DID YOU KNOW? for July 16 – 29, 2024 

Otis F. Boykin (August 29, 1920 – 1982) was an African American inventor who specialized in electronics. Earning more than 25 patents from 1959 to 1985, variations of his resistor models are still used today in televisions, computers, and radios. Boykin's most notable contribution was the development of control functions for the first successful, implantable pacemaker. 

Learn more about Otis F. Boykin.

DID YOU KNOW? for July 2 – 15, 2024 

One of the local community programs that PLATO's Education Fund supports is the Lussier Community Education Center. PLATO's annual donation supports educational programming for elementary and middle school students to help prepare them for success.

Learn more about the Lussier Community Education Center. Learn more about PLATO's Education Fund.

DID YOU KNOW? for June 18 – July 1, 2024 

Marian Croak, a black woman in the engineering group at Google who has filed more than 200 patents, is best known for developing Voice Over Internet Protocols (VoIP). This technology converts a person’s voice into a digital signal which allows one to make a call directly from a computer or another digital device. Croak became one of the first Black women to be inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame. 

Learn more about Marian Croak.

DID YOU KNOW? for June 4 – 17, 2024 

PLATO's Education Fund provides four annual partial scholarships for returning UW adult students. Administered through the UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies, these scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and targeted toward single-parent students and other nontraditional adult returnees. Financial need and academic potential are critical components in determining the awards.

Learn more about this program and PLATO's Education Fund.

DID YOU KNOW? for May 21 – June 3, 2024 

Garrett Morgan (March 4, 1877 – July 27, 1963) was a prolific inventor who called himself the “Black Edison.” Morgan devised early versions of the traffic light and gas mask. His career began as a sewing-machine mechanic and he would eventually invent a more sophisticated sewing machine which he patented, among other inventions. 

Learn more about Garrett Morgan at:  https://www.biography.com/inventors/garrett-morgan

DID YOU KNOW? for April 30 – May 20, 2024 

Did you know that one of the local community programs that PLATO's Education Fund supports is CLIMB USA? PLATO's annual donation supports expanding the participation of Madison Area Students in The CLIMB Youth Leadership and Summer Stock Market Experience Programs.

CLIMB USA’s mission is to help teens and young adults improve their financial capability through education and capital market engagement.

CLIMB USA is developing a community of youth and families that are  learning new ways of thinking about economics through a focus on youth development, building wealth through investment clubs, entrepreneurial training, and thought leadership.

Learn more about CLIMB USA.

Learn more about PLATO's Education Fund and how to donate.

DID YOU KNOW? for April 16 – 29, 2024 

Nina Simone (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was born to black parents in North Carolina during the Jim Crow era. Simone was a piano prodigy who performed classical concerts by age 12 at which her parents were forced to sit in the rear of the theater to make space for white patrons. However, she refused to play until they were allowed to sit up front. Simone studied at Julliard School of Music and recorded the first of more than 40 albums in 1959. The Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and pianist was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Simone was ranked No. 21 on Rolling Stones’ list of 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Learn More about Nina Simone:

NinaSimone.com
Nina Simone on Wikipedia.com

DID YOU KNOW? for April 2 – 15, 2024 

Amar Bose, born on November 2, 1929 as the son of Indian immigrant parents, became interested in technology at age 13 when he started repairing model trains to help support his family. Bose graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering in the early 1950’s and eventually developed Bose stereo speakers which are now considered the industry standard.  

Learn more about Amar Bose: https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/amar-bose

DID YOU KNOW? for March 19 – April 1, 2024

Did you know that one of the local community programs that PLATO's Education Fund supports is Literacy Network? PLATO's annual donation supports the program resources budget which includes textbooks for English language learning (ELL) and digital and online resources to enhance the ELL experience.

Literacy Network provides free literacy and English language education to Dane County adults. Their English as a Second Language, basic literacy, citizenship, and GED/HSED programs help participants build skills to reach their personal goals. Following a record-breaking 2023 (with 1,445 students served!), 2024 marks another milestone: Literacy Network’s 50th anniversary! 

Learn about volunteering, supporting, and more: litnetwork.org. And learn more about PLATO's Education Fund!

DID YOU KNOW? for February 27  – March 18, 2024 

Did you know there is a Crash Course on Black History? This online course is taught by Clint Smith, author of How the Word is Passed, last year's UW Big Read book. There are 51 episodes. Check out the Crash Course Black American History Preview here – note that you will have to tolerate a couple ads at the beginning.