We are HackBAC.

OUR MISSION

HackBAC inspires and cultivates genius in young leaders of color who innovate for positive social impact.

OUR APPROACH: THE MAP TO GENIUS

In other words, how do we live out our mission?

We provide a diverse and challenging environment to unlock and harness genius, cultivate creativity, and extend empathy to innovate transformative social change through:

  • Meaningful mentorship 

  • Affirming & accessible environment that celebrates all identities 

  • Promotion of transformative ideation

THE HACKBAC “PROFILE OF A GENIUS”

A HackBAC Genius innovates with empathy, leads with humility, creates with courage, and transforms the world with joy.

Who They Are:

Collaborative Innovators
HackBAC Geniuses are team players who listen deeply and respond generously to the ideas of others. They cultivate collective genius, building on the group's insights with humility and openness. They know that the best solutions emerge when diverse minds work together, and they approach collaboration with the understanding that there is always more to learn from others.

Empathetic Leaders
With profound emotional intelligence and compassion, HackBAC Geniuses see potential in people that they don't yet see in themselves. They shine light on others, bringing out the best in their peers through thoughtful care and patient encouragement. Their leadership is rooted in love, empathy, and the genuine desire to uplift their community.

Creative Problem-Solvers
HackBAC Geniuses are resourceful, solution-oriented thinkers who approach challenges with curiosity and insight. They combine intellectual rigor with intuition, using their creativity to imagine transformative possibilities for social change.

Joyful Changemakers
HackBAC Geniuses bring playfulness, light, and joy to their work. They are passionate and determined, yet free-flowing and authentic. Their courage and unrelenting drive are balanced by humor, celebration, and the freedom to be uniquely themselves. They find excitement in others' ideas and share their own generously.

These are the qualities our geniuses bring with them—the foundation we recognize and celebrate. Through HackBAC, we cultivate and amplify these gifts, supporting our geniuses as they grow into:

Who They're Becoming:

Inspirationally Audacious
HackBAC Geniuses are developing the boldness to dream beyond conventional boundaries. They inspire others to believe in radical possibilities and take brave action toward unprecedented change.

Courageously Ambitious
HackBAC Geniuses are cultivating the strength to pursue solutions and goals that others might deem impossible. They act even in spite of fear, and are “go-getters.”

Transformatively Visionary
HackBAC Geniuses are learning to see beyond what is to imagine what could be. They develop the foresight to identify root causes, envision systemic solutions, and articulate compelling futures that mobilize collective action for lasting social change.

Imaginatively Resourceful
HackBAC Geniuses are honing their ability to innovate with what they have while envisioning what they need. They combine creative thinking with strategic problem-solving, turning constraints into opportunities and ideas into tangible solutions.

OUR ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS

When our geniuses complete HackBAC, the transferred knowledge we want them to know is:

  • Collaboration is essential to our liberation.

  • Recognizing your agency allows you to unearth and solve complex problems

  • An essential part of learning is the ability to transfer those learned experiences back to our communities

    • “I can show up for myself and, in turn, show up for my community”

  • Questioning “why” (for deeper inquiry) allows you to connect with others’ humanity

  • Remaining curious allows you to engage with people that you might not engage with if you don’t ask questions

  • Discipline and creativity spark intrinsic motivation to follow through

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

  • Hackathons are multi-day events designed for ideation and presentation of innovative ideas related to a theme. Hackathon themes are generally broad with well-defined and narrower subthemes (tracks) that students join to collaboratively develop specific solutions. Hackathon solutions can be new or enhanced inventions, technologies, forms of communication, or an entrepreneurial venture.

  • This is a virtual and in person event. Teams will work together throughout the three-day event using tools such as Zoom and Google Drive. Students located in proximity to the physical locations have the opportunity to participate in person.

  • The challenge is a four-day sprint, typically ending on Sunday afternoon. Since the goal is to rapidly bring meaningful solutions to life, participants should expect to commit to the entire duration of the Challenge. In the event participants are unable to be present, they should communicate with their availability to team members.

  • Entrepreneurship credits will be awarded for ideas presented by groups and chosen by a panel of experts at the conclusion of the hackathon. Ultimately, teams will be competing to win up to $1,000 in entrepreneurship credits for their venture.

Participation

  • In the wake of summer 2020’'s racial reckoning, HackBAC was intentionally created as an affinity space for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) 8th-12th grade highly motivated students. As society continues to evolve, it’s even more crucial that we include allies in this work.

    HackBAC is open to students of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds who have demonstrated interest in advancing the work of social justice.

  • No! Participants of all academic and professional backgrounds are welcome! Technical or coding experience is always helpful, but it is not required.

  • Please have a faculty/staff representative from the school register each student participant using the registration button above. The registration period for 2026 conferences opens on November 1st and closes on February 2. Once students have been registered, we will follow up with the faculty/staff representative regarding students' contact information and interest in thematic tracks and the dissemination of the curriculum.

  • Participants who express an interest in one of the hackathon's themes (tracks) will work collaboratively together in teams of 5 - 10 members.

  • This challenge is focused on solving some of the most pressing problems related to health equity, social determinants of health, and systemic oppression in institutions for BIPOC and underserved communities. Participants are encouraged to come with these problems in mind, but you don’t need to have an answer in hand. You’ll work with teams to develop solutions that will have a meaningful impact.

  • Teams will be connected with experienced mentors throughout the weekend to help them create, iterate, build, and develop solutions as quickly as possible.

Support

  • If you have a question, please contact blackalumnicollective@saes.org.

  • Follow us on Instagram: @saesbac

Meet our Team.

Our Team