Software.org Welcomes Largest Ever Girls Who Code Classroom
BSA Foundation’s seventh annual Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program starts today
WASHINGTON — July 12, 2021 —This summer, Software.org: the BSA Foundation is leveraging the connecting power of software to bring together our largest ever Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program. For the second year in a row, our program will be held remotely, enabling Software.org to reach students from areas far beyond the effort’s reach in most years.
The program, which starts today, brings together 61 young women from 13 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for a two-week-long course in the building blocks of computer science, including coding languages and web development. The students will meet women who are leaders in technology and technology policy, gaining valuable mentors and insights into potential careers. The young women also will join mentorship workshops, learn about job opportunities in STEM from software industry experts, and meet with Members of Congress who are leading conversations about tech policy.
In addition to DC and Puerto Rico, this year’s class draws on areas up and down the eastern and central United States including students from Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
“Every year, I’m excited to meet Girls Who Code students who are passionate about technology and eager to learn coding skills. These young people are the future of the software industry,” said Victoria Espinel, President of Software.org: the BSA Foundation and President and CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance. “I’m especially pleased that we are able to expand the reach of our program for the second year in a row. Software jobs are for everyone, and we need to ensure that people from across the country—including those living in underserved areas—can access training and educational opportunities like this one. I look forward to hosting the students in this year’s program and continuing our partnership with Girls Who Code.”
Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology by inspiring, educating, and equipping young women with computing skills. Since launching in 2012, the organization has reached 450,000 girls through its in-person programming. Girls Who Code expects that this year’s Summer Immersion Programs will serve 6,000 students around the world. Half of those students will be Black, Latinx, or low-income.
“We know that software jobs are growing at a rapid pace. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the software industry continued to facilitate remote work and provide well-paying jobs to people across the United States,” said Chris Hopfensperger, Executive Director of Software.org: the BSA Foundation. “Now, we must take action to close the gender gap in tech and increase diversity in our industry to ensure everyone can take advantage of new opportunities in the tech sector. I’m thrilled to welcome this year’s class and hope these young women come away feeling empowered to be successful in whatever career they choose.”
Find updates on Software.org’s Girls Who Code classroom at software.org/girlswhocode.