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 Dream.
KJ Loving
Where are you from, and where do you live now?
I’m from Tacoma, Washington, and I’ve been living in Portland, Oregon since a few months after I turned 18.
How did you get here from there?
I met my wife when we were both working as lifeguards at a summer camp. She lived in Portland, and a few months after we met and started dating, I moved in with her. This year, we’ll be celebrating our seventh wedding anniversary. The rest is history.
When and how did you realize you were interested in a career in tech?
I was never really pushed toward tech, so it just didn’t seem like an option. That changed when I played a game called Horizon: Zero Dawn. That game opened my eyes to how powerful and meaningful technology could be, especially when it’s used to help people. It sparked something in me, but at the time, I still didn’t think tech or coding was something I could do.
One day, I saw a TikTok about Code the Dream. I thought it was fake at first because it was just too good to be true, but my wife did some serious research and found out it was real. I took the intro course, and I fell in love with coding. It’s a never-ending challenge with constantly changing solutions. You’re always building, always creating, and always pushing to use technology to help people thrive.
I realized that I could combine my community-driven values with my new skills as a developer. I wanted to help break down the barriers that make tech feel inaccessible to so many, and make it easier and more welcoming for marginalized and underrepresented folks to find their place in STEM.
What are you working on for CTD right now?
I work on Project Upstate and also serve as a mentor for Code the Dream’s classes and practicum program.
What drew you to Code the Dream?
What first drew me to Code the Dream was how strongly they lead with values like community, mentorship, and growth. It was clear right away that this wasn’t just another bootcamp or tech program. CTD is rooted in creating space and community for people who’ve traditionally been excluded from tech.
I wasn’t just looking to learn how to code. I was looking for a way to build something bigger than myself, to be part of a community that’s working to create real change. CTD made that possible.
Community, mentorship, and the focus on growth are the qualities of Code the Dream that I hold closest. CTD doesn’t just teach people to code. They help folks build confidence, develop careers, and believe they belong in this industry. The mentorship here is real. I’ve learned from so many incredible people who took the time to guide me, answer questions, and support me as I grew, not only technically, but personally too. And now, I get to pass that on. That’s the power of this community. It’s not competitive, it’s collaborative. We help each other succeed.
Oksana Stepanchuk
Where are you from and where do you live now?
I’m originally from Ukraine, where I earned my Master’s Degree in Law and worked as a corporate lawyer. Eight years ago, my life took an unexpected turn when I moved to the USA. I currently live in Augusta, Georgia—a place that has certainly given me a new appreciation for air conditioning! My husband is from here, and we decided to start our family in the USA. While I’ve adapted to the Southern climate, I still dream of moving to a colder state where I can wear my favorite sweaters more than just a few weeks a year. Ideally, I’d love to be closer to a big city—somewhere with actual seasons would be perfect!
Ideally, I’d love to be closer to a big city—somewhere with actual seasons would be perfect!
*Fun fact: I’ve learned that “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” isn’t just a saying—it’s a way of life in Georgia!*
When and how did you realize you were interested in a career in tech?
I realized I was interested in a career in tech after coming across an article titled “Women Who Code.” It piqued my interest, and a childhood friend advised me to take the CS50 Harvard University course to see if I liked the field. I had always enjoyed computer science in school, and from the first minute of the course, I loved it. I finished the course and started exploring different learning platforms like FreeCodeCamp and Udemy.
Learning on my own was satisfying at first, but over time, I craved more structure and community. About three years ago, a friend offered me the opportunity to help a non-profit organization, Avenue for the Arts, rebuild their website. I worked with them for about a year, which was a fantastic experience.
In 2023, I found a post in a women programmers community on Facebook about CTD courses and applied for React advanced classes. One thing led to another, and I was incredibly lucky to be offered an internship with CTD. I started on March 10, 2023, and words cannot describe how happy I was when I received the offer. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to find a place that offers free courses and paid internships, especially since I wasn’t in a position to afford paid courses or college. CTD was also very welcoming to non-native English speakers, making it a great fit for an immigrant like me with no official computer science background.
What are you working on for CTD right now?
Currently, I’m developing a new feature for the Learns app that will allow students to complete beginner JavaScript exercises directly within our platform, eliminating the need for external code editors. I’m incredibly proud of this work and hope it will be valuable for both students and mentors.
This feature aims to make students feel more connected to the course by making CTD and the app the central hub of their learning experience. By consolidating everything in one place, we hope to help students stay better organized with their work and assignments, creating a more seamless and integrated learning journey.
What drew you to Code the Dream?
What initially attracted me to CTD was its mission to help underrepresented individuals find jobs in tech. I deeply admired CTD’s commitment to social justice and equal opportunity. As an immigrant without a formal computer science background, I found CTD to be the perfect fit. The organization’s supportive and inclusive culture, combined with its focus on mentoring and helping others, made it an ideal place for me to grow and contribute.
And let’s not forget the humor—because, as any developer knows, a good laugh can make even the most stubborn bug seem a little less daunting! After all, in both coding and life, sometimes you just need to “ctrl+alt+del” your problems and start fresh.
Mohammad Rezaie
Where are you from and where do you live now?
I’m originally from Afghanistan and currently living in Virginia. I had to leave my home country in 2021 after the regime change and due to fears of persecution, particularly because I had studied at and worked with an American-affiliated university.
When and how did you realize you were interested in a career in tech?
My interest in technology and computers began in childhood, around the time I got my first computer. I was instantly captivated, spending hours exploring its features and trying to understand how every component of it worked.
It didn’t take long before I began learning how to code. The creative freedom and constant innovation that programming allows are unlike anything else for me. So, pursuing a career in tech felt like a natural and organic path for me.
What are you working on for CTD right now?
My main project at Code the Dream right now is MyFriendBen, a benefits screener application that helps users discover which public benefits they may qualify for based on their personal and household situations. In addition to that, I’m also developing web scrapers that gather public meeting data from various city government websites, an initiative aimed at promoting transparency and civic engagement.
What drew you to Code the Dream?
I discovered Code the Dream through Upwardly Global at a time when I had just moved to the U.S. and was looking to upskill and gain more practical experience in software development. The advanced courses and the practicum offered by CTD felt like the perfect opportunity to not only build on my existing knowledge but also get hands-on experience through real-world projects.
Code the Dream really stands out to me because of how it fosters a welcoming and supportive environment. Its culture is collaborative, fun, and everyone works together well, but what I appreciate the most about CTD is how patient and open everyone is. It’s a place where you can take your time to develop your skills, ask questions without hesitation, and you are encouraged to learn and grow
