulfillment Technologies and Robotics, Howard University Robotics Organization, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Program Objectives

The program aims to expand talent pipelines and pathways in robotics & AI through academic and career enrichment initiatives, equipping students with real-world skills. It is a component of a Howard University and Amazon FTR partnership.

Key Personnel

• Dr. Harry Keeling, Howard University Computer Science Associate Professor and Amazon/Howard University partnership lead
• Dr. Jessie Guinn, Senior Program Manager Amazon University Partnerships and Outreach
• Dr. Joey Durham, Amazon Senior Manager of Science
• Dr. Chad Jenkins, University of Michigan Robotics Professor and DTC founder

Distributed Teaching Collaborative (DTC)

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is also partnering with Howard University on the Distributed Teaching Collaborative (DTC), which seeks to expand access to robotics instruction and build pathways to graduate robotics degrees. The DTC is led by the University of Michigan in partnership with Howard University, Morehouse College, and Berea College. The project supports a distributed open-source curriculum, instruction, and tools to ensure robotics innovation is accessible to all.