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Indian American nonprofit runs after-school AI program in California
Program gave high school students hands-on AI training through city and utility-backed community projects.
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Pranavi Sharma - Sat, 07, Feb 2026
- 01:22 EST
- 9
Local elected officials, school district representatives, SMUD officials, parents and community members attended the demonstration. / Suvidha International Foundation
Suvidha International Foundation, a California-based nonprofit, organized the After-School Industrial AI Agent Development Program at Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova.
The program began in September 2025 and concluded Jan. 30, 2026. It was supported by the City of Rancho Cordova through its Community Enhancement and Investment Funds.
The program enrolled 32 students in grades 9 through 12 and required no prior experience in artificial intelligence. The curriculum introduced basic concepts before moving to applied AI agent development, including Python programming, machine learning and natural language processing.
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Students worked in teams to build two AI applications focused on community use. One project was a customer service AI agent designed for the City of Rancho Cordova to help residents and businesses find information on city services, permits, billing, trash services and departmental contacts. The tool was designed to provide access to information outside regular office hours.
The second project was an energy efficiency AI agent developed in collaboration with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, or SMUD. The tool provides guidance on energy use, utility programs and ways to reduce electricity bills for homeowners, renters and small businesses.
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The program was initiated and coordinated by Bhaskar Vempati, founder and president of Suvidha International Foundation. Instruction and technical mentorship were provided by Jothi Periyasamy, an AI specialist, along with supporting teams from industry and nonprofit organizations.
A public demonstration of the student projects was held Jan. 9, 2026, and a final showcase took place Jan. 30, 2026, at Cordova High School. Local elected officials, school district representatives, SMUD officials, parents and community members attended.
SMUD presented a Best in Energy Award to the energy efficiency team. All participating students received trophies.
Suvidha International Foundation said it plans to organize two additional AI programs at Cordova High School in 2026.
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