‘We have not created enough black Mark Zuckerbergs’

The app is called Recupery. It gives students immediate access to a counselor through a smartphone.

It’s the brainchild of Zachary Dorcinville, 16, of New Windsor, N.Y., who came to Philadelphia last month for the first-ever My Brother’s Keeper Hackathon, geared toward youth of color. Dorcinville’s idea, inspired by his struggles with depression, was one of the apps that the roughly 60 student attendees voted to build. It won “Best Impact.”

These kids, we recognize as high-potential youth in low-opportunity settings.

Dorcinville was profiled in MSNBC’s video feature on the hackathon, held at String Theory Schools’ Center City campus. String Theory Schools CEO Jason Corosanite was so inspired that he wants to hold a similarly-styled hackathon every month, he said.

“These kids, we recognize as high-potential youth in low-opportunity settings,” said Kalimah Priforce, who runs Qeyno, which organized the event. It drew attendees from along the East Coast.

The message to students during the weekend?

Don’t let people’s expectations box you in. Just because you don’t see many black tech entrepreneurs, doesn’t mean you can’t be one.

“We have not created enough black Mark Zuckerbergs,” said one speaker at the hackathon.

Watch the MSNBC video below.