As tech talent remains in high demand, Damon Packwood, founder and executive director of Gameheads, a nonprofit teaching technology and video game design skills, is making sure underserved youth have the tools they need to get a job in the field.
From a “working-class, low-income community” in San Francisco, Packwood, 35, worked hard to become the first in his family to attend college through the Upward Bound program. He found himself doing college access and youth development work shortly after graduating, but noticed there was one thing all students were passionate about.
“I started noticing that the students were different around 2007-2008. They were all on the computer. They were completing their assignments faster, and we knew they were getting more resources from the computer,” Packwood explained to CNBC Make It. “I’m a film studies major, so I know about the media. But he really tapped into the media without being media literate. [doing things like] get new music and find the latest movies online, which is exciting.”
In that moment, Packwood knew he and his teammates had to make a switch.
“We’re not digital natives, we don’t know what’s going on. And there was a point where I realized, ‘Oh my God, we’re starting to sound like old people.’ I tell everyone that we have to change what we are doing now or we will become obsolete, because of what [the students] what they do is different. And they said no. So I quit.”
Years later the experience inspired him creating a space that provides the training and resources needed for youth and low-income youth to empower IT, production, design, and media through video games.
Student gameheads on laptops
Damon Packwood
Founded in 2015 and based in Oakland, CA, Gameheads provides free classes, mentoring, equipment, and software/hardware to hundreds of high school and college students.
Here’s how Packwood started his entrepreneurial journey, how he views partnerships and advice for others who want to do the work he loves.
‘Don’t complain and do something’
In 2011, Packwood started graduate school at California State University, and says that the tech diversity movement in California was just beginning, citing the launch of Black Girls Code, Van Jones’ #YesWeCode, and Impact Oakland.
But teaching technology skills through video games is still uncharted territory.
“No one is focused on video games,” Packwood said. “And teaching game design to low-income students of color has value because when you remove video games, you get these different media. You get sound design, level design, architecture, coding, project management, art and animation, and motion . When you look at the kind of talent that people of color have, a lot of it is our natural talent.”
Packwood said the impetus to start his own company came from one of his professors.
“It was my professor who said ‘you have to do strength-based learning.’ You can’t put a student in a class and say ‘you’ve never seen code, but I’m going to teach you how to code.’ You have to be put in a class that he already knows so that you can be interesting. Then after a while, this wise man told me to stop complaining and do something. That’s why I created Gameheads.”
‘Expand the way you think about partnerships’
Like many entrepreneurs, Packwood has been able to grow his business by partnering with other brands. Companies like EA, Oculus, and XBOX are all featured partners on the Gameheads website. And although some of his partnerships have generated funding, Packwood says there’s more to these business relationships than money.
“I see many people make mistakes because they want to create, but before they do, they want people to give them money. If you think about the value of the partnership by checking, you are doing wrong.”
Packwood encourages entrepreneurs to broaden their view of these types of collaborations. He says that people and companies that share time, insight, and resources can also be considered a partnership.
“When people volunteer their time, it has value. And there are some partnerships that only give books, laptops that are no longer used or video game consoles that are no longer needed. It’s 200-300 dollars [in equipment] for young people who are trying to play games, but don’t have the resources.”
“I would advise people to expand the way they think about partnerships. Most people just want a partner to write a check, or teach a class. If you expand, you will find yourself creating other partnerships. People will start to come in, because now people like to work with you because see the impact.”
‘Do what you would do for free.’
For Packwood, turning his passion for youth development into a career was a no-brainer. His advice to those looking for happiness in their professional life is to “do whatever it takes.”
“I’ll go to people and say, ‘Look, do you want to partner on this? Because if not, that’s great, I’ll do it. What part or not?’ When you approach something with that kind of passion, you’re sure to enjoy yourself.”
And whether he feels Gameheads has “made it,” Packwood said, there are some announcements coming in 2023, and if they do, “we’re going to make ourselves.”
“But do I personally feel like I’ve made it? Yes. I have an amazing family. I love my job. My wife is amazing. My son is the cutest in the world. I have a video game center filled with toys that when I was 10, I I’m lucky to have one of those. And I get to see the kids come in and have fun with all the toys and stuff we have. So I can’t say Gameheads have made it, but I know I have.”
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