Shaun Tai Press
Shaun Tai is a nationally recognized designer, educator, and social entrepreneur advancing technology, economic justice, and systemic change.
Founder of BRIDGEGOOD, an Oakland nonprofit serving more than 22,000 people since 2009. Featured in NBC Bay Area, CBS News, TechCrunch, and Inc. Recipient of the Jefferson Award, Kapor Center Impact Award, and four 40 Under 40 honors. Speaker at Adobe MAX, Google.org, and 30 college campuses.
GSW named Shaun Tai an Impact Warrior for expanding pathways into design and technology.
- Jefferson Award (Silver Medalist)Multiplying Good, KPIX, and KCBS
- Distinguished SpeakerAdobe MAX, Miami & Los Angeles
- Impact Warrior HonoreeGolden State Warriors
Impact
Since 2009
Design for Social Good
36,000+
learners reached
900+
careers launched
280+
apprentices trained
Press
- NBC Bay Area
- CBS News Bay Area
- Inc.
- San Francisco Business Times
- The Mercury News
- KRON4
- Adobe
- Google.org
Features
NBCUniversal Local Impact Grant Winners: Where Are They Now?
NBCUniversal
Profiled BRIDGEGOOD's growth since 2009: more than 36,000 learners served and 900+ alumni launched into design and tech careers through a tuition-free workforce model.
Real Skills, Real Jobs: Real Success Stories from DVC Career Education
Diablo Valley College
Traced alumna Christy Hu's path from an Inspire Oakland design challenge to a BRIDGEGOOD UX apprenticeship to a UX role at Google, a model of the college-to-career pathway BRIDGEGOOD built.
Distinguished Speaker, Nonprofit Day Fireside Chat
Adobe MAX
Joined Adobe's Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Adobe's flagship creativity conference to discuss design as a pathway to economic opportunity.
Jefferson Award Recipient
Multiplying Good, KPIX, and KCBS
Honored by Multiplying Good, home of the national Jefferson Awards, for impact, innovation, and sustained community service through BRIDGEGOOD.
Archive
139 entries
Press
2026
NBCUniversal Local Impact Grant Winners: Where Are They Now?
NBCUniversal
Profiled BRIDGEGOOD's growth since 2009: more than 36,000 learners served and 900+ alumni launched into design and tech careers through a tuition-free workforce model.
2025
Real Skills, Real Jobs: Real Success Stories from DVC Career Education
Diablo Valley College
Traced alumna Christy Hu's path from an Inspire Oakland design challenge to a BRIDGEGOOD UX apprenticeship to a UX role at Google, a model of the college-to-career pathway BRIDGEGOOD built.
NBC Bay Area, Telemundo 48 Award More Than $227K to Nonprofits
NBC Bay Area
Awarded a $20,000 unrestricted Local Impact Grant for BRIDGEGOOD's tuition-free UX design training and mentorship for underrepresented creatives.
2024
Helping Nonprofits Thrive: Adobe's Support for Their Missions
Inc.
Featured for operational design: digitizing student contracts, invoices, and grant documents in Adobe Acrobat to keep every BRIDGEGOOD program tuition-free.
How Nonprofits Save Resources to Increase Their Impact With Support From Adobe Acrobat Pro
Adobe
Case study on streamlining student onboarding and grant reporting with Acrobat Pro, shifting staff hours from paperwork to apprentice mentorship.
Vallejo Vignettes: Inspire Vallejo Billboard Competition
Vallejo Sun
Covered the debut of Inspire Vallejo, extending the 15-year Inspire Oakland design challenge Shaun founded to a new generation of Solano County youth.
Adobe Express Empowers Organizations for National Nonprofit Day
Adobe Blog
Highlighted how BRIDGEGOOD integrates Adobe Express and generative AI into its training, helping students produce professional creative work faster.
'Inspire Vallejo' to Give Youth Designers Top Billing
Vallejo Times-Herald
Announced the expansion of Inspire Oakland, then in its 15th year, to Vallejo, scaling a proven public art and workforce model to a new city.
2023
100,000 Jobs: Port of Oakland Releases Latest Economic Impact Report
American Journal of Transportation
Cited among regional leaders on how the Port of Oakland creates jobs and pathways into the regional workforce.
Comcast Donates $50,000 to BRIDGEGOOD to Empower Creative Talent
Comcast California
Secured $50,000 from Comcast for the Empower Creative Talent initiative, scaling workforce development for BIPOC designers.
2023 Silver Medal: Oakland Web Designer's Nonprofit Gives Up-and-Coming Creators a Jump Start
CBS News Bay Area
Earned a Jefferson Award Silver Medal for building career pathways that connect under-resourced student designers with professional work.
2022
Another Casualty of Twitter Chaos? Local Nonprofits Depending on the Company
The San Francisco Standard
Examined BRIDGEGOOD's decade-long partnership with Twitter, which hosted early events and provided grants and office space.
Faithful to the Bay: Show You Are 'Faithful' to the San Francisco 49ers
Adobe Blog
Led BRIDGEGOOD's role in a partnership with Adobe and the San Francisco 49ers, putting student designers' work in front of Bay Area fans.
Oakland Man Helps Prepare Students for Tech Jobs, for Free
106.1 KMEL
Radio interview on The Sana G Morning Show about tuition-free tech career preparation for Oakland creatives of color.
Oakland Web Designer's Nonprofit Gives Up-and-Coming Creators a Jump Start
CBS News Bay Area
Told the founding story of BRIDGEGOOD, from a family furniture store to a free three-month design apprenticeship that launches tech careers.
2020
Peaceful Warriors Summit at Gault Elementary
NBA
Covered an anti-bullying summit by BRIDGEGOOD, the Golden State Warriors, and Adobe that combined art, basketball, and mentorship for elementary students.
2019
Peaceful Warriors Summit: Creativity, Basketball, and Compassion Help Students Stop the Cycle of Bullying
Adobe
Documented a digital design workshop led by BRIDGEGOOD, then Oakland Digital, helping San Francisco elementary students use creativity to stop bullying.
2017
Making the Future Work for Everyone
Google
Named among Google.org's global grantees preparing underserved communities for careers in design and technology.
Google's Community Space in the Bay Area
Google.org
Featured as a community partner running weekly programs for Bay Area designers at Google's Community Space.
2016
Google, Warriors Help Connect Businesses, Aspiring Graphic Designers
The Mercury News and East Bay Times
Covered the launch of the BRIDGEGOOD app, a Google- and Warriors-funded platform Shaun architected to match young designers with work from local businesses.
Tech for Good: Distinguished Young Alumnus Shaun Tai Gives Underserved Students Digital Edge
East Bay Today
Alumni profile tracing an entrepreneurial path from a self-produced hip hop TV show to founding a design and technology nonprofit.
2015
Cultivating the Next Generation of East Bay Entrepreneurs
East Bay Express
Explored Oakland Digital's model pairing design students with women-owned small businesses on real marketing campaigns.
Cal State East Bay Announces 2015 Distinguished Alumnus Recipients
Cal State East Bay
Named Distinguished Young Alumnus for growing Oakland Digital into a workforce program serving thousands of residents.
Bridging the Digital Divide
San Francisco Business Times
Compared building a nonprofit to a first long ride up Mount Diablo, in a profile of Oakland Digital's work connecting generations of entrepreneurs to digital skills.
Startup Alley, TechCrunch NY 2015
TechCrunch
Represented BRIDGEGOOD in the Education section of Startup Alley, TechCrunch's showcase of emerging ventures.
2014
AT&T 28 Days: Making History Happen
AT&T
Featured with Team #28DaysODALC, Wayne Sutton, Linda Poeng, and TiYanna Long in AT&T and Samsung's Black History Month campaign.
Digital Literacy and Technology for Good
KPOO 89.5 FM
Radio guest on digital literacy and technology as a force for community good.
2012
Collaboration Puts Student Artwork on Hayward Billboards
Tri-City Voice
Covered the first Inspire Hayward contest, which placed student designs on downtown Hayward billboards with Cal State East Bay and the City of Hayward.
2010
Documentary Focuses on Hip-Hop Therapy
East Bay Express
Announced an Oakland Digital workshop on the music industry's shift to digital distribution.
The Music Business 2.0
East Bay Express
Featured an Oakland Digital workshop connecting young people with leaders from the tech and music industries.
Social Media Journalist, Tweedia Day 2010
Golden State Warriors
Covered Warriors Media Day as an invited social media journalist.
Speaking
In the classroom since 2009
For nearly two decades, Shaun Tai has joined design classrooms every year as a guest speaker, keynote and panelist, and advised design chairs on curriculum and vision.
Universities11
- California College of the Arts
- California State University, Chico
- California State University, East Bay
- Clark University
- Saint Mary's College of California
- San Francisco State University
- San José State University
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California, Davis
- University of Houston
- University of the Pacific
Community colleges19
- Berkeley City College
- Cañada College
- Chabot College
- City College of San Francisco
- Clovis Community College
- College of Alameda
- College of Marin
- College of San Mateo
- Contra Costa College
- Diablo Valley College
- Foothill College
- Laney College
- Los Medanos College
- Mission College
- Ohlone College
- San Joaquin Delta College
- San José City College
- Skyline College
- Solano Community College
30 campuses in all.
2026
Inspiration Awards 2026
BRIDGEGOOD
BRIDGEGOOD's annual Inspiration Awards, December 11, 2026, at Salesforce Tower, 61st Floor, San Francisco. Tickets and sponsorships are available at bridgegood.com/inspirationawards.
Content That Connects: How Adobe, BRIDGEGOOD, and Direct Relief Are Rethinking Storytelling in the Age of AI
Engage for Good Annual Conference
Panelist with Adobe's Olivia Zaller (Adobe for Nonprofits) and Claudio Zavala Jr. (Creative Cloud) on storytelling for social impact in the age of AI, for 750+ corporate social impact leaders in Palm Springs, California.
2025
Panelist, Nonprofits in a Digital-First World
Adobe MAX
Represented BRIDGEGOOD at Adobe MAX Nonprofit Day in Los Angeles with Matt Dombrowski (University of Central Florida), Laura Prieto (Human Rights Watch), and Maeve Ozimec (Direct Relief), on how mission-driven organizations use creativity, technology, and AI to drive change.
LIVE! in the Bay: Oakland Nonprofit Turns Creativity Into Career Paths
KRON4
Live television guest on how BRIDGEGOOD's tuition-free design and tech training turns creative talent into sustainable careers.
Keynote: Mentor
CreativeMornings Oakland
Delivered the keynote on the global theme Mentor, framing mentorship as a leadership practice and a lever for design equity in Oakland's creative community.
Designer Day 2025: Design for Social Good
AI User Conference
Led a hands-on human-centered design workshop with the BRIDGEGOOD team, applying UX research and prototyping methods to community impact.
2024
Distinguished Speaker, Nonprofit Day Fireside Chat
Adobe MAX
Joined Adobe's Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Adobe's flagship creativity conference to discuss design as a pathway to economic opportunity.
Distinguished Panelist, Studio Art and Advertising Design Panel
Clark Atlanta University
Lead panelist at the 8th Annual Art and Fashion Week at this historically Black university, sharing career strategy with the next generation of design leaders.
Distinguished Judge, Hack for Impact
UC Berkeley Blueprint and Cal Hacks
Judged and coached nearly 40 student developers building technology for nonprofits and social impact.
2023
Distinguished Speaker, Creative Speaker Series
Logitech
Fireside chat defining design for social good and how tech companies can build diversity practices that are authentic and lasting.
Distinguished Speaker, Community Space Relaunch
Google.org
Spoke at the relaunch of Google's Community Space on a partnership with Google.org dating back to 2012, spanning board service, funding, and program design.
Distinguished Speaker, Economic Impact Report Press Event
Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport
Keynoted alongside Port of Oakland leadership and East Bay mayors on 14 years of building design and tech careers for local residents.
Distinguished Mentor, Pitch & Mixer Night
btrax
Evaluated app pitches from design thinking students and graduates across Japan and the United States, giving feedback on product and pitch.
2022
Arts & Culture Lead Facilitator, East Bay Innovation Awards
East Bay Economic Development Alliance
Led a five-member judging panel evaluating innovation in the Arts & Culture category across the East Bay.
2021
Distinguished Commencement Speaker, Art Department
Cal State East Bay
Delivered the Art Department commencement keynote at the Rising Annual Art Awards, speaking to graduates as a fellow alumnus.
2019
Keynote Speaker, Inspiration Awards 2019
BRIDGEGOOD
Keynoted BRIDGEGOOD's annual Inspiration Awards, honoring Karl Robillard of Twitter, Jazmin Mora of Kaiser Permanente, Megan Dale of Adobe, and Raminder Somal of Wells Fargo.
2018
Panelist, Grants for the Arts
City of Oakland Cultural Affairs
Scored and helped award $98,000 in public cultural funding across 46 individual artist applications.
Keynote Speaker, Inspiration Awards 2018
BRIDGEGOOD
Keynoted BRIDGEGOOD's annual Inspiration Awards, honoring Claudia Burgos of AC Transit, Myesha Brown of the Golden State Warriors, and Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson of Laney College.
2017
Lead Facilitator, East Bay Innovation Awards: Education
East Bay Economic Development Alliance
Facilitated the panel that selected finalists and the winner in Education, two years after Oakland Digital won the same category.
Panelist, Art-in-the-Schools
City of Oakland Cultural Funding Program
Reviewed grant applications funding artist residencies in Oakland public and charter schools.
Keynote Speaker, Inspiration Awards 2017
BRIDGEGOOD
Keynoted BRIDGEGOOD's annual Inspiration Awards, honoring Catherine Aker of the Oakland Athletics, Regina Rodgers of BlackRock, and Caroline Barlerin of Twitter.
2016
Guest Speaker, Executive MBA Program
Saint Mary's College of California
Invited by Dr. Natasha Munshi of the School of Economics and Business Administration to speak with executive MBA students on building a design and technology nonprofit.
Host, What's Next in Tech Panel
BRIDGEGOOD
Opened and hosted an industry panel with Pandora, Google.org, Twitter, The North Face, Clorox, Airbnb, and Bank of the West on where tech careers are heading.
Keynote Speaker, Inspiration Awards 2016
BRIDGEGOOD
Keynoted BRIDGEGOOD's annual Inspiration Awards, honoring Jason Mayden of Nike, Jordan, and Accel, Rowena Tomaneng of Berkeley City College, and Justin Steele of Google.org.
2015
Judging Selection Committee, Hult Prize
Hult International Business School
Served on the selection committee for the Hult Prize, the global student competition for social enterprise.
Co-Host, BRIDGE for Social Good Work Session
Twitter #FridayforGood
Co-led a work session at Twitter's San Francisco headquarters with Google.org, Facebook, and General Assembly, bringing designers and community advocates together.
Keynote Speaker, Spartan Voices Workshop
SJSU Alumni Association
Keynoted the Spartan Success Series workshop for San José State students and alumni.
Keynote Speaker, Freshman Convocation
Cal State East Bay
Addressed more than 400 incoming students and families alongside CSUEB President Leroy Morishita, sharing the path from Cal State East Bay student to nonprofit founder.
Keynote Speaker, Community Technology Day
Mare Island Technology Academy
Keynoted Community Technology Day in Vallejo on careers in design and technology.
Keynote Speaker, Social Media for Small Businesses 2015
BRIDGEGOOD at Oakland City Hall
Keynoted BRIDGEGOOD's annual small business summit at Oakland City Hall with Kaiser Permanente, Google, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Square.
Panelist, Bridging Tech and Social Good
UC Berkeley Blueprint
Joined Khan Academy, Google.org, Watsi, and Puddle at UC Berkeley on how technology can serve nonprofits and social good.
Featured Speaker, Digital Equity 2015 Information Session
The Clorox Company
Presented BRIDGEGOOD's digital equity work at a Clorox-hosted session on closing technology gaps in local communities.
Keynote Speaker, Inspiration Awards 2015
BRIDGEGOOD
Keynoted BRIDGEGOOD's annual Inspiration Awards, honoring Jose Gordon of the Golden State Warriors Community Foundation, Dr. Elnora Webb of Laney College, Dr. Leroy Morishita of Cal State East Bay, and Joel Flory of VSCO.
2014
Keynote Speaker, IBM Brown Bag
IBM
Keynoted an IBM lunch-and-learn on BRIDGEGOOD's work at the intersection of design, technology, and community.
Featured Speaker, Evolution of the Music Business: #Cloud
BRIDGEGOOD
Joined Pandora, Zion I, Hieroglyphics, Jennifer Johns, Erk Tha Jerk, and 106.1 KMEL's DC on how cloud streaming is reshaping music careers.
Keynote Speaker, Falcon Business Conference
College Park High School FBLA
Keynoted the Future Business Leaders of America conference on entrepreneurship and careers in design and technology.
Guest Speaker, Technology Panel
PRSSA at San José State University
Spoke to the Public Relations Student Society of America on how technology is changing communications careers.
Guest Speaker, Inspire Oakland 2014 Professional Development
BRIDGEGOOD
Led a professional development class for Inspire Oakland students with The Clorox Company and Fluid.
Keynote Speaker, EOP Networking Event
San José State University
Keynoted the Educational Opportunity Program's networking event for San José State students.
Guest Speaker, Citizen Science Program
West Oakland Middle School and Sankofa Global
Introduced middle school students to digital literacy and careers in technology and design.
Guest Speaker, Save the Day, Code for Good Hackathon
UC Berkeley Blueprint
Spoke to student developers at a hackathon sponsored by Salesforce, Palantir, Redfin, Microsoft, and EA.
Guest Speaker, Beyond Social: New Media Marketing
Lake Merritt Breakfast Club
Briefed Oakland civic and business leaders on new media marketing strategy.
Featured Leader, Startup Weekend Oakland: Black Male Achievement
Startup Weekend Oakland
Joined Van Jones, Mitch Kapor, Dan Portillo, and Kalimah Priforce to support founders building ventures for Black male achievement.
Guest, The State of Blacks in Technology
106.1 KMEL
Live on-air discussion with K2, DC, Wayne Sutton, Linda Poeng, and Dan Miller on representation and opportunity in tech.
Panelist, Social Media Mastery Program
Association of Fundraising Professionals, Golden Gate Chapter
Shared social media strategy for fundraising professionals alongside KQED.
Moderator, Oakland as a Tech City
The Port Workspaces
Moderated a panel with the Office of the Mayor, Kapor Center, OTX West, and devlabs on Oakland's growth as a tech city.
Keynote Speaker, Inspiration Awards 2014
BRIDGEGOOD
Keynoted BRIDGEGOOD's annual Inspiration Awards, honoring Jeff Goodby of Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Cal Blueprint, and Numi Organic Tea co-founder and CEO Ahmed Rahim.
Host, Social Media for Small Business 2014
BRIDGEGOOD at Oakland City Hall
Produced the annual summit at Oakland City Hall with Instagram, Constant Contact, Google, Microsoft, Yelp, and Mayor Jean Quan.
Nonprofit Guest Speaker, Social Good Hackathon
HP and Intel
Brought the nonprofit perspective to developers building technology for social good in San Francisco.
2013
Startup Weekend UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley
Supported student founders at Startup Weekend UC Berkeley with the Kauffman Foundation, Kairos Society, and SkyDeck Accelerator.
Keynote Speaker, Educational Opportunity Program Graduation
San José State University
Delivered the keynote to the Educational Opportunity Program's Class of 2013, sharing his path from SJSU graduate to nonprofit founder.
Guest Speaker, Social Media for Journalists
Laney College
Taught Journalism 65 students how social media is changing reporting and distribution.
Keynote Speaker, EOP Town Hall
San José State University
Keynoted the Educational Opportunity Program Town Hall for San José State students.
Host, Social Media for Small Business 2013
BRIDGEGOOD at Oakland City Hall
Produced the annual summit at Oakland City Hall with Twitter, Constant Contact, Google, and Mayor Jean Quan.
Judge, Oakland Indie Awards
One PacificCoast Foundation and East Bay Express
Judged Oakland's awards celebrating independent local businesses and makers.
Guest Speaker, Design + Technology + Entrepreneurship
Cal State East Bay Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Spoke to business students on where design, technology, and entrepreneurship meet.
Keynote Speaker, Inspiration Awards 2013
BRIDGEGOOD
Keynoted BRIDGEGOOD's annual Inspiration Awards, honoring Zendaya, Mary O'Connell of The Clorox Company, and UniversityNow CEO Gene Wade.
Guest Speaker, 2nd Annual Teen Summit
Good Intentions, Inc.
Spoke to Bay Area teens alongside artists Clyde Carson, D-Shot, and Cousin Fik.
Presenter, 6th Annual Attend & Achieve Back to School Rally
City of Oakland and Oakland Unified School District
Presented at the rally at Oakland City Hall with KQED, encouraging Oakland students to start the school year strong.
Panelist, Industry Job Panels, Career Readiness Month
Cal State East Bay
Joined ESPN, Radio Disney, Comcast SportsNet, and AKQA on career panels for Cal State East Bay students.
Featured Speaker, Find YOUr Inspiration
Good Intentions, Inc. and Odyssey Program
Spoke on purpose and leadership at an educational leadership event at Vallejo's Empress Theatre.
Program Lead, Inspire Berkeley 2013
Berkeley City College
Led professional development for student designers in Inspire Berkeley, extending the Inspire Oakland model.
2012
Guest Speaker, Rock Your Class: Digital Storytelling and Online Lesson Plans
WixLounge SF
Shared digital storytelling strategies with educators alongside Teach for America, LearnBoost, Teacher Square, and Wix.com.
Facilitator, Leadership Development Series
EBALDC at Hismen Hin-Nu Terrace
Led leadership development sessions for residents of an EBALDC affordable housing community in Oakland.
Co-Producer, Celebrating 160 Years of Oakland Love
City of Oakland and BRIDGEGOOD
Helped the City of Oakland celebrate its 160th birthday with a citywide community celebration.
Program Lead, Inspire Hayward 2012
Cal State East Bay and City of Hayward
Led professional development for student designers in the first Inspire Hayward billboard challenge.
Keynote Speaker, Inspiration Awards 2012
BRIDGEGOOD
Keynoted BRIDGEGOOD's annual Inspiration Awards, honoring Mary Grove of Google, Brely Evans, and Ask.com CEO Doug Leeds.
Host, Social Media for Small Business 2012
BRIDGEGOOD at Oakland City Hall
Produced the summit at Oakland City Hall with Google, Yelp, GoPago, Wix.com, and MC Hammer.
Presenter, Final Fund Development Session
Asian Community Collaborative and Alameda County Social Services Agency
Led the closing fund development session for the Asian Community Collaborative.
Featured Speaker, Evolution of the Music Business in Web 2.0
BRIDGEGOOD
Explored digital distribution with Pandora and Bandcamp, helping independent artists navigate the shift to online music.
Presenter, Digital Equity for Small Businesses
YP.com and Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Taught digital marketing fundamentals to Oakland small business owners.
2011
Innotribe at Sibos Toronto 2011
Stanford Social Data Lab
Joined Stanford's Social Data Lab at Innotribe, the innovation program of the global financial industry's Sibos conference.
Host, Social Media for Small Business 2011
BRIDGEGOOD at Oakland City Hall
Produced the first summit at Oakland City Hall with Yahoo! Small Business and GetSatisfaction.
West Oakland Solutions Salon
Acorn Residents Council, BRIDGE Housing, and The John Stewart Company
Joined residents and housing partners to explore community solutions in West Oakland.
Keynote Speaker, Inspiration Awards 2011
BRIDGEGOOD
Keynoted BRIDGEGOOD's annual Inspiration Awards, honoring MC Hammer, Goapele, and Alex Bernstein of North Social.
Stories Building Bridges
Oakland Public Library and Oakland Public Art Program
Contributed to a community storytelling program connecting Oakland neighbors through public art.
Judge, Code for Oakland
Knight Foundation and Federal Communications Commission
Judged civic apps built to make Oakland government data more useful to residents.
Judge, Entre Worldwide Student Entrepreneurship Competition
Andrew Hill High School and Microsoft
Judged student venture pitches in a worldwide entrepreneurship competition.
Positively Oakland
City of Oakland, Office of the Mayor
Took part in Positively Oakland with the City of Oakland and the Office of the Mayor.
VIA: Are You at the Starting Line?
VIA and Stanford University
Supported student presentations in VIA's program with Stanford University.
Exploring Social Innovation: Inspire Education in Koganei
VIA and the Stanford d.school
Collaborated with VIA and the Stanford d.school on design thinking and social innovation education in Koganei, Japan.
Roundtable Participant, NAMIC 2011
National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications and Comcast
Joined an Oakland roundtable with Comcast on diversity and inclusion in media.
Inspire Chinatown: Technology and Safety in Oakland Chinatown
East Bay Community Foundation
Led a session on technology and public safety for Oakland Chinatown residents and merchants.
Presenter, Social Media Made Simple
Constant Contact, Microsoft, and Laney College
Taught practical social media strategy to small businesses and nonprofits.
2010
Speaker, Inspiration: Design, Community and Technology
OASES and Oakland Unified School District
Spoke with Oakland students about building a better future through design, community, and technology.
Keynote Speaker, Inspiration Awards 2010
BRIDGEGOOD
Keynoted BRIDGEGOOD's annual Inspiration Awards, honoring Andreas Weigend, Donald Tamaki, and Joe Kennedy of Pandora.
Panelist, CMMA Professional Round Table: Turning Passions into Professions
Tennyson High School
Helped high school students connect creative passions to professional careers.
Founder, Inspire Oakland Professional Development, 2010–2016
BRIDGEGOOD
Led seven years of professional development for student designers from 18 schools across five districts, including Laney College, McClymonds High School, and Diablo Valley College.
Awards
2022
Jefferson Award Recipient
Multiplying Good, KPIX, and KCBS
Honored by Multiplying Good, home of the national Jefferson Awards, for impact, innovation, and sustained community service through BRIDGEGOOD.
100 Change Makers, Inaugural Cohort
Waste Management of Alameda County
Selected for the inaugural cohort of a leadership program developing Oakland-based champions for environmental sustainability.
2021
Fellow, Minority Led Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative
MUFG Union Bank and USD Nonprofit Institute
One of ten nonprofit leaders nationwide selected for a nine-month fellowship in governance, strategic planning, and organizational capacity.
Entrepreneur in Residence
Rockridge Apparel
One of three Oakland entrepreneurs featured in a short film series on leaders moving their communities forward.
2020
TECH Leadership Award
Heart Centered Tech
Honored by Heart Centered Tech with the TECH Leadership Award, certified by the State of California and presented by Senator Ben Allen, Congressman Ted Lieu, and Assembly member Richard Bloom.
2017
Impact Award: Building an Inclusive Tech Ecosystem in Oakland
Kapor Center for Social Impact
Honored at the inaugural Kapor Center Impact Awards for widening access to Oakland's tech ecosystem.
40 Under 40: Civic Service & Activism
Cal State East Bay
Named to Cal State East Bay's inaugural 40 Under 40 for contributions to community and profession.
40 Under 40, Class of 2017
San Francisco Business Times
Recognized among the Bay Area's top young business leaders for growing Oakland Digital into $3.2 million in community impact.
2016
Forty Under Forty in the East Bay, No. 6
Diablo Magazine
Ranked No. 6 among the East Bay's top young leaders for founding and scaling Oakland Digital.
2015
Tech Inclusion Day, Mayor's Proclamation
City of Oakland
The City of Oakland proclaimed Tech Inclusion Day, recognizing his leadership connecting design students with local businesses.
Distinguished Young Alumnus, 2014–15
Cal State East Bay
Honored for founding Oakland Digital and expanding technology literacy across underserved communities, the university's highest honor for an alum under 45.
Certificate of Appreciation
Institute for STEM Education and Bayer HealthCare
Recognized for presenting at East Bay STEM Career Awareness Day with the East Bay EDA, Cal State East Bay, Novartis, and Bayer, introducing students to careers in technology and design.
East Bay Innovation Award: Education
East Bay Economic Development Alliance
Oakland Digital won the Education category for pioneering innovative connections between the world of work and the world of learning.
2014
Global Music Release, Featured Artist Emcee T
SanDisk (Western Digital)
Two original instrumentals by Emcee T, Shaun's artist name, were selected for SanDisk's global Sansa Clip Sport MP3 player, reaching an estimated 500,000 plays.
2013
Member of the Month
SJSU Alumni Association
Recognized by the San José State University Alumni Association for founding Oakland Digital.
Recognition of Service
Health Service System, City and County of San Francisco
Honored by San Francisco's Health Service Board for civic media work that strengthened employee and community wellbeing.
Social Media Day, Mayor's Proclamation
City of Oakland
The City of Oakland proclaimed Social Media Day in recognition of Oakland Digital's work teaching small businesses digital skills.
2012
Oakland Digital Day, Mayor's Proclamation
City of Oakland
The City of Oakland proclaimed Oakland Digital Day, recognizing programs that build digital skills for young adults and small business owners.
Appreciation Award
Oakland Merchants Leadership Forum
Honored during Oakland's Small Business Month for making internet education accessible to the city's low-income communities.
2004
Community Health Recognition
The Health Trust
Thanked for data analysis supporting the Five Wounds Brookwood Terrace community health survey in San José.
Let's make good trouble.
For interviews, speaking, or press, email is the fastest way to reach Shaun.