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: they are 14% of Americans and only 7% of the tech workforce.
It takes a like-minded community working together to help break down the barriers preventing more African Americans from accessing jobs in technology. Code the Dream works closely with our partner organizations throughout the country to help connect Black communities—and other communities underrepresented in tech—to life-changing education.
These organizations know what we at Code the Dream know — more African Americans need access to opportunities in the tech sector, and the tech sector also needs them. Research shows that innovation thrives on diverse teams where many backgrounds and perspectives have a voice.
Meet a few of Code the Dream’s partners working to build an inclusive and diverse tech industry—during Black History Month and all year long.
Marcy Lab School: A college alternative for BIPOC communities
The Brooklyn-based Marcy Lab School, which is dedicated to serving BIPOC communities, provides a tuition-free post-secondary education experience that propels underestimated young adults into financially rewarding and purpose-driven careers in the tech sector. Their rigorous program produces highly skilled graduates ready to seize opportunities in tech.
The Marcy Lab School serves students from low-income backgrounds without four-year college degrees, providing fellowships in data analytics and software engineering. Their next application deadline for 2025 Software Engineering Fellowships is on March 9, 2025.
NPower: Building economic mobility through tech careers
NPower, a national nonprofit with hubs in nine states, creates a pathway to success through digital career training for military-connected individuals, young adults, and women from under-resourced communities. Combining rigorous, free training, career readiness skills, and job placement assistance along with trauma-informed support services.
NPower’s curriculum covers a range of experience and aspiration, from intro courses in IT support and tech fundamentals to higher level courses in app development and cybersecurity, among other topics. Learn more and apply.
Mission Bit: Supporting STEM careers for Bay Area youth
Mission Bit, which serves youth in San Francisco, Oakland, and East Bay, gives students of color the chance to explore computer science in an environment that celebrates individuality, prioritizes happiness, and empowers them to create real-world impact with coding.
Mission Bit offers classes, workshops, and career prep to students aged 14 and older, providing the equipment needed to learn, and perspective-enhancing experiences like field trips to ten company offices. Mission Bit prioritizes community and inclusivity so that students can develop the foundation for a future in tech in a pressure-free environment. Applications for their two-week Tech Start career prep program are now open.
Coding for an Equitable Future
At Code the Dream, we envision a world in which tech innovation comes from all of us and benefits all of us. That’s why we are working alongside organizations like Marcy Lab School, NPower, and Mission Bit —along with many others—to provide access to opportunity for the voices that often go unheard in today’s tech industry.
As Black History Month ends, we look to a future that is built by Black coders and celebrates Black coders—the whole year long.
