See this girl here? This is my little cousin Ryan. 
She is finishing up her degree at the University of Hartford where she is the ONLY black girl in her Civil Engineering program. She makes me so proud that I could explode. The fact that she is literally making history by being the only female in the sea of men proving day in and day out that she is just as good as they are, if not better is worth honorable mention during this Women’s History Month! In one breath it makes me just as happy as can be. In another, it makes me sad that we are still in a place where she is the only one. We still have such a long way to go. There was a time when if you heard there was a girl who was interested in math and science, she was considered a nerd… uncool… boring. The unfortunate part is that while in the past decade the attitude toward hiring women in STEM has increased, men still dominate in these fields with Engineering specifically at a 7 to 1 ratio of men to women. This is why it is constantly important to instill in our little women the importance of Math and Science and foster that light when we see it glimmer. This is exactly what GIRLS WHO CODE intend to do.
Girls Who Code is a nonprofit whose goal is to increase the number of women in computer science fields They are offering a FREE summer immersion program for girls entering their junior or senior year of high school in several cities across the country, including New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, and Chicago.
The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program pairs seven weeks of intensive instruction in robotics, web design, and mobile development with career-focused mentorship, led by female entrepreneurs and engineers.
Young women of all ethnic, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds who attend school in the U.S. are encouraged to apply. No prior computer programming experience is necessary. The program is for beginners.
All applicants must be:
- A U.S. resident
- A current high school sophomore or junior
- Able to commit to the entire seven-week program
- Had no prior AP computer science classes
The program runs Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm for seven weeks in the summer. The program dates vary by city, based on school schedules, but applicants must be able to attend all seven weeks. Only two absences are allowed. Looking for less commitment? Girls Who Code also offers two-week coding summer options via its Campus program. It is not a free camp, but scholarships are available. Students with limited financial resources can also apply for a stipend to cover transportation and other costs associated with attending.
How do you get in you ask? Simple… Complete the online application, but do it quickly early enrollment has already ended and you have until March 16, 2019, for the second round of applications. The application does not require students to submit a letter of recommendation or letter grades. Students must however fill out the application themselves, according to the Girls Who Code instructions.
DID I MENTION IT WAS FREE? So please get off of my page right now and go visit the Girls Who Code website… but leave a comment for me below first!! Now get out there and code!
