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Code the Dream

At Code the Dream, we envision a world in which tech innovation comes from all of us and benefits all of us.

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10-Year Anniversary
Nov 15, 2024
Just Getting Started: 10th Anniversary Messages from Daisy, Dan, and Ramiro
In 2014, Dan Rearick contacted Ramiro Rodriguez about offering a free introductory software programming course to people from underserved communities. For Dan, the initial idea sprang from working alongside recent immigrants and refugees and “seeing over and over again how hard somebody could work without getting an opportunity.” For Ramiro, who conceived the program with […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Just Getting Started: 10th Anniversary Messages from Daisy, Dan, and Ramiro</div>
Partner Spotlight
Jun 24, 2025
Find Where You Can Use Your Joy: 4 Universal Pride Month Lessons on Community and Acceptance
Earlier this month, Code the Dream sat down with Sarah Chick, Site Director at NPower, to talk about belonging in tech. NPower, like CTD, is a national nonprofit organization that connects people from nontraditional backgrounds with opportunities in tech. NPower’s mission is to “empower young adults and military-connected individuals to thrive in the digital economy […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Find Where You Can Use Your Joy: 4 Universal Pride Month Lessons on Community and Acceptance</div>
Father's Day
Jun 15, 2025
Happy Father’s Day from Code the Dream
This Father’s Day, Code the Dream is celebrating dads! We pride ourselves on being a family-friendly organization. Many of our students are working dads, and our remote, part-time classes with supportive mentorship help busy parents find the time they need to learn. Our high-level curriculum is designed to teach the skills needed for a job […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Happy Father’s Day from Code the Dream</div>
New Hires
Jun 4, 2025
Three New Developers Join CTD Team
Code the Dream is excited to welcome three new Junior Developers to the Code the Dream team! KJ Loving, Oksana Stepanchuk, and Mohammad Rezaie joined Code the Dream in April, bringing their expertise and unique points of view to CTD Labs. Each of them answered a few questions about themselves and their paths to Code the […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Three New Developers Join CTD Team</div>
Alumni Spotlight
Apr 2, 2025
Tandem Apprenticeship Provides Path to Tech Job for CTD Alum
In 2021, Amy Sandoval was working in property management and considering taking out student loans to go back to school. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, but she knew it had to be engaging and challenging. “I’d worked in restaurants, I’d worked in retail, I was a property admin,” she said. “Every job […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Tandem Apprenticeship Provides Path to Tech Job for CTD Alum</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Mar 24, 2025
Meet Pavel Machuca, Volunteer of the Month!
This March, our volunteer of the month is Pavel Machuca! Pavel went from performing arts to programming, and now mentors new coders at Code the Dream. Students describe Pavel as kind, clear, and thoughtful, and he says the human connection is what keeps him coming back. Read more about Pavel’s story — and what students […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Pavel Machuca, Volunteer of the Month!</div>
Organizational culture
Mar 19, 2025
Why remote work works for us
Like so many other organizations, the sudden lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic changed the structure of our operations practically overnight. A few years prior, we had started our gradual shift from a North Carolina-focused nonprofit operating out of the Research Triangle to a national organization operating fully remotely. Once COVID hit, that transformation accelerated. Five […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Why remote work works for us</div>
Black History Month
Feb 26, 2025
This Black History Month, meet some of the organizations bringing tech training to Black communities
Happy Black History Month from Code the Dream! This February, as we honor past and present Black innovators, we also look to the future. At Code the Dream, our mission is to open doors to jobs in the technology sector for people from historically marginalized communities. And in African American communities, the disparity is striking: […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">This Black History Month, meet some of the organizations bringing tech training to Black communities</div>
Feb 12, 2025
Meet Rogelio Camargo, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month
This February, our volunteer of the month is Rogelio Camargo! Rogelio, a software engineer at Vividly, has served as a mentor in our Intro and React classes, a practicum project lead, and now helps lead sessions for our Data Structures and Algorithms class in CTD Labs. Apprentices share that Rogelio is skilled at breaking down […]
Jan 27, 2025
Meet Anujkumarsinh Donvir, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
Each month, Code the Dream celebrates one of our incredible volunteers. This month, we’re excited to celebrate Anujkumarsinh Donvir, who joined CTD as a React group instructor in 2024. Students have shared that Anuj leads detailed, well-structured group sessions; they also are grateful that Anuj records his lessons, allowing them to return to those lessons […]
Alumni Spotlight
Dec 4, 2024
A Pharmacy Tech Finds Renewed Opportunity With a Global Leader in Data and AI
Irene Sanchez was a pharmacy tech hoping to make a career change in 2019, whenshe heard about Code the Dream (CTD) from a friend who was taking CTD’s freeclasses. “I had developed an interest in technology and programming and I wanted to pursue anew career away from customer service,” Sanchez says. “I heard about the […]
Nov 27, 2024
Programming Tips & Tricks
March 25, 2025 March 18, 2025 March 11, 2025 March 4, 2025 February 25, 2025 February 18, 2025 February 11, 2025 February 4, 2025 January 28, 2025 January 14, 2025 January 7, 2025 December 17, 2024 December 10, 2024 December 3, 2024 November 26, 2024 November 19, 2024 November 12, 2024 November 5, 2024 October […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Programming Tips & Tricks</div>
CTD Labs
Nov 25, 2024
Vamos Outreach App highlighted at National Farmworker Law Conference
Shaya Lyon and Kate Borgen represented Code the Dream and our Vamos Outreach App at the National Farmworker Law Conference November 13-15 in Atlanta. The experience, Lyon says, was inspiring and motivating. “It was great to hear Vamos partners talk about how using Vamos has helped their organizations plan and track their outreach visits to […]
Volunteer of the Month
Nov 14, 2024
Meet Oksana Feterovskaya, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
CTD’s volunteers can serve as class mentors, lead small groups of students through our capstone practicum project, support apprentices in their career search, contribute to our curriculum, and serve in other areas as well. We could not do our work at this scale without them! Each month, we celebrate one volunteer who has made a […]
Alumni Spotlight
Nov 7, 2024
Alumni Spotlight: Chastity Benton
When working in a lab for a pharmaceutical company started to feel like it was the wrong professional course, Chastity Benton changed direction. She had some knowledge of coding and enrolled with G{Code} House, an organization whose mission — bridging the gap in opportunities for underrepresented communities in the tech industry — dovetails with Code […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Alumni Spotlight: Chastity Benton</div>
Nov 7, 2024
Code the Dream welcomes three new staff members
Code the Dream is proud to announce three new staff members: Product/Project Manager Shaya Lyon, Senior Public Benefits Analyst Louise Pocock, and Program Assistant Caitlin Gross. By way of introduction, each of them participated in a short Q&A to illustrate who they are and some — but not all! — of the reasons why they are such welcome additions.
Volunteer of the Month
Oct 11, 2024
Meet Joannes Figueroa, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
Each month, Code the Dream celebrates a volunteer who has made a unique contribution to our community. This month, we’re excited to celebrate Joannes Figueroa, who has volunteered as both a React class mentor and Full Stack Practicum Lead. Tell us about yourself! Hello, I’m Joannes. When I’m not in front of my computer, you’ll […]
Volunteer of the Month
Sep 17, 2024
Meet Aipu Ameh, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
Each month, we’re excited to celebrate one of the many volunteers who help make our program possible. Code the Dream’s volunteer of the month for September 2024 is Aipu Ameh, a freelance web developer at ABA Creations. Aipu volunteered as a mentor in our most recent Intro to Programming class. She is great at putting […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Aipu Ameh, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Jul 25, 2024
Meet Rio Edwards, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
Each month, Code the Dream celebrates one volunteer who has made a special contribution to our community. We’re excited to celebrate Rio Edwards, a class mentor in our Intro to Programming and React.js classes. Students consistently praise Rio as dedicated, supportive, and a natural teacher. Thanks, Rio, for your commitment to our students! Tell us […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Rio Edwards, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Jun 26, 2024
Meet Gina Castromonte, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
Each month, Code the Dream celebrates a volunteer who has made a unique impact to our community. This month, we’re excited to celebrate Gina Castromonte, a Software Engineer at SOMOS.tech and current Cohort Instructional Leader for our Node.js classes. As a Cohort Instructional Leader (CIL), Gina is the technical lead for our summer 2024 Node.js […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Gina Castromonte, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!</div>
Volunteer of the Month
May 23, 2024
Meet Eli Smith, Volunteer of the Month!
Our Volunteer of the Month series highlights people who have made unique and impactful contributions to our program. This month, we’re excited to celebrate Eli Smith. Eli has consistently crafted thoughtful opportunities for React students to extend their learning beyond our core curriculum. We’re grateful to Eli for supporting our students. Tell us a little […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Eli Smith, Volunteer of the Month!</div>
May 10, 2024
NC IDEA spotlights partnership with Code the Dream
North Carolina-based economic development nonprofit NC IDEA highlighted their partnership with Code the Dream in a case study authored by CTD Co-Executive Director Daisy Magnus-Aryitey.
<div class="ctd-news-title">NC IDEA spotlights partnership with Code the Dream</div>
Staff Spotlight
May 10, 2024
Staff Spotlight: Ming King
At Code the Dream, more than 50% of our staff are CTD alums. Our latest hire, Ming King, completed CTD Learns classes and was hired as a junior developer in 2023. In this short Q&A, you can meet one of the newest additions to the CTD team!
<div class="ctd-news-title">Staff Spotlight: Ming King</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Apr 16, 2024
Meet Anirudh Bhadoriya, Volunteer of the Month!
At Code the Dream, we’re thrilled to have a passionate, experienced community of volunteers. We’re proud to celebrate them each month as part of our Volunteer of the Month series. This April, we’d like to celebrate Anirudh Bhadoriya, Staff Software Engineer at Snowflake. Anirudh is a mentor in our algorithms classes for experienced apprentices, where […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Anirudh Bhadoriya, Volunteer of the Month!</div>
Career Development
Mar 23, 2024
CTD’s Tandem Apprenticeship model benefits employers and apprentices by supporting diverse tech talent
A key component of Code the Dream’s unique model is the CTD Labs Apprenticeship program, where students have an opportunity to apply for a paid apprenticeship working in CTD Labs. There, under the supervision of experienced software developers, they work on projects for clients, gaining valuable real-world experience and operating in a professional environment.  Over […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">CTD’s Tandem Apprenticeship model benefits employers and apprentices by supporting diverse tech talent</div>
Career Development
Mar 23, 2024
Transcending Technical Training: CTD works to emphasize career development
This blog series will explain our process in expanding and developing our Professional Skills Program. In this first post, we are going to start with the big picture. At Code the Dream, we are committed to creating opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds, fostering innovation, and making a positive impact in our communities. But our […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Transcending Technical Training: CTD works to emphasize career development</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Mar 22, 2024
Meet Geo Sauer, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month
We’re thrilled to have a dedicated community of volunteers who help us train the next generation of diverse tech leaders. Each month, we celebrate one volunteer who has made a special contribution to our community. Our volunteer of the month for March 2024 is Geo Sauer, a React class mentor. Tell us about yourself! My […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Geo Sauer, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Feb 20, 2024
Meet Darga Darga, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
Each month, Code the Dream celebrates one volunteer who has made a special contribution to our community. Our Volunteer of the Month is Darga Darga, a class mentor, practicum project lead, and curriculum volunteer over the past year. Darga also wrote about his experience in a previous blog post, “How CTD Empowers Mentors with Flexibility.” […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Darga Darga, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Jan 30, 2024
Meet Angel Brown, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
Each month, Code the Dream celebrates a volunteer who has made a special contribution to our community. We're excited to start off 2024 by thanking Angel Brown, a Software Engineer and Engineering Manager at Calendly.
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Angel Brown, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!</div>
Volunteers
Nov 20, 2023
How CTD Empowers Students and Mentors with Flexibility
When students are able to choose the specific interactions that they find most comfortable and effective, it also creates a clear opportunity for volunteers to do the same.
<div class="ctd-news-title">How CTD Empowers Students and Mentors with Flexibility</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Oct 24, 2023
Meet Andres Alcocer, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
Andres is a by-appointment mentor and reviewer in our Intro to Programming class. In this role, Andres is assigned to work with a small group of students.
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Andres Alcocer, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!</div>
Tandem Apprenticeship
Oct 4, 2023
CTD’s Tandem Apprenticeship model highlighted in webinar with partners Cisco and SAS
Code The Dream's Co-Executive Directors Daisy Magnus-Aryitey and Dan Rearick, and CTD Labs Director Tom Rau discussed the Tandem Apprenticeship model with partners Cisco and SAS during a webinar on September 14th.
<div class="ctd-news-title">CTD’s Tandem Apprenticeship model highlighted in webinar with partners Cisco and SAS</div>
Tech & Civic Engagement
Oct 4, 2023
Magnus-Aryitey participates in STEM education panel before Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Code the Dream Co-Executive Director Daisy Magnus-Aryitey took part in a panel discussion on the importance of STEM education and "investments and recruitment of Black creatives through early education pipelines" in Washington, DC, on September 21.
<div class="ctd-news-title">Magnus-Aryitey participates in STEM education panel before Congressional Black Caucus Foundation</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Sep 29, 2023
Meet Hayley Witherell, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
Hayley has been both a group instructor and a 1:1 mentor in our Intro to Programming classes, where they work closely with students as they progress through the course.
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Hayley Witherell, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!</div>
Student Spotlight
Sep 23, 2023
React Students Sharpen Their Skills in the “Hack CTD’s Style” Challenge
This past month, students in the Code The Dream’s React.js course were challenged to spend one week re-imagining Code the Dream’s homepage.
<div class="ctd-news-title">React Students Sharpen Their Skills in the “Hack CTD’s Style” Challenge</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Aug 25, 2023
Meet Jeff Loucks, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
Each month, Code the Dream acknowledges a volunteer who has made a unique impact on our community. This month, we are excited to celebrate Jeff Loucks, Frontend Developer at Tektronix. Jeff has been a mentor and assignment reviewer in CTD’s Intro and React classes throughout 2023. He helps students progress through our classes by providing […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Jeff Loucks, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!</div>
Apprentice Spotlight
Aug 22, 2023
Cohort of CTD Apprentices receive SAS Fellowships
Code the Dream (CTD) and tech company SAS stepped up their longstanding collaboration in 2023, when SAS brought on a cohort of CTD apprentices to undergo training and mentoring and gain real-world work experience addressing coding problems, creating visual examples of user interface components, testing software, and checking design elements. SAS and Code the Dream first worked […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Cohort of CTD Apprentices receive SAS Fellowships</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Jul 18, 2023
Meet Pratik Daga, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
Every month, Code the Dream celebrates one remarkable volunteer who has made a significant contribution to our mission. This month, we are thrilled to recognize Pratik Daga for his commitment and leadership as he leads an Algorithms class for our apprentices. Pratik’s class meets weekly and builds on the skills that our apprentices are putting […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Meet Pratik Daga, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!</div>
Durham Magazine
Jun 27, 2023
Magnus-Aryitey featured in Durham Magazine’s Women’s Issue
Code the Dream Co-Executive Director Daisy Magnus-Aryitey was interviewed in — and featured on the cover of — Durham Magazine‘s annual Women’s Issue.
<div class="ctd-news-title">Magnus-Aryitey featured in Durham Magazine’s Women’s Issue</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Jun 21, 2023
Meet Daniel Sinn, Code the Dream’s Volunteer of the Month for June 2023!
Volunteers form a core part of our work at Code the Dream. Volunteers hold small group mentor sessions for our students, provide feedback on student code, host professional development workshops for students, and more. Each month, CTD celebrates a volunteer who has made a special impact on our community. This month, we’re recognizing Daniel Sinn, […]
Jun 13, 2023
Code the Dream Senior Developer Cruz Núñez Wins “NEXT TECH” Award
Code the Dream (CTD) Senior Developer Cruz Núñez accepted an award for “rising stars and tech innovators” at a June 12 ceremony held by non-profit professional organization NC TECH and Business North Carolina in Raleigh. Núñez was part of the inaugural class of NEXT TECH Award recipients. Núñez was selected for the award in recognition of […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Code the Dream Senior Developer Cruz Núñez Wins “NEXT TECH” Award</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Jun 1, 2023
Meet Ekaterina Bondareva, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month for May 2023!
We’re excited to introduce May’s volunteer of the month, Ekaterina Bondareva! Kat is a unique CTD participant — she is both a volunteer and a student! Kat joined Code the Dream in May 2022 as a student in our Intro to Programming class, and has since completed a React.js advanced course and the Practicum. This […]
Gender Diversity In Tech Series
Apr 24, 2023
RECAP: Gender Diversity In Tech
Throughout March and April, Code The Dream (CTD) hosted Gender Diversity In Tech, a series on why gender diversity matters and how to promote it in your workplace. Three events anchored the series: Each event gave participants the opportunity to learn from CTD staff, mentors, and partners who offered their own experiences and expertise on […]
Volunteer of the Month
Apr 20, 2023
Meet Dan Polityka, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month for April 2023!
As a nonprofit tech organization, Code the Dream relies on software development volunteers to make our program a success. We are grateful to have dedicated volunteers who lead mentor sessions, assist with pair programming, review assignments, and much more. But some volunteers go above and beyond. We are excited to celebrate their contributions through our […]
Gender Diversity In Tech Series
Apr 6, 2023
Code the Dream Hosts Online Idea Exchange on Gender Diversity in Tech
Code the Dream hosted an online conversation on April 4, featuring an exchange of ideas about gender diversity in the tech field. The conversation, led by CTD co-Executive Director Daisy Magnus-Aryitey, included discussion about the economic impact of more inclusive tech industry, the importance of developing skills beyond the purely technical, and the importance of […]
Gender Diversity In Tech Series
Apr 2, 2023
How to Navigate a Male-Dominated Workspace | Gender Diversity In Tech Series
CTD alumni and mentors shared their own experiences in the industry and offered insights and best practices for developing a more inclusive work place.
Gender Diversity In Tech Series
Mar 30, 2023
Code The Dream hosts Roundtable with Industry Leaders for ‘Gender Diversity In Tech’ Series
On March 21, Code The Dream hosted a roundtable discussion about gender diversity at MetLife campus in Cary. Five leaders from across the tech industry joined the conversation: The panel was hosted by CTD Co-Executive Director Daisy Magnus-Aryitey. Each speaker offered incredible insights and actionable steps toward making the tech industry a more diverse workforce […]
Volunteer of the Month
Mar 23, 2023
Meet Akosua Asante, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month for March 2023
Each month, Code the Dream chooses to honor one volunteer who has made a contribution to our community. This month’s volunteer is Akosua Asante, who has been an assignment reviewer in our Intro to Programming and Node.js / Express classes since the fall of 2022. Thank you, Akos, for your dedication to Code the Dream! […]
Apprentices
Feb 24, 2023
Who Inspires You? Personal Tributes to Black Heroes.
Students, apprentices, and staff tell us about the Black figures who have impacted their lives.
Feb 13, 2023
Code the Dream COO Lucy Martinez featured in “Local Limelight”
At Code the Dream, we love it when our students and staffers are recognized for their remarkable contributions. So we were proud that our rockstar COO Lucy Martinez was featured in Axios Raleigh for their Local Limelight series. Lucy brings tremendous energy to our team and keeps our fast-growing organization in order so that everyone […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Code the Dream COO Lucy Martinez featured in “Local Limelight”</div>
Volunteer of the Month
Jan 24, 2023
Meet Kevin Nelson, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month for January 2023
Each month, we highlight a volunteer who has made big contributions to the CTD community. For our first Volunteer of the Month in 2023, we are excited to celebrate Kevin Nelson, who has been regularly involved with Code the Dream classes since 2021. Thanks, Kevin, for your commitment to Code the Dream! Kevin shared about […]
Dec 15, 2022
Magnus-Aryitey on Removing Resumé Requirements: “Tear the paper ceiling”
In a Twitter chat hosted by WorkingNation on December 14, Code the Dream Co-Executive Director Daisy Magnus-Aryitey and other stakeholders discussed how traditional resumé requirements block qualified candidates — many from groups that are underrepresented in high-paying professional positions — from good jobs in tech and other sectors. “STARS (workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes) exemplify […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Magnus-Aryitey on Removing Resumé Requirements: “Tear the paper ceiling”</div>
Nov 30, 2022
Magnus-Aryitey accepts “Tech Difference Maker of the Year” Award at NC TECH Gala
A student in an early version of Code the Dream, Magnus-Aryitey co-founded the current incarnation with Rearick and Code the Dream CTO Ramiro Rodriguez. She served as Director of Programs, Board Vice-Chair, and Director of Partnerships before being named Co-Executive Director in December 2021. A native of Ghana, Magnus-Aryitey moved to the US when she […]
Volunteer of the Month
Nov 16, 2022
Meet Mindy Smith, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month for November 2022!
Each month, we highlight a volunteer who has made big contributions to the CTD community. This month’s volunteer has carved out her own special role and plays an important part in the behind-the-scenes administration of our classes. Mindy Smith, an occupational ergonomist, has been volunteering with Code the Dream since 2021. Each week, she helps […]
Nov 15, 2022
Rearick discusses need for tech education in underrepresented communities on NC Policy Watch podcast
Code the Dream Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director Dan Rearick talked to writer Rob Schofield about the increasing need for access to tech education among communities that have yet to gain a strong foothold in the tech industry. “The tech industry is becoming a bigger and bigger part of our economy, there are so many amazing […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Rearick discusses need for tech education in underrepresented communities on NC Policy Watch podcast</div>
Student Spotlight
Nov 14, 2022
Student Spotlight: Jaqueline Vazquez
After trying to learn to code independently, Jaqueline decided she needed a more structured form of learning so she applied for CTD classes. When asked what attracted her to CTD, Jaqueline said, “As an immigrant who works full-time, Code The Dream’s mission of creating opportunities for immigrants and communities of color really resonated with me […]
nc tech
Oct 28, 2022
Magnus-Aryitey named “Difference Maker of the Year” by NC Tech Awards
Code the Dream Co-Executive Director Daisy Magnus-Aryitey was named the NC Tech Awards “Tech Difference Maker of the Year” On October 28. The NC Tech Awards are given to NC-based tech executives and stakeholders “for their demonstrated excellence and contributions to North Carolina’s vibrant tech sector,” according to the NC Tech Association. “This award is […]
Volunteer of the Month
Oct 27, 2022
Meet Tammy Collinse, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month for October 2022!
Each month, we highlight a volunteer who has gone above and beyond in contributing to the CTD community. This month’s volunteer is Tammy Collinse, a mentor in our Cassiopeia Intro to Programming class. As a class mentor, Tammy leads weekly mentor sessions for small groups of students, helping answer questions about the assignments and resolve […]
team updates
Oct 21, 2022
Magnus-Aryitey talks Code the Dream, CTD Labs, coding careers
CTD co-founder and co-Executive Director Daisy Magnus-Aryitey discussed Code the Dream’s free coding education, the work done by our developers and apprentices in CTD Labs, and the help given by Lenovo and our other partners in an interview on CBS17. Watch the full interview here.
government
Oct 12, 2022
App Spotlight: Upstate NC
At Code the Dream, we believe technology has the power to build a better, brighter future for everyone. But with great power comes great responsibility. How can we leverage these great technological innovations to strengthen our communities through civic engagement? Throughout the campaign, we’ll be talking to authors, politicians, scientists, and our own CTD staff […]
team updates
Oct 10, 2022
Code the Dream welcomes four new team members
Code the Dream is excited to welcome four new talented teammates: Project Manager Anne Ezzell, Senior Developer Tech Equity Fellow Omer Yariv, Strategic Initiative Lead Ricky Leung, and Class Assistant Intern Janet Zulu.  Zulu is a Junior Computer Science Major at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, and a Dream.US Scholar. She has a passion for learning, coding, and […]
Employee Spotlight
Oct 10, 2022
Employee Spotlight: Anne Ezzell
Today, we are excited to highlight one of our newest employees, Anne Ezzell! Anne joins Code The Dream as our Project Manager.
Employee Spotlight
Oct 10, 2022
Employee Spotlight: Omer Yariv
We are excited to highlight one of our newest employees, Omer Yariv! Omer joins Code The Dream as our Senior Developer Tech Equity Fellow.
Volunteer of the Month
Sep 19, 2022
Meet Raquel Román-Rodriguez, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month for September 2022!
At Code the Dream, we’re excited to honor the volunteers who make our program possible. This month, we’re celebrating Raquel Román-Rodriguez, who is currently a mentor in our React class. As a React mentor, Raquel leads a small group of students through the curriculum. Students watch videos, read articles, and complete assignments on their own, […]
Civic Engagement
Sep 12, 2022
5 Stories to Follow: Tech & Civic Engagement
How can we leverage these great technological innovations to strengthen our communities through civic engagement?
Civic Engagement
Aug 29, 2022
How Can Technology Make The American Legal System More Equitable?
How can technology be used to make the American legal system less complicated and more affordable for the average person?
Volunteer of the Month
Aug 16, 2022
Meet Roy Mosby, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month for August 2022!
Volunteers at Code the Dream wear a lot of hats – class mentors, assignment reviewers, project coaches in CTD Labs, and Skill-IT series leaders, to name a few. Our program is possible because of their dedication. Our volunteer of the month for August 2022, Roy Mosby, a volunteer who has gone beyond the typical involvement […]
social media
Aug 10, 2022
Tech & Civic Engagement: Twitter Chat
Code the Dream hosted a community Twitter Chat as part of our Tech & Civic Engagement campaign. The series of questions and prompts led to an engaging conversation about the ways in which people use technology to connect with their local communities, their government, and the world around them. Here are a few of the […]
politics
Aug 1, 2022
Tech & Civic Engagement: Preview
How is technology used to create more engagement between citizens, their communities, and their government? For centuries, advancements in technology have changed the way we interact with other people and the world around us. Communication tools, from the printing press, to the telephone, to social media, have made it easier to create and disseminate information. […]
community
Jul 27, 2022
Coworking Day at The Frontier RTP
Last week, a collection of staff, apprentices, alumni and students came together for an in-person coworking session at The Frontier in Research Triangle Park. Our program went virtual during the pandemic like many folks around the country. We’ve adapted to building a strong online community but we still miss seeing our friends and colleagues in […]
spotlight
Jul 26, 2022
Meet Sarah Buckingham, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month for July 2022
As a nonprofit tech organization, Code the Dream relies on software development volunteers to make our program a success. We are grateful to have dedicated volunteers who lead mentor sessions, assist with pair programming, review assignments, and much more. But some volunteers go above and beyond. We are excited to celebrate their contributions through our […]
Jul 1, 2022
Brief Vamos Demo
Here’s a 3 minute demo that highlights why farmworker outreach is a critical task, why it’s so challenging, and how Vamos helps organizations save valuable staff time by using the app to plan and track outreach. Designed in partnership with farmworker service and advocacy organizations, Vamos Outreach is a mobile and desktop app that assists […]
Jun 21, 2022
Alumni Spotlight: Suheyla Cetin
Code the Dream student Suheyla Cetin started a new job as a software engineer with New York-based startup Array this summer, achieving a goal she has been working toward for two years. Cetin enrolled in Code the Dream in 2021 after relocating to the US from Turkey in 2015. She completed her master’s degree in […]
Volunteer of the Month
Jun 17, 2022
Meet Shanna Murry, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month for June 2022
At Code the Dream, we rely on dedicated volunteers to help us accomplish our mission of changing the face of the tech industry. We are especially thrilled when one of our graduates gives back by volunteering with our classes or projects. That is the story of our volunteer of the month, Shanna Murry, who finished […]
Volunteer of the Month
Jun 2, 2022
Volunteer of the Month, May 2022: Shane Steele-Pardue and Jonathan Johnson
At Code the Dream, we’re grateful to have a dedicated group of software developer volunteers who help make our work a success. Volunteers lead mentor sessions, review class assignments, work with our apprentices and students on real-world projects, and lead our weekly Skill-IT professional development sessions. Some of our volunteers go above and beyond. We’re […]
May 27, 2022
CTD Celebrates Girls Who Code Founder Reshma Saujani
To celebrate Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we would like to highlight the work of Reshma Saujani. Saujani is of Gujarati Indian descent. She founded Girls Who Code in 2012 after learning about the vast gender disparities in computer science education while running for Congress. Saujani wrote a book entitled Brave, Not Perfect, and launched […]
Volunteer of the Month
Apr 27, 2022
Meet Jamie Bort, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month
At Code the Dream, we’re grateful to have a dedicated group of software developer volunteers who help make our work a success. Volunteers lead mentor sessions, review class assignments, work with our apprentices and students on real-world projects, and lead our weekly Skill-IT professional development sessions. Some of our volunteers go above and beyond, and […]
team updates
Apr 18, 2022
CTD Labs welcomes Denilson Velasquez
Code the Dream and CTD Labs are thrilled to welcome their newest full-time junior developer, Denilson Velasquez. A native of Honduras, Denilson has lived in the US since he was very young – which is also when he started to develop a propensity for disassembling his toys, a development that he sees as a precursor […]
Mar 28, 2022
CTD March 2022 Volunteer of the Month: Diana Liao
As a nonprofit tech organization, Code the Dream relies on software development volunteers to make our program a success. We are grateful for every single volunteer that works to support our students and apprentices in the many ways they show up: mentoring, leading workshops, reviewing assignments, pair programming, project coaching and more! But some go […]
CTD Labs
Mar 22, 2022
App for Farmworkers Adds New Partner Thanks to Grant Funding
We are excited to welcome the Pennsylvania Farmworker Project of Philadelphia Legal Assistance to the Vamos app network of partners thanks to grant funding from the American Bar Endowment. Vamos is a mobile app that assists outreach workers in planning, finding, conducting, tracking and reporting on outreach visits to migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Outreach staff […]
HillRAP
Mar 21, 2022
All-Women Developer Team Celebrates Success During Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month, but Code the Dream is celebrating an awesome team of present-day, all-women developers. CTD developers Andrea Hernandez-Guzman, Mariandrea Maldonado, and Rachel Frenkel, along with Katie Brey of the Hill Learning Center, have been hard at work bringing the interactive HillRAP to a growing group of students. Recently, three of the […]
Mar 11, 2022
Magnus-Aryitey speaks about “breaking the bias” at RTP event commemorating International Women’s Day
Code the Dream co-Executive Director Daisy Magnus-Aryitey took part in a panel discussion commemorating International Women’s Day at Boxyard RTP on March 9. Aryitey and the other panelists shared their experiences as women in the workplace, their efforts to bring positive change, and their vision of a more equitable future. Magnus-Aryitey said she is proud […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Magnus-Aryitey speaks about “breaking the bias” at RTP event commemorating International Women’s Day</div>
Jan 31, 2022
From the newsletter: DECODED Winter 2022
“In Their Own Words”CTD Alumni thank our volunteers CTD volunteers, you were instrumental in my journey, not only in the technical aspects, but in learning how to learn, how to search, and also the soft skills, like how to prepare for an interview. Mentors were always there when I reached out, and you all offered […]
Jan 31, 2022
From the newsletter: DECODED Winter 2022
I’m Nick Santiago. I’m a proud veteran — I served for ten years in the US Marines. But after I left the Marines, I wasn’t sure what to do. I knew I was interested in tech, and I tried to teach myself — I bought books, I watched YouTube videos, I learned enough to build a game — nothing fancy, but I was proud of it. I went back to school to start learning Computer Science, and that’s where I heard about Code the Dream.
Jan 31, 2022
Magnus-Aryitey: To solve complex problems “we need people from diverse backgrounds deeply involved at every step of the way to help build new technology that makes a difference”
Code the Dream’s Daisy Magnus-Aryitey discussed her path to a coding career, her new position as Co-Executive Director, and CTD’s recent growth and exciting future in this Q&A with WRAL’s TechWire. When asked about the importance of diversity in tech, Magnus-Aryitey responded: “We know that if we want to solve complex, real-world problems we need […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Magnus-Aryitey: To solve complex problems “we need people from diverse backgrounds deeply involved at every step of the way to help build new technology that makes a difference”</div>
Dec 9, 2021
Code the Dream announces Magnus-Aryitey as new Co-Executive Director
Code the Dream (CTD) is proud to announce Daisy Magnus-Aryitey as the organization’s new Co-Executive Director. Most recently Code the Dream’s Director of Partnerships, Magnus-Aryitey will join Executive Director Dan Rearick in leading day-to-day operations and mapping the path for the fast-growing non-profit. Magnus-Aryitey is uniquely suited for the position, having been a student in […]
Sep 24, 2021
New Tech Consulting Cooperative Founded by CTD Graduates
The six member-owners of Radiate Consulting™ North Carolina decided that their tech expertise combined with a collective-ownership model was their best route to business ownership and a rewarding career trajectory. After working for months, supported by Code the Dream and the Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI), they launched the new business at an event on […]
Sep 24, 2021
CTD Graduate: Selamawit Shibru
Selamawit Shibru joined Code the Dream as an intern in October, 2020. In September, she left after getting a job as a Front End Developer at Tata Consulting Group. What led to your career in software development?I started developing back home in Ethiopia, where my background is in civil engineering. I got the chance to […]
Sep 24, 2021
CTD Labs expands access to reading instruction app for children with learning differences
Code the Dream salutes programmers Andrea Hernandez Guzman and Mariandrea Maldonado, whose work with CTD Labs is helping to bring a reading instruction application for children with learning challenges to teachers and students across the country. Hernandez Guzman and Maldonado have been working on the interactive Hill Reading Achievement Program (HillRAP) for CTD Labs’ client […]
Aug 31, 2021
CTD Graduates Form NC-Based Collective to Offer Tech Expertise and a Pathway to Business Ownership
The member-owners of Radiate Consulting™ North Carolina, a new tech cooperative founded by six entrepreneurs with a wide range of expertise, will introduce themselves and their business at an online event on Thursday, September 2. Radiate Consulting™ is a worker-owned and run small business specializing in building high-quality websites and custom web applications that help […]
Alumni Spotlight
Aug 5, 2021
Alumni Spotlight: Quay Weston
Quay Weston is a CTD alumni from the 2019 React cohort. He credits his time in the program with “giving me the tools and the language to talk to developers which helped me move into UI/UX design and connected me with other dope people in the tech space.” Community has been the most important part […]
Code the Dream
Jul 12, 2021
CTD Co-Founder Magnus-Aryitey Returns as Director of Partnerships
Code the Dream (CTD) is happy to announce that Daisy Magnus-Aryitey, co-founder and former board member, has returned to Code the Dream as the first Director of Partnerships. A native of Ghana, Magnus-Aryitey moved to the US when she was four and came to North Carolina in 2009. She enrolled in an early version of […]
Pride Month
Jun 24, 2021
Useful Resources For Better Team Building During Pride Month
In celebration of Pride Month, we are committing to learn even more about how we can create an inclusive, equitable workplace for everyone. Here are a few resources that we’ve found valuable. LGBTQ+ STEM ICONS This course from Code Academy offers an opportunity to learn more about important figures in the LGBTQ+ tech community. These […]
Jun 17, 2021
AN INTERVIEW WITH CTD GRADUATE JOHAN ANDRES OCHOA
On finding Code the Dream: “I came to the United States two years ago from Colombia, where I studied IndustrialEngineering for six years in college. When I first moved to the US, I had tried to study coding by myself, but I felt I needed more structure and guidance. So when I heard about Code […]
Classes
Jun 11, 2021
Live Q&A Session for August Classes
Registration for our new round of classes is live! Deadline to apply is June 13, so don’t wait to apply. Apply here.
Student Spotlight
Jun 8, 2021
Student Spotlight: Kassidy Holtzman
Name: Kassidy Holtzman Where are you from? Norlina, North Carolina What class are you in? Koi (Ruby on Rails) How did you find out about Code the Dream? What made you want to join? My last year of college at Vance-Granville Community College my teacher Ms. Gill recommended that I sign up for the class. […]
Jun 7, 2021
“As Apple and Google hire in the Triangle, they should embrace diversity” – News and Observer
On April 30th, Code the Dream co-founders Dan Rearick and Daisy Magnus-Aryitey shared their thoughts in an op-ed with the News & Observer about what impact Apple and Google will have on the region after both companies announced their plans to expand into the Triangle. Here’s an excerpt: This week, Apple announced plans for a […]
May 11, 2021
IBM Invests in our Historically Black Colleges
On Friday, IBM announced it is expanding its Global University Program to 40 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) through a $100 million investment in faculty, guest lecturers, cloud storage, and other components necessary for educating those interested in working in tech. IBM — one of Research Triangle Park’s long-standing tenants — has an established […]
May 7, 2021
Thank You, Petra!
For the past year, we’ve had the pleasure of working with Petra Holešínská, UNC graduate student and varsity basketball player hailing from the Czech Republic. Petra has been instrumental in helping us use our social media platforms to spotlight the amazing students and apprentices here at Code the Dream, as well as other important historical […]
demo day
May 3, 2021
Demo Day 2021
On April 22, Code the Dream hosted “Demo Day,” an event showcasing our students, their stories, and the projects they’ve been working on. This is an opportunity for everyone to get an inside look at what makes the Code the Dream process special and how our work impacts the community. Below are a series of […]
Apprentice Spotlight
Apr 30, 2021
Apprentice Spotlight: Sintu Mekonnen
Sintu moved to the United States with her family five years ago and didn’t have any real IT experience at that time. After volunteering in Atlanta, Georgia, she joined Code the Dream as a student before eventually becoming a front-end developer. Being new to coding, Sintu really appreciates how helpful has everyone been throughout this […]
Apprentice Spotlight
Apr 23, 2021
Apprentice Spotlight: Selamawit Shibru
Selamawit is originally from Ethiopia and she moved to the U.S. in 2018 after winning the diversity visa lottery. She has a background in civil engineering, but she also got the chance to learn coding during her bachelor’s study. After working as a cashier for over a year and receiving her Master’s degree in software […]
Apprentice Spotlight
Apr 16, 2021
Apprentice Spotlight: Martina Pantelic
Martina and her husband moved to the U.S. from Serbia in 2018 to create a better future for their family. Having an experience in web design, Martina was looking for a job and an opportunity to grow as a developer. She found out about Code the Dream through UpwardlyGlobal, an organization that helps immigrants land […]
Student Spotlight
Apr 11, 2021
Student Spotlight: Paola Myers
After finding out about Code the Dream through an email from her community college, Paola decided to take one of our classes last October. She knew she wanted to have some kind of an education, but she also had a hard time finding the right direction for her career: ‘‘Nothing was really sticking with me […]
Student Spotlight
Mar 19, 2021
Student Spotlight: Sinan Cengiz
Sinan blazed through CTD classes, becoming a full-stack developer in record time! He started as an apprentice in CTD Labs in December, which marks his first real experience building apps. Even though he had a high technical ability, his lack of experience in the U.S. prevented him from landing a position in tech. ‘’Before CTD I […]
Student Spotlight
Mar 12, 2021
Student Spotlight: Jorge Gabitto
Congratulations to Jorge Gabitto, who finished our first full-stack class in January, and who started as an apprentice in CTD Labs last month. After being involved in education, Jorge was looking for an opportunity to learn about coding, while also being able to make an impact: ‘’I have always felt like I wanted to do […]
Student Spotlight
Mar 5, 2021
Student Spotlight: Grant Young
Congratulations to Grant Young, who just completed our Intro to Programming “Catarina” class, a class specifically targeting rural North Carolinians! He decided to try coding after job changes due to COVID-19. “I was very unsure about where I wanted to go, but Code the Dream gave me a solid path to walk on.” Grant appreciated the […]
Jul 1, 2020
Meet CTD’s New Rails Interns!
Code the Dream’s newest interns completed our 2019-2020 Ruby on Rails class. We’re excited to welcome them to the CTD community! Read more about them below! Cindy Mendes I was born and raised in France. In 2015, I moved to the states as an Au Pair. I started working with programming languages including Java, Python, […]
Jun 19, 2020
Code the Dream Celebrates Juneteenth
We believe that Black Lives Matter.  The killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police last month — along with the earlier murders of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery — has highlighted the violence and systemic racism that Black people face on a daily basis in America. We are encouraged by the calls for justice that […]
Jun 3, 2020
Our Partners at Code Tenderloin
At Code the Dream, we have a deep love of the community we’re building. It’s a community that is full of people with a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences who now come from all over the country. It celebrates immigrants and communities of color. It is a community that is changing the tech sector, […]
Apr 27, 2020
Our New Reality
The COVID-19 virus is one of the most challenging crises we’ve faced in generations. The direct pain caused by the virus and economic fallout from social distancing has upended the way we normally live. We are working hard to adapt to the circumstances, through the projects we work on, our online classes, and our team […]
Apr 1, 2020
Meet CTD’s Newest JavaScript Interns
Mariandrea Maldonado Mariandrea was born and raised in Venezuela. In 2014, she started working with programming languages such as: Java, C++, and php while she was studying computer engineering in her home country. Her background embraces development of websites, web applications and development of games for Android. She loves playing piano, swimming, running, mathematics and […]
Mar 24, 2020
Code the Dream partners with online learning leader Treehouse
Recently at Code the Dream, we have been leaning in to doing more of our work online. In response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Code the Dream’s staff has moved to working fully remote until it is safe to return to the office. We are fortunate that we launched our national remote participation […]
Mar 3, 2020
Seattle Times: Can’t Find Tech Workers? You Might Need to Train Them Yourself.
Tony Byrd was growing increasingly discontented with his job running the coffee shop in the lobby of IBM’s main building in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. He had been working there since he graduated from high school nearly a decade ago, and with two young kids to provide for at home, Byrd, 27, was itching […]
Feb 6, 2020
Athletes Unfiltered: Code the Dream Helps Disadvantaged Youth
Back in July, I chatted with then Penn State defensive back John Reid about his experiences with Coding and how I can teach Coding to my students. After digging through the resources he recommended, I came across Code The Dream. Here’s my chat with John Reid about Coding and with four interns from Code The […]
Feb 4, 2020
5 Questions with CTD's Rails Students
Our Ruby on Rails students are back at work learning CSS and HTML in the second phase of their class, which focuses on web basics. We wrote about this class back in the fall – it’s our first remote-only class and has students from across the United States. I caught up with two of our students, […]
Jan 23, 2020
Launch Day at Code the Dream
It was two days to launch day, and we had just decided on some last-minute improvements to the app. We had only recently finalized its name. Mariposa AR, as we decided to call it, was one of the most unique projects we had done yet, and the coming launch day brought waves of excitement and […]
Jan 22, 2020
WRAL TechWire: Durham’s Frida Kahlo murals come to life with new augmented reality app
DURHAM – Ever feel the urge to jump into a mural like Mary Poppins and get transported into another reality? Well, now you can. A new augmented reality app called Mariposa AR –commissioned by Google Fiber and developed by Code the Dream — allows visitors to interact with two murals in downtown Durham inspired by artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. “AR […]
Jan 8, 2020
An App for the Ministry
I’ve never known a place quite like the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry. Since the 1980s they’ve served thousands of migrant farmworkers from their outpost in Dunn, North Carolina, tending to the needs of the invisible and poorly paid workforce on which our agricultural economy depends. In the summer of 2018, the Ministry went into high gear […]
Dec 19, 2019
WUNC: The Road to Diversity in Tech – Code the Dream
Part of the American dream includes a solid education with the promise of a lucrative job down the road. For many immigrant students in North Carolina, that dream is elusive. These facts were part of the impetus for Code the Dream, a nonprofit organization that teaches immigrant and minority youth the art and science of coding. […]
Dec 18, 2019
ABC11: RTP nonprofit teaches people how to write computer code for free
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Crystal Williams-Brown is the poster child for ‘Code the Dream’. The college graduate couldn’t find work in her first chosen field and decided she really wanted to be a computer programmer. “As I was looking around at a lot of those schools it was very expensive to go and I wasn’t […]
Dec 10, 2019
USA Hello: A personal narrative of working with immigrants
Code the Dream is a nonprofit offering free programming classes and internships to underrepresented communities in the tech sector. A staff member writes about how working with immigrants has improved the quality and scope of the apps the organization builds. I am just beginning to get comfortable in the old, eighteen passenger van when Juan, […]
Nov 21, 2019
We Belong, You Belong: The 2019 GSK IMPACT Partner Awards
by Reid Russom When Narayan and the rest of the Code the Dream delegation walked into GSK’s Triangle headquarters to receive the 2019 IMPACT Award, the space looked familiar to him, but not for the reasons you might think. Looking across the cavernous wood-paneled auditorium and out into the lobby encased in towering glass windows, […]
Oct 22, 2019
Code the Dream Welcomes a New Class!
Code the Dream is excited to welcome a new class of programming students. This cohort is unique because it is enrolled in our first online-only class. Because of this, we are able to expand our reach beyond the Triangle, enrolling students from a number of states and four different time zones! Our new students come […]
Oct 2, 2019
5 Questions with our New Interns
Code the Dream recently welcomed a new class of React interns who are currently working on a wide range of projects, from building calculators and tic-tac-toe boards to MeuTube, a custom-built YouTube playlist that allows for a more streamlined viewing experience. We asked four of our interns five questions, check out their experiences below! Nick […]
Sep 26, 2019
Code with Veni: A Newsletter Dedicated Underrepresented Communities in Tech
Veni Kunche knows tech. A software engineer for over 10 years, she has been named a “Powerful Woman Programmer” by DCFemTech twice. But Kunche’s extensive experience in the tech sector has made deeply aware of the tech world’s tendency towards amplifying voices that are typically white and male. That’s why Kunche started Code with Veni, […]
Aug 15, 2019
Software company Pendo invests in developing talent, sponsors new hire to coding school
by Latisha Catchatoorian | Originally published August 14, 2019 This story was written for WRAL TechWire Advisor partner Momentum Learning. A lot of companies talk about investing in their employees, creating a more diverse work environment, and growing the workforce, but too many times these are just bullet points in a company handbook. That’s not the case […]
Jul 12, 2019
I know this firsthand
Irene knows firsthand about life as a migrant farmworker. And now she’s working with colleagues Daniel and Andrea on a new mobile app to make sure farmworkers get the help they need to stay safe and healthy. Last month they used the app with EFwM to coordinate outreach to farmworker camps in eastern North Carolina. […]
Jun 19, 2019
Meet Tilneil Gary
Tilneil Gary is one of the new interns that has joined our Code the Dream team. Here is some information about Tilneil and her experience with Code the Dream. Tell us about yourself. I am from a very small town called Enfield located in Halifax County, NC and now reside in Raleigh. Currently, I am […]
May 23, 2019
Congratulations to Jared – Volunteer of the Year!
Last night our very own Jared Siirila won the STEM Volunteer of the Year award from the annual STEMmy Awards hosted by STEM RTP. Jared has worked as a front-end developer for IBM and Lenovo, and currently works for EBSCO in the NoveList division, developing software for public libraries. Jared is our longest-serving volunteer instructor […]
May 7, 2019
Meet Jonathan Payares
Jonathan Payares is a current student in our JavaScript course! You can read more about him and his experience at Code the Dream below. Tell me about yourself. My name is Jonathan Payares, I’m from Colombia (Cartegena), and I’m currently working as a manager at Noodles and Company. How did you hear about CTD? I […]
Mar 27, 2019
TechWire: Code the Dream expands operations to Research Triangle Park
Originally published March 26, 2019 in WRAL TechWire RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Code the Dream, an organization that provides computer programming classes to people from diverse and low-income backgrounds, is opening a second office. Launched in Durham at American Underground, the nonprofit is opening a new office at The Frontier campus in Research Triangle Park. The […]
Mar 25, 2019
CTD Hackathon
On Saturday March 9th, high school students from Sampson County Schools Upward Bound participated in Code the Dream’s Hackathon in Durham, NC. Juan Perez, Michael Pineda, Erica Quintana, KeAusja Chestnutt, and Katie Luengas were selected for the Code the Dream Future Scholars Internship. Over the past two the months they built a website with Code […]
Mar 14, 2019
Indy Week: Advocates Say Durham’s Experiment Could Be a Model for Statewide Justice Reform
By Sarah Willets | Originally published March 13, 2019 in Indy Week Advocates Say Durham’s Experiment to Wipe Thousands of Old Cases Off the Books Could Be a Model for Statewide Justice Reform Linwood Thornton had just accepted that he’d never drive legally again.  His license had been suspended since June 2, 1989. A relative used […]
Mar 6, 2019
GrepBeat: Code The Dream Is Diversifying Tech With A Focus On Giving Back
by Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez | Originally published March 5, 2019 in GrepBeat Sitting in a classroom in the basement of American Underground’s American Tobacco campus, eight of Code the Dream’s young programmers waited to present their apps to an eager audience last Friday. But, something made this event different from most tech demos. In fact, something […]
Feb 28, 2019
Upstate: An App Making Civic Engagement Easier
Kelly Garvy, the founder of Upstate, wanted to make North Carolina legislation more accessible for everyday citizens, so she created an app with Code the Dream that would accomplish this goal. The goal of Upstate is to help community members track bills by organizing data better and notifying people of changes in a more modern […]
Feb 19, 2019
CTD recognized in State of the City address
Code the Dream has been developing two apps for the city of Durham and the Durham Innovation Team, and last night we were honored to be recognized by the mayor. We’re excited to continuing to work with all of these great partners to help open up access to opportunity for people who face major challenges […]
Feb 2, 2019
Upstate opens access to info about state government
Over the last year, one of the apps Code the Dream has been most proud to develop has been Upstate — a tool that allows users to get immediate updates about proposed new state laws in the issue areas they care about most. Yesterday Upstate founder Kelly Garvy and CTD developer Crystal Williams-Brown were on […]
Dec 20, 2018
Code the Dream Featured in Walter Magazine
Local adults and students share a desire to learn the language of computers in hopes for a career or life change. by Addie Ladner  |  photography courtesy Code the Dream It’s a Thursday night on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. While many people are drinking and eating their way through downtown, nearly 20 adults and […]
Dec 14, 2018
New video highlights CTD interns’ stories and impact
Nov 14, 2018
Opening Up Options for Pedestrians at NC Open Pass Datapalooza
NC Open Pass is a group that holds open data events with the goal of creating ‘civic tech’.  In September, they held their yearly Civic Camp event, where attendees could pitch ideas for civic-minded apps that used open data. I pitched an idea but my team didn’t win the final presentation. However, the team that […]
Nov 12, 2018
CTD at All Things Open
Last month, many of the Code the Dream interns attended the All Things Open Conference at the Raleigh Convention Center.  All Things Open is the largest open technology event on the East Coast with over 3,500 attendees. Over the course of the 3-day conference, there were more than 200 sessions. These sessions discussed a range […]
Oct 23, 2018
‘Call for Code’ Addresses Disaster Preparedness and Relief Efforts
Last week, Code the Dream interns attended the 2018 Call for Code Global Challenge at IBM in RTP. Call for Code is a multi-year global initiative for developers to use their skills to drive positive change across the world through the code they create. The Call for Code Global Challenge started with 30 teams. IBM […]
Jun 4, 2018
CTD hits the evening news!
Code the Dream opens doors, launches careers By Mandy Mitchell, WRAL reporter & Hannah Webster, WRAL.com editor DURHAM, N.C. — A Durham startup is making dreams come true for adults and high school students who want to work in technology. Code the Dream provides free classes for people who are traditionally under-represented in the technology and […]
May 7, 2018
Ribbon of Hope grant supports CTD rural expansion
At Code the Dream, we’re always interested to find ways to expand opportunity to those who may have less access. So we were excited to learn recently that we received a Ribbon of Hope grant from the NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation to do just that — specifically supporting expanded access to Code the Dream to young […]
May 2, 2018
Welcome Cruz
Cruz Nuñez is now officially our second Code the Dream alumni to come back as program staff. Cruz is an incredibly talented software developer and will take the lead on some of Code the Dream’s app development projects for nonprofits and small businesses. Cruz is also a gifted and patient mentor, and we’re very glad to […]
Apr 16, 2018
Congrats Jafet, and thank you!
We recently got a nice, unexpected email from one of our recent Code the Dream grads, Jafet, who last year earned a full scholarship to college: “Code the Dream provided me with the foundation that is helping me shape my future. The skills I learned through the classes and the multiple phases of the program […]
Mar 30, 2018
Ruben Goes to Silicon Valley
Code the Dream grad Ruben Cruz recently accepted a job with Silicon Valley startup Next Request… but fortunately for him he’ll only have to head to the Bay Area for occasional meetings. He’s one of their first software developer hires near his home in Durham, NC, so he’ll still be close by and able to stay […]
Feb 20, 2018
Code the Dream’s Newest Cohort
After a series of information sessions and a record number of interviews held, Code the Dream’s most diverse cohort yet has been selected: The cohort is split nearly 50 / 50 men and women. Our high school applicants came to us from over a dozen schools across the region. Students range in age from 14 […]
Jan 17, 2018
More Applicants Than Ever Before!
It’s been a busy time for Code the Dream as we prepare for next set of introductory courses! We’ve had more applications than ever before – a record-breaking 170 applicants.  For our team, that’s both exciting and daunting, as we realize we don’t have the resources to serve that many students. We’ve already learned a […]
Dec 27, 2017
Crystal’s story
Crystal started Code the Dream a little under a year ago, and we’re so glad she did. Take two minutes to hear about her experience.
Oct 30, 2017
Welcome Daisy!
We are very excited to welcome the newest member of our team — Daisy Magnus-Aryitey, who began last week as our new Program Director.  Daisy was one of our first Code the Dream students before spending the last two years as a software developer for Duke University. She came to the U.S. from Ghana when she […]
Sep 18, 2017
Students demo new apps in Raleigh
For many Code the Dream students, the last step before they start getting paid to develop real apps is to take one of their own ideas and turn it into a fully functioning app. It’s a big step requiring a lot of work, but on Saturday Crystal, Narayan, Rondale and Cristian were ready to demonstrate […]
Aug 26, 2017
La Noticia Newspaper: Free programing classes offered for immigrant youth
Originally published on August 30 in La Noticia . by Paola Jaramillo  A free program offered by a nonprofit organization that has become a bridge for dozens of young immigrants to integrate into the world of Internet page programming. “The goal of ‘Code the Dream’ is to give immigrants the opportunity to open spaces in […]
Aug 16, 2017
CTD grad goes from struggling with English to working as a programmer at Duke University
When Fernando thinks back to his first days in the United States they weren’t easy. “I cried in the classroom because everyone was speaking English and I didn’t understand what they were saying,” he remembers. Fernando is originally from Honduras, and as a child he didn’t have much access to computers. But he was always interested, […]
Aug 5, 2017
Javascript Class in Durham
Many people pack their bags and sunscreens ready to go on vacation. However a few people are firing up their computers to master a new coding language. Code the Dream is transitioning from teaching its students the language of Ruby on Rails to Javascript. The first class in Durham was hosted this summer where 20 […]
Aug 1, 2017
N&O: Code the Dream helps immigrant and refugee communities give back and diversify tech world
Originally published July 29, 2017 in the News & Observer. Anne Blythe ablythe@newsobserver.com With laptops open, rapt students watched as lines of code stretched across their screens. They were gathered in the American Underground, a startup incubator, to take part in classes organized through Code the Dream, a program set up to steer people from […]
Jul 10, 2017
Students share their experiences at the Mexican Consulate education fair
On Saturday, the Mexican Consulate in Raleigh invited Code the Dream to present at its first ever ‘education opportunity fair’. Students shared their experience with Code the Dream and explained a bit of what they had learned. Around 100 people came to their booth seeking for more information about possibly starting a career in tech. Students  were […]
Jun 1, 2017
New beginner class in Durham
Do you know somebody who has always wanted to learn to code? Maybe they’ve always been really skilled or interested in all things tech, but they’ve never gotten a chance to learn how things work? Whether they’re still in high school or community college or out in the work world and college wasn’t an option […]
May 22, 2017
Code the Dream receives Power of Sharing award
The annual Power of Sharing awards gala was established to recognize the tremendous impact local nonprofits are making throughout our community. This year Code the Dream was honored to be invited and selected as the runner-up in the Education category, a wonderful recognition for our work. We are also grateful for the $5,000 award, which will […]
May 9, 2017
Meet Jafet: Recent CTD grad and soon to be college freshman
Jafet is a senior just a few days away from graduating from high school. In this episode, Jafet talks about coming from a small town in Mexico when he was seven years old, going to school and serving in ROTC, and getting the chance to learn computer programing through Code the Dream. He recently got a […]
May 5, 2017
CTD students prep for the real world.
Getting the call for a job interview is an amazing feeling but also nerve racking. An interview can make or break you by determining if you get the job or don’t. Nothing is more frustrating than failing an interview because you weren’t prepared for the question they asked.  Yesterday Code the Dream students and recent […]
Apr 25, 2017
Recognizing a Mentor Who Has Gone Above and Beyond
This afternoon Jared Siirila was recognized during the 44th Annual Key Volunteer of the Year & Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards Luncheon for volunteering with Code the Dream. Jared has served as an instructor for multiple Code the Dream classes, giving diverse low-income students the opportunity to take their first steps toward a successful career in […]
Mar 8, 2017
Students Find Their Niche in Advanced Course
January marked the beginning of Code the Dream’s Advanced Course in Durham. As students transition from basic programing to more in depth app development technologies, it’s been inspiring to watch them also develop a keener sense that this could be a real future. As Cait recently said, “CTD has been an awesome experience. Ever since […]
Jan 14, 2017
Welcoming new students in Raleigh
Today was the first day of class for our new Beginner Course. We’re excited to have a dozen new students honing their coding skills at the The Iron Yard’s campus in downtown Raleigh, and look forward to seeing what you will accomplish.
Dec 16, 2016
The American Dream for all of us
       America is going through many changes and amongst those, the tech industry is one. A recent survey showed that the tech industry in the U.S. and Silicon Valley have a huge diversity gap. The lack of diversity is becoming a cultural issue as well as a missed opportunity for those who do […]
Nov 22, 2016
Reaching them (really) young!
Most Code the Dream programs focus on high school students and young adults. But last weekend we were happy to be back at the ‘Kids Code’ event at Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh. The event uses fun, interactive techniques to give young children a chance to explore and experiment with technology and basic science and […]
Nov 10, 2016
New CTD class begins with extraordinary new students
Today marks a month with our incredible new students from our class in Durham, NC. This cohort is similar to our previous ones with almost half women and students from all over the world, including Gambia, Guyana, India, Italy, Mexico, and Zimbabwe. We are impressed with what our students have accomplished so far and excited […]
Nov 1, 2016
CTD grad and instructor Cruz Nuñez featured in the North State Journal
As a graduate of Code the Dream, Cruz Nuñez shared his experience with the North Carolina’s new statewide newspaper, the North State Journal. Cruz describes his experience as an immigrant and the challenges he and other students have in seeking out higher education. Please read the full article here. This article in the North State […]
Oct 31, 2016
Tech-N-Treat event brings tech, and fun, to kids in Raleigh
Witches, superheroes, and a tarantula – oh my! On Saturday Uniting NC staff and alums from Code the Dream shared coding with children at Tech-N-Treat in Raleigh, NC. Students went around to different booths to play games while earning stickers for their ‘passports’ and a few pieces of candy. Code the Dream had two games […]
Oct 18, 2016
Code the Dream Interviews – That’s a Wrap!
Code the Dream just finished interviews for our Fall 2016 class in Durham, NC! In this application round we received nearly 50 applicants, interviewed 29 individuals, and accepted 16 students for our beginner coding course.   As a new addition to the staff at Uniting NC, this was my first opportunity to be part of […]
Aug 14, 2016
CtD Lead Instructor Ramiro Rodriguez honored as Tarheel of the Week
Every week the Raleigh News & Observer honors one great North Carolinian as its Tarheel of the Week. This week it was our Lead Instructor Ramiro Rodriguez! A well-deserved honor for him, as well as a great recognition of all the hard work and successes of our students, volunteers and everyone who makes Code the Dream […]
Apr 25, 2016
This is not a drill!
It’s all fun and games until the fire department shows up. Teachers and RTP staff had to prod hundreds of students to get them out the doors, even with the fire alarm going off and the ceiling sprinklers spraying down a few yards away. Some say it all started when overzealous students began ‘studying’ frisbee […]
Apr 18, 2016
CTD students inspire the next Bill Gates… or is it Brenda Garcia!?
On Saturday an enthusiastic group of Code the Dream mentors and students gave up part of their weekend to inspire an even younger generation of future coders and innovators at the first ever Kids Code event at Marbles Kids’ Museum. Using hands-on activities to demonstrate basic coding concepts. Cynthia is only 14 herself but already […]
Apr 1, 2016
Teach a man to fish…
Jorge moved to the U.S. from Costa Rica just before high school. He quickly settled in, learned English, and ended up taking AP classes and graduating near the top of his class.  But he couldn’t find any way that he could afford college. Eventually Jorge got an entry level job with a local tech company, […]
Mar 14, 2016
Diverse class of new CTD students get started
Beginning last week another talented group of Code the Dream students got to work learning the basics of computer programming. Like previous groups, the class includes young people from all over the world — some born here in the United States, while others have come from Mexico, Pakistan, Nigeria and Guatemala.  Nearly half of our […]
Feb 8, 2016
Apply for our next round of classes in Raleigh!
Beginning in March, we will begin a new intro coding course in Raleigh, hosted at HQ Raleigh‘s vibrant startup community. Pass it along: Code the Dream is a free nonprofit program that opens the tech industry to young people from low-income families, including many minority and immigrant communities whose talents have been overlooked by the tech […]
Jan 4, 2016
Thank you!
Thank you… … to all our volunteer mentors who are always so giving with their time, … to all our amazing students who work so hard and overcome so much, … and to all our generous supporters without whom this opportunity would not be possible.
Dec 1, 2015
Code the Dream on TV…
Code the Dream Lead Instructor Ramiro Rodriguez and Executive Director Dan Rearick recently had a chance to talk with the nice folks at Fox 50 about why Code the Dream is so important and how it works. The Hola NC episode aired on Sunday, but you can still catch the interview online.
Nov 12, 2015
CTD students learn from employers, consultants, and each other
Last night CTD students from all three of our first cohorts got together to hear from employers and fellow students, learn about how their strengths fit into their career goals, and talk about next steps.  Students also got an opportunity usually reserved for corporate and other paying clients — to evaluate their own strengths with Raleigh […]
Jun 16, 2015
CTD team builds winning app to help the visually impaired
A team of eight hardworking Code the Dream students and mentors spent over 20 hours last weekend developing an app to improve internet access for the visually impaired. Their efforts were part of a Startup Weekend event hosted at the American Underground in Durham. The team’s app, The Blank App, won the weekend-long competition sponsored by […]
May 31, 2015
CTD in 'Que Pasa' Spanish newspaper
Ofrecen cursos de programación y desarrollo de aplicaciones a jóvenes hispanos http://raleigh.quepasanoticias.com/noticias/ciudad/local/52953-ofrecen-cursos-de-programacion-y-desarrollo-de-aplicaciones-a-jovenes Programa Code the Dream promueve un mayor acceso de las minorías a la industria tecnológica Escrito por Eloy Tupayachi Durham.- Los jóvenes inmigrantes tienen la oportunidad de aprender gratuitamente programación de computadoras y desarrollar aplicaciones para teléfonos móviles mediante el programa Code the Dream,  un […]
May 1, 2015
Code the Dream in the Huffington Post
The Huffington Post recently ran a story on some of the great initiatives taking off in the Research Triangle, including Code the Dream.   Three Ways Research Triangle Startups Are Tackling America’s Challenges Adam Klein, Chief Strategist at American Underground Jim Whitehurst, President and CEO of Red Hat The startup scene in Raleigh, Durham, and […]
Apr 17, 2015
Code the Dream featured in The Indy
http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/a-durham-program-helps-immigrants-overcomeobstacles-to-learning-high-tech-skills/Content?oid=4371364 Dreaming in Code By Emily Feng Each weekday, from 9 to 5, Ruben Cruz learns to code. Less than a year ago, Cruz, whose parents immigrated from Mexico, had no programming experience. Now a full-time student at The Iron Yard, an intensive coding academy in downtown Durham, he will graduate with the skill level of […]
Mar 25, 2015
Our Raleigh class in pictures
Smart hard-working students + top-notch instructors = a lot of learning in just 6 weeks. Big thank you to Ricky Leung and Katherine Guzman for the photos!
Mar 18, 2015
Daisy shares her CTD experience
Last year, I decided to learn coding. I used online tutorials and youtube videos, made notecards and outlines, but I never felt like I had a grasp of the material until the Code the Dream class. Suddenly, everything that I studied on my own started making sense. Code the Dream has given me a framework […]
Feb 7, 2015
Remarkable new group of Code the Dream students
This week a remarkable group of young people started our second Code the Dream course in Raleigh, NC, including students from Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Ghana, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Romania and Venezuela. We’ve joked that every class is like a meeting of the United Nations! We also have a number of women in the class, which itself is really […]
Jan 15, 2015
Thank you to all our supporters!
Thank you to all of you across North Carolina and across the country whose donations make Code the Dream possible. Your donation will allow us to expand Code the Dream to give more hard-working young people a real shot at the American Dream. I wish you could meet some of our students and see how […]
Nov 5, 2014
Apply now for our January class in Raleigh
Our next one-month beginner coding class in January will be hosted at the American Underground in downtown Raleigh. Interested? Get more information and apply here! The one-month course is designed to take students from no experience to coding their first app. In addition, students have the chance to learn from mentors and meet entrepreneurs who […]
Oct 24, 2014
Code the Dream class talks about next steps
Our first Code the Dream class has had some great discussions recently about their goals and what’s next for each of them. Out of the 12 who started in September, 10 successfully built their first app. They’ve provided online feedback on their experience: 100% rated Code the Dream as “a great experience.” In fact, half […]
Oct 13, 2014
Startup Dreams
This weekend a team from Code the Dream was invited to participate in Startup Weekend in Raleigh. The original idea was that we — Jorge, Ruben, Marcel, Keny, Ramiro and I — would just go to help out on other startup ideas. But after a little cajoling, Keny pitched an idea for an app to […]
Oct 3, 2014
One month later, we’ve coded our first apps!
We reached a first milestone — successfully coding our own fully functioning, attractive, web deployed apps.  When we started a month ago, nobody from our first Code the Dream class had ever coded even the simplest app. In fact, most of us had never even written our first line of code. But after a lot […]
Sep 11, 2014
First one-month coding class off to a great start
Last week we started our first one-month intro to coding course. The goal is for students to gain exposure to a wide range of basic concepts, all while coding their first app over the course of a month. So far it’s been even better than we expected. We have a group of 12 enthusiastic students, […]
Aug 28, 2014
Lift off
Here’s the problem. Tech startups now embody the American Dream. Young people dream of getting a job with Google or starting the next Twitter. The creativity and entrepreneurial spirit behind these new technologies represent the best of our country. But large and growing parts of America are being left out. In Silicon Valley and across […]

First one-month coding class off to a great start

Sep 11, 2014
Last week we started our first one-month intro to coding course. The goal is for students to gain exposure to a wide range of basic concepts, all while coding their first app over the course of a month. So far it’s been even better than we expected. We have a group of 12 enthusiastic students, […]

First one-month coding class off to a great start

by dan

Last week we started our first one-month intro to coding course. The goal is for students to gain exposure to a wide range of basic concepts, all while coding their first app over the course of a month. So far it’s been even better than we expected. We have a group of 12 enthusiastic students, […]

Lift off

Aug 28, 2014
Here’s the problem. Tech startups now embody the American Dream. Young people dream of getting a job with Google or starting the next Twitter. The creativity and entrepreneurial spirit behind these new technologies represent the best of our country. But large and growing parts of America are being left out. In Silicon Valley and across […]

Lift off

by dan

Here’s the problem. Tech startups now embody the American Dream. Young people dream of getting a job with Google or starting the next Twitter. The creativity and entrepreneurial spirit behind these new technologies represent the best of our country. But large and growing parts of America are being left out. In Silicon Valley and across […]