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Preparing our youth to lead in the age of digital disruption!

TEACHING DIGITAL NATIVES

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ABOUT US

Teaching Digital Natives

Today, technology is a fixture in everyday life. From smart phones and tablets to computers and online devices, connectivity to cyberspace is far outpacing our ability to instill essential cybersecurity education. User education remains one of the most under-invested and under-appreciated aspects of cybersecurity. Proper cyber hygiene, for starters, is critical in protecting youth and disadvantaged communities from the cyber criminals that prey on users with limited knowledge and understanding of cybersecurity.

By educating youth and families and retooling underserved communities, we can mitigate the dangers of the online world, cultivate a strong technology workforce, and make the Internet a secure experience for everyone!

Founded in 2017, Teaching Digital Natives is a non-profit educational initiative that provides technology, cybersecurity and digital literacy for kids.

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CYBER HYGIENE BOOTCAMP

An intense 4-hour course designed to teach children the behaviors required to maintain a healthy digital lifestyle. Program content includes cyber threats, online safety, social media etiquette, cloud-based computing, introduction to coding, and more.

TEACHER CYBERSECURITY WORKSHOP

Provides teachers with essential tools that enable digital learning while cultivating cybersecurity awareness in students. The workshop includes informational resources and tips on incorporating digital technologies in the classroom.

DIGITAL WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS

Parents are invaluable in protecting children from cybersecurity threats. This workshop examines the most significant cyber threats to kids and provides parents the tools to ensure a healthy digital lifestyle for their family.

DIGITAL LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS

Introduces children to the foundation of leadership skills critically needed to succeed in the digital world. The program's inspiration draws from the concept of emotional intelligence that promotes grit, resilience, empathy, and social skills.

CODING WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS

An innovative course teaching computer programming and technical skills through interactive and exciting projects.

CYBER HYGIENE SUMMER CAMPS

Engages students in experiential learning to cultivate key leadership skills (team-building exercises, communication skills). Additionally, building skills that promote high emotional intelligence among youth.

LEADERSHIP SUMMER CAMPS

This program engages students in experiential learning to cultivate key leadership skills. Similar to the Leadership Bootcamps, this program builds skills that promote high emotional intelligence among youth.

OUR TEAM

Our team is comprised of an interdisciplinary and diverse group of cybersecurity and leadership professionals with backgrounds in information security, computer science, cybersecurity policy, leadership, and education.

JUAN CARLOS “JC” DEL VALLE

Executive Director

Before joining Teaching Digital Natives, JC was the Executive Director of Development at Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, where he served as a chief fundraising and development officer in support of the School’s mission, vision and goals.

Prior to his role at FIU, JC served as Assistant Vice President for Government and Community Relations at the University of Miami. In that role, JC was responsible for overseeing all university activities related to local government, as well as cultivating and leveraging relationships with business and non-profit organizations in Miami-Dade County. Before joining UM in 2008 as its director of government affairs, JC was Assistant to the County Manager of Miami-Dade County, where he was responsible for several key infrastructure departments. He started at the County as a Senior Policy Analyst for former Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas and later served as Assistant Director of Legislative Affairs for former Mayor Carlos Alvarez.

Past chair of Leadership Miami, a program of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce which prepares the next generation of Miami leaders to meet future challenges, he remains active with the chamber, serving on its board, as well as the boards of CareerSource South Florida, L.I.V.E, and Florida Covering Kids and Families.

In addition to a Master’s of Public Administration from FIU, JC received his bachelor’s degree in business at UM.

ALDO J. FONSECA

Director of Community Outreach

Aldo J. Fonseca currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach for Teaching Digital Natives, where he leads local and non-profit client engagement. Prior to joining TDN, Aldo served as the Special Projects Manager for the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy at Florida International University. In this role he helped design and launch the Intelligence Fellowship and Cyber Threat Intelligence Fellowship programs. Aldo also developed and managed an innovative a series of cyber-hygiene educational workshops that would serve as the basis for FIU’s Foundations of Cyber Operations Student Development Badge.

Prior to working for the Jack D. Gordon Institute, Aldo was the International Admissions Officer at FIU’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, where he traveled to over 27 countries to engage and recruit international students. He is trilingual and a gifted public speaker.

Aldo earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations with a focus on National Security and Latin America and Caribbean Studies at Florida International University, before completing a Master of Science degree in Global Enterprise Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

PIERINA "PIE" ANTON

Program Facilitator

Pierina "Pie" Anton is the Program Facilitator for Teaching Digital Natives. Prior to working with TDN, she served as a Youth Immigrant Casework intern with the International Rescue Committee in Miami, Florida where she assisted in developing service plans for undocumented youth migrants and refugees.

Her previous research includes the role of bilingual intercultural education in promoting inclusive learning environments for indigenous communities in Latin America, the effect of the technological revolution on women's employment, and the promotion of English-language learning and international exchange in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Pierina was born in Venezuela and raised in Kissimmee, Florida before moving to Miami. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations.

TEACHING DIGITAL NATIVES ADVISORY COUNCIL

Teaching Digital Natives is surrounded by the sharpest thinkers around!

ED CABRERA, CHIEF CYBERSECURITY OFFICER, TREND MICRO

Advisory Council Chair

Eduardo Cabrera is responsible for analyzing emerging cyberthreats to develop innovative and resilient enterprise risk management strategies for Fortune 500 clients and strategic partners. Before joining Trend Micro, he was a 20-year veteran and former CISO of the US Secret Service with experience leading information security, cyber-investigative and protective programs in support of the Secret Service integrated mission. He started his career investigating transnational cybercriminal groups targeting the financial and retail sectors and later led cyber-forensic operations in support of Secret Service large-scale data breach investigations. He then served as the Secret Service Strategic Advisor to the DHS National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC).

MAURICIO ANGÉE, Dr.BA, CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

Advisory Council Member

Mauricio Angée is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) with over 25 years of experience in healthcare, banking and financial services, hospitality, entertainment, and the government sector. Mauricio currently serves as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami, Fl., where he is responsible for setting the roadmap and strategy for the protection of information assets. Mr. Angée was the Computer Security Official (CSO) for Northrop-Grumman at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at the Kennedy Space Center, FL., where he supported the Kennedy Integrated Communications Services (KICS) contract. Mauricio currently serves in the Board of Directors, and as the Financial Sector Chief, at the FBI- Infragard information sharing group of South Florida, and is a member of the US Secret Service Miami Electronic Crimes Task Force. Mauricio is one of the most influential security professionals in his field. With his leadership skills and extensive experience, he has made significant contributions to the information security community.

PATRICK DYER, PRESIDENT & CEO, DIGITALERA

Advisory Council Member