What can a logo on a car accomplish?

We gave our coveted spot on the McLaren Formula 1 cars at the 2022 United States Grand Prix to the transformational nonprofit, The Hidden Genius Project.

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Meet Three Geniuses

The Hidden Genius Project trains and mentors Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities.

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Hesten Parrish

Hesten Parrish

OAK7 Hidden Genius Alum

Growing up in East Oakland, Hesten wanted to be part of The Hidden Genius Project from the time he wrote his first code in middle school. Winner of numerous debate awards, he also practices Taekwondo, and is a pilot in training.

Learn how to get involved with The Hidden Genius Project

Brendan Kariithi

Brendan Kariithi

RICH5 Hidden Genius Alum

For Brendan, math concepts and theories just click. His passion is to have a career in electrical engineering. He is a student body leader in his high school where he’s working on a project to create a resource area in his school for video editing and 3D printing.

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Paris Irving

Paris Irving

Genius Fellow Educator, OAK3

Described as a self-taught technological spirit, always skating with an unbridled joy about learning new things, Paris has been with The Hidden Genius Project since 2015 and helps teach youth at the West Oakland Youth Center.

Learn how to get involved with The Hidden Genius Project

The Hidden Genius Project student outcomes

8,5008,500+

Students served since 2012 (across all programs globally)

448448

Geniuses served in the 15-month Intensive Immersion Program

8,1008,100+

Youth of color served in the Catalyst and Community Partnership Programs

9292%

Student retention for all intensive immersion Program Geniuses

9898%

高school graduation Geniuses eligible to graduate from high school

9595%

Post-secondary education of age Geniuses that have graduated from high school

Global reach

Based in Oakland, CA, The Hidden Genius Project has been mentoring Black male talent and youth of color for a decade. With program sites in Oakland, Richmond, Los Angeles, and Detroit, the organization has plans to expand to two additional locations in the U.S. next year.

Help us support The Hidden Genius Project with a donation today.

Donate to The Hidden Genius Project

A one-day sports and technology event at the 2022 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.

Tech Slam, McLaren Racing, Smartsheet, The Hidden Genius Project

Performance Talk podcast

Wolf Pack chats about the opportunity and impact of Sponsor X with Brandon Nicholson, Ph.D., Founding Executive Director, The Hidden Genius Project, and Matt Dennington, Executive Director, Partnerships & Accelerator, McLaren Racing.

Tech Slam, McLaren Racing, Smartsheet, The Hidden Genius Project
We hope this opportunity to collaborate with Smartsheet and McLaren signals to Black youth and young people of color around the world that we belong wherever our dreams can take us.

Brandon Nicholson, Ph.D.,

Founding Executive Director at The Hidden Genius Project

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About Sponsor X

We introduced a new idea in F1 sponsorships. An idea that doesn’t focus on what our company does, but what we believe in: work that matters. We call it Sponsor X.

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