This lady is inspiring a generation of young black women.
Kimberly Bryant is the CEO and founder of Black Girls CODE. This innovative non-profit organisation is dedicated to teaching girls aged 7-17 about computer programming and technology.
Its aim? To provide young African-American women with the skills to occupy some of the 1.4 million computing job openings expected to be available in the US by 2020, and to train a million girls by 2040.
Here Kimberley tells the world how she’s shaking up the future face of tech.
What is Black Girls Code?
Black Girls CODE is devoted to showing the world that black girls can code, and do so much more. By reaching out to the community through workshops and after school programs, Black Girls CODE introduces computer coding lessons to young girls from underrepresented communities in programming languages. Black Girls CODE has set out to prove to the world that girls of every colour have the skills to become the programmers of tomorrow.
By promoting classes and programs we hope to grow the number of women of colour working in technology and give underprivileged girls a chance to become the masters of their technological worlds. Black Girls CODE‘s ultimate goal is to provide African-American youth with the skills to occupy some of the 1.4 million computing job openings expected to be available in the US by 2020, and to train 1 million girls by 2040.
Since our launch in April 2011, Black Girls CODE has had the honour of bringing technology and entertainment to many wonderful girls of colour. By teaching the girls programming and game design, we hope to have started the lifelong process of developing in them a true love for technology and the self-confidence that comes from understanding the greatest tools of the 21st century.
Tackling the digital divide
Though we at Black Girls CODE cannot overstate our happiness with the results of our classes, this is just the first step in seeking to bridge the digital divide. The digital divide, or the gap between those with regular, effective access to digital technology and those without, is becoming an increasingly critical problem in society. As more and more information becomes electronic, the inability to get online can leave entire communities at an extremely dangerous disadvantage.
Through community outreach programs such as workshops and after school programs, we introduce underprivileged girls to basic programming skills. Introducing girls of colour to these skills gives them an introduction to today’s computer technology, an essential tool for surviving in the 21st century. The skills they acquire through the programs give these young women a chance at well-paying professions with prestigious companies, as well as the ability to enter into the field as an entrepreneurs and leaders of technology.
Imagine…then help us make it reality
Imagine, build, create has always been our motto at Black Girls CODE. Imagine a world where everyone is given the tools to succeed – and then help us build ways for everyone to access information and create a new age of women of colour in technology.