WE ARE
THE TIMOTHY SMITH NETWORK
We are a non-profit community-based organization serving the residents
of the Greater Roxbury Area
The Application Process for the BDA 2026 Summer Program is now Closed.
MISSION-FOCUSED
The Timothy Smith Network (TSN) empowers organizations and individuals to effectively access and use cutting-edge technology in the exploding digital economy. As a nonprofit organization, TSN seeks to bridge the digital divide by creating opportunities for people of all ages to access technology and technology education with the goal of preparing them for higher education and futures in today’s 21st century tech-driven workforce.
Highlights of the Boston Design Academy (BDA) Summer Program 2025
This summer, at Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, BPS high school students enjoyed the incredible opportunity to participate in the Boston Design Academy (BDA) Summer Internship, a 6-week paid internship that aims to empower and inspire the next generation of innovators in the city. These future innovators were able to select from two distinct and exciting programs: Tech Your Health (TYH), and Digital Design Intensive (DDI).
Orientation Day
BDA students in class
Students on field trips
Showcase Day 1 & 2
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
WORKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
We provide technology and programs to help community organizations in the Greater Roxbury Area.
YOU CAN HELP US
Together, we can build communities and bridge that digital divide that keep Black and Brown people from assessing the tools they need to advance in this digital world. Join us.
HOW WE WORK
Our community partners share our vision and values.
Community
Our community is defined as those from underrepresented racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds in the Greater Roxbury area, who are affected by technology and educational disparities.
Credibility
Our staff is dedicated to delivering the best in all we do by utilizing our passion and experience to inspire through teaching and training, being continuous learners, and demonstrating social responsibility to deliver the best.
Commitment
Our mission is to bridge the digital divide. To that end, we are committed to putting our community first through continuous learning programs and initiatives that empower and enhance their technical skills comprehension and aptitude.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSPIRATION
Timothy Smith Network
Week 1 Reflection — Boston Design Academy (BDA) Summer 2026Week 1 set the tone. Our students showed up with curiosity, courage, and a real hunger to build, design, and create. From early‑morning brainstorms to hands‑on studio sessions, this first week reminded us why youth creativity is a force that can shift entire communities forward! 🦾 #bostondesignacademy #YouthEmpowerment #TSN #boston #tech We saw:• Bold ideas taking shape• New friendships forming• Skills leveling up fast• Young designers stepping into their voice and vision
First Day of Summer 2026 — Boston Design Academy 🌞🎨💻Summer ’26, we’re officially LIVE.From recruitment to the program kick-off, the Boston Design Academy brought the energy, the curiosity, and the creativity we love. From hands‑on tech labs to design sprints and community building, our young creators showed up ready to grow, build, and make their mark.Here’s to a season of innovation, collaboration, and unlocking what’s possible.Let’s get to work. #bostondesignacademy #BDASummer2026 #tsnturns30 #timothysmithnetwork #boston
Are you a Boston Public Schools student between 14 and 18 who wants to explore Media & Design, gain hands-on experience, build a portfolio, and earn money in a project-based program?Timothy Smith Network has partnered with BNNMEDIA to launch BNN Youth Media & Design which takes place Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 3 PM. #YMD #youthmediadesign #TSN #BNN #BDA
TSN wishes all BPS students and beyond a happy and safe summer! ☀️🏝️😎 With less than two weeks until Summer 2026’s Boston Design Academy, we are so excited! Whooo!!! 🎉
We’re grateful for your continued investment in our communities, creating access to STEM, STEAM, STREAM and personal growth that fuels curiosity, builds confidence, and reminds our kids they belong and can thrive. #techequity #leadership #standtogether
Today we Honor a Community Leader, a 20+ year educator of the Boston Public School system who fought for technology access for students and their families ✊🏽. I thank you for pushing me and holding me accountable 🙏🏽. Happy Retirement Carmen 🥳 #jobwelldone #tech #robotics #STEM #education
Let’s take a quick look back at the journey of #BDA over the years; moments of creativity, growth, and community that continue to shape who we are today. #tech #boston #innovation #youth
Recruitment for #BDA2026 has come to an end 🥳. We thank everyone who supported us and especially those students who showed great interest in our program! 🙏🏽💻🕹️🦾 #TechEquity #tsnturns30
🎉 This past weekend, we celebrated alongside new friends, old friends, and proud family members as we honored the incredible achievements of our AMP Scholars!Over the past several months, while balancing school, work, and extracurriculars, these scholars have poured their energy into building innovative projects, from video games 🎮 to sleep health bracelets ⌚ and more. Truly impressive all around!We were also honored to be joined by special guest and AMP alum Princess 🤩, the creator of the RoxQuest video game - an inspiring full-circle moment.Huge thank you to our AMP Scholars, families, friends, TSN staff, and BNN Media 🎥 for helping us capture and celebrate such a meaningful day. 💫
🎉It’s a digital design type of Spring Break!🎉We’ve been having fun all week with a new cohort of Think It, Design It, Create It - our hands-on robotics program. Check out what we’ve been up to! #bostonpublicschools #bostondesignacademy #robotics #tech #stem
At Timothy Smith Network, we uplift and celebrate women like Tyler - trailblazers who are shattering glass ceilings and expanding what’s possible for the next generation. By showing our girls and young women what leadership, courage, and ambition look like in action, Tyler reminds them that their aspirations are limitless. 💕✨💪🏽
Students have been asking for this program to return. Good news; “Think It, Design It, Create It” by @tsnetwork is being offered during Boston Public Schools Spring break. Spots are filling up quickly, make sure you sign up today! 🖥️🕹️🦾 #localpower #unlimitedpossibilities #engineering #stemeducation #boston
Check out how Week 1 of The Veterans’ Program went! Thank you to our veterans, our programming staff, and our host site for a successful first week. 🚀🚀🚀#boston #tech #innovation #community
💥We present to you the TSN-BSU partnership!💥 #HBCU #boston #STEM #tech #bostondesignacademy
✅ And that’s a wrap on “Think It, Design It, Create It!” We had so much fun during February break building, coding, & innovating. Who knew building cars were that easy! 😅 Thank you to our facilitators & amazing staff (pictured at the end) for pushing us, supporting us, and making the experience fun; can’t wait for Part II during April break! 🚀🚀🚀#stem #tech #boston #bostondesignacademy #innovation
Today, on Black History Month, we celebrate the pioneers, the advocates, the changemakers that all came before us, making it possible for us to do the work that we do - today, we celebrate Mel King. ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿#STEM #education #community #tech #boston blackhistorymonth
🚀 Day One of “Think It, Design It, Create It” is officially underway!We kicked off our February Vacation Week program at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, welcoming an incredible group of high school students from the Dorchester and Roxbury communities.“Think It, Design It, Create It” is more than a program name — it’s a mindset. Over the course of this week, students will explore the foundations of robotics and digital design, learning how ideas move from imagination to blueprint to fully built creation.Day One focused on:🔹 Introduction to robotics fundamentals🔹 Understanding core components and systems🔹 Hands-on exploration with digital design tools🔹 Team building and collaborative problem-solvingThe energy in the room was powerful. Students came ready to learn, ask questions, and challenge themselves. Seeing young innovators begin to connect creativity with technical skill is exactly why programs like this matter.This week, they won’t just learn how technology works — they’ll learn how to build it.Stay tuned as we continue to highlight their progress throughout the week. 💡🤖✨#ThinkItDesignItCreateIt #STEMEducation #Robotics #DigitalDesign #BostonYouth FutureInnovators CTE TimothySmithNetwork BostonDesignAcademy
These last few weeks, TSN had the pleasure of contributing to 7uice Foundation’s 2026 Educational Fair, hosted at the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club of Roxbury, and we got to go to a Celtics game! ☘️ It’s been a busy 2026 already… We can’t wait to share more! Stay tuned!#stem #tech #boston #education
🎉 Boston Design Academy (BDA) students were honored with tickets to Boston Got Sole hosted by Celtics star, Jaylen Brown! His commitment to youth empowerment continued at MIT’s Bridge Program, where BDA alumni presented on Urban Framing 🌆—a perfect match for our Elevating Agricultural Technology (EAT) initiative, blending tech + food systems to uplift communities 🌱. Innovation, equity, and youth-led design in action!TSN looks forward and proud to partner with Jaylen Brown and The 7uice Foundation to bridge opportunity gaps and expand equity across Greater Boston. 💪🏽✨ #CommunityDriven #TSN #7uiceFoundation #TechEquity #EquityInAction #Together #BDA
We pause to honor the unwavering spirit of Boston’s youth—their courage to explore, their hunger to learn, and their boldness to dream beyond the boundaries of what technology can be!
The Boston Design Academy Intern Prototype & Web Design 2025 Showcase is almost here! Two days of boundless creativity, fresh innovation from the incredible talent of Boston’s youth! August 14th & 15th, 10am - 3pm @ Fraklin Cummings Tech - The Auditorium: 41 Berkeley Street, Boston, Ma.
Programs like BDA are essential to the future of our youth and our city. They provide:• Education Reimagined: BDA bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. Students gain critical thinking, design, and digital skills that prepare them for the future.• Pathways to Employment: Interns build portfolios, work with mentors, and gain exposure to creative industries—opening doors to future careers in design, tech, and beyond.• Confidence and Voice: BDA empowers young people to see themselves as creators and leaders. They leave the program with a stronger sense of identity, purpose, and pride.• Equity Through Access: By investing in youth from all neighborhoods, BDA ensures that talent and creativity are nurtured everywhere and not just where opportunity traditionally lives.This event is a celebration of that mission and of the brilliant young minds who are shaping Boston’s future; Our Design, Our Future!
This showcase is more than a presentation, it’s a powerful reflection of what happens when young people are given access, mentorship, and the tools to design their futures. Through the Boston Design Academy (BDA), students from across our city have explored the intersections of design, technology, and community impact. Now, they’re ready to share their work with you!
Dear Family and Friends,We are thrilled to invite you to the Boston Design Academy Intern Prototype & Web Design 2025 Showcase, a celebration of creativity, innovation, and the incredible potential of Boston’s youth on August 14th & 15th, 10am - 3pm @ Fraklin Cummings Tech - The Auditorium: 41 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA.
Hey TSN Fam! As we continue to celebrate the contributions of our veterans, we take a moment to congratulate BG Yvonne Cagle for her outstanding contributions and commitment to service and knowledge. Promoted to the rank of Brigadier General earlier this month, BG(R) Cagle served in US Air Force as a flight surgeon before being selected as an Astronaut in 1996, and retiring in 2008. Read more about BG(R) Cagle, and join us in congratulating her for her accomplishments, as well as thanking her for her service! #LocalPower #unlimitedpossibilities
Hey TSN Fam!Did you hear the news? Maryland native and wide celebrated abolitionist, Harriet Tubman, was posthumously promoted to the rank of Brigadier General this week in a Veterans Day ceremony. Read more about it below! #LocalPower #unlimitedpossibilities
Happy Veterans Day to all who have served! @usarmy @usnavy @usairforcesd @usmc
Hey TSN Fam!As @meta rolls out its new smart glasses, new concerns around doxing are rising, and it may be worse than we all think. Two @harvard students were able to hack a pair of smart glasses and, using AI to scour open source information, dox people in real time. Videos posted online to different social media sites showed the students using the glasses in the open. They were able to simply look at a person, and pull public information such as addresses, work and family information, and other details while still speaking. The students declined to post their source code, and simply wanted to raise awareness about the dangers posed by such technology. Swipe through to read more about the experiment, and comment below to let us know what you think.Later fam 👋🏾 #LocalPower #unlimitedpossibilities
Hey TSN Fam!There’s a scary new cyber-crime on the rise that you should be on the lookout for. It’s called Doxing, and it’s not just a ghost story! This practice can see your personal information hacked and posted online, sometimes for ransom, sometimes for purposes of harassment! Beware! Stay tuned for more info on how to keep yourself safe!!Happy Halloween!!#laterfam #happyhalloween #localpower #unlimitedpossiblities
Hey TSN Fam!This week, we want to share with you about this amazing MIT alum who is combining dance and STEM to inspire young women across the country! Meet Yamilee Toussaint, an engineer, teacher, and founder of STEM From Dance. After starting her degree program and finding herself one of only a few women, Toussaint started looking for ways to inspire young women to join the STEM field. Toussaint is also nominated as a 2024 CNN Hero! Read more about her program, and what led to its inception! @mit @stemfromdance @afro.tech @boston #LocalPower #unlimitedpossibilities
Hey TSN Fam,Please join us as we hold space for International Indigenous People’s Day. This holiday honors the history, cultures, and contributions of Native Americans and Latinos, while recognizing the harms caused by colonization. We encourage everyone to take time to learn more about this holiday and its importance to our culture and way of life. Later Fam!#localpower #unlimitedpossibilities #indigenouspeoplesday
Hey TSN Fam,If you’re a fan of VR then this is for you! @meta just announced #orion , it’s newest and most advanced pair of smart glasses. The demos of what these glasses are capable of are a little mind blowing. Swipe through the slides to learn more about Meta’s newest feat, and let us know what you think.
Heads up TSN Fam! On October 22, the STEM in Full Color Expo will be happening at Southline Boston! We’re calling on everyone with a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to come and listen to inspiring stories, participate in hands on activities, and connect with others who share your passions! Register by scanning the QR Code! We look forward to seeing you there! Special thanks to @massbio_ @bioversityma @labcentral.ignite for creating this event!Later fam! #localpower #unlimitedpossibilities
Hey TSN Fam!We are excited to announce that one of our TSN alumni @joel.beckles has been published in The Journal of Chemical Physics! Congratulations on your accomplishment Joel!
Hey TSN Fam, if you haven’t heard, @afro.tech is happening soon, and we’re super excited! If you haven’t heard of Afrotech, take a look at what kinds of things you can expect. Who know, maybe we’ll see you there!
Hey TSN Fam, Check out this hot take on rideshare companies pay tactics! Independent researchers and drivers have been looking at the new way ride share and delivery apps pay their contractors, and it’s causing controversy. Using their new “upfront fare” policies, companies are claiming better pay for drivers. Drivers are saying that’s not the case, and they’ve seen wages go down since a peak during the pandemic. Read more and share your thoughts below!
There are reports that @bankofamerica is experiencing an outage! Let us know if you’re experiencing this outage, and we will update you as more information becomes available!
Applications for the Franklin Cummings Tech Renewable Energy Bootcamp are almost closed! The program starts October 7, so there’s still time to apply to this program for Boston students. The course is worth three college credits, or $2,100! Apply today! @franklincummingstech
Hey TSN Fam,Let’s talk robots! If you’ve ever owned a PlayStation, you know the name @sony. The company is expanding from its wide range of consumer personal electronics and computers into the surgical robot market. A video released earlier this year features a demonstration of the surgical assistant being used to stitch a cut on a kernel of corn! The team behind the device hopes that it will be used to operate on sensitive systems such as nerves and blood vessels. Read more about how this game changing robot is being developed, and let us know what you think!
From the first day of Orientation, all the way to presentation day, each of our interns worked hard to create working prototypes, models, or games for presentation day! We appreciate everyone who shared their facilities, their time, experience, and their stories with our interns and scholars to help make #bostondesignacademy what it was this summer! #LocalPower#unlimitedpossibilities @seeroxburycc @southendtechnologycenter @portalinnovations @franklincummingstech @bioversityma
@dukeuniversity has ended a long time minority scholarship in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling. Let us know what you think about this in the comments below!👇
