We make software literacy accessible to underrepresented communities. We’re not just consumers of technology. We are authors.
The Future
Your smartphone, television, game console, nextgen earbuds, VR headset, smartwatch, electric car, home hub, wireless speaker and fitness tracker are just the beginning. Soon the internet of things will have its tentacles attached to every tool in your life. These devices speak the language of the future and if America is going to be competitive, we need to strengthen our focus on digital literacy. We the people need to be able to read source code, write applications and deploy systems of intercommunicating services.
“It doesn’t take a math wizard to excel at software. If you can read, you can code.”
— Kwesi Davis, ProGRAM Director
The Challenge
There are many barriers blocking people from pursuing programming as a career. Girls, for example, may be discouraged by gender stereotypes. Communities of color may have sparse access to tech training and equipment resources. STEM adverse personalities, in general, may feel they lack the love of mathematics to write code. We want to shatter obstacles sitting in front of underrepresented groups.
9%
of STEM workers are Black
7%
of STEM workers are Hispanic
338%
computer job growth since 1990
“As the U.S. has transformed rapidly to an information-based economy, employment in science, technology, engineering and math occupations has grown – outpacing overall job growth. Since 1990, STEM employment has grown 79% (9.7 million to 17.3 million) and computer jobs have seen a whopping 338% increase over the same period.”