DeJuan "DJ" Strickland, a 15-year-old scholar from St. Louis, Missouri, is making waves as a two-time best-selling comic book author, community leader, and philanthropist. Alongside his love for gaming, anime, and comics, DJ is deeply involved in STEM initiatives, serving on the STEM STL Strategic Youth Advisory Board and as a youth Ambassador for the National Society of Black Engineers Jr Chapter.
Despite facing challenges like bullying and public speaking insecurities, DJ remains resilient. He proudly embraces his identity as an autistic individual, refusing to let labels define him or limit his abilities to make his dreams come true. DJ is an inspiration to youth everywhere, showing that with determination and passion, anything is possible.
His philanthropic efforts include raising over $30,000 through his Team Tech Boy Lunch Heroes initiative to combat food insecurity. DJ has appeared on prominent media platforms such as The Jennifer Hudson Show, NBC Today Show, and CNN.
In addition to his advocacy work, DJ is the creative mind behind two groundbreaking comic book series, Tech Boy and Science Girl. Through these books, DJ aims to showcase diversity in STEM and inspire other youth to become tech-savvy entrepreneurs.
