Code the Dream began in 2015 as a pilot project trying to create more economic opportunity for immigrants and dreamers (DACA recipients). Since then Code the Dream has grown exponentially, especially in the last year, as they continue to serve and help anyone under represented in the tech world, or anyone who has faced a barrier to opportunities in tech or higher education. Their program is built on the fact that we offer free training in computer programming for people from diverse low-income backgrounds. After the class, students can become apprentices in our CTD Labs. There, they gain hands on experience and hone those tech skills by building apps and technology platforms for a range of startups, nonprofits and government clients.
Code the Dream’s program helps them to fulfill several of our ongoing goals, like increasing diversity within the tech industry, helping to kickstart people’s own tech careers, and creating projects in our CTD labs that are contributing to a better world. They see this as a unique Win-Win because of our program’s dual impact. First, students and apprentices gain skills in software development that can open doors to opportunities that were previously closed. Secondly, the apps they build benefit the communities around them and they can use that experience to launch new careers that increase the opportunity for themselves, their families, and their communities.
You can learn more at www.codethedream.org.