The definition of inclusiveness has been changing with time, according to UNICEF, inclusiveness in education means all children in the same classrooms, in the same schools. It means real learning opportunities for groups who have traditionally been excluded – not only children with disabilities but speakers of minority languages too. That is exactly what Kimberly Bryant has been fighting for since 2011, the year in which she founded Black Girls Code.
Before founding this great initiative, Kimberly was already an advocate for closing the gap in tech fields, and for the improvement of learning environments to make them more accessible, open enough, safe, and future-ready.
In this article, we are going to share with you some amazing aspects of Bryant’s life, work, and legacy. On the other hand, we are going to tell you a little bit more about the creation and foundation of “Black Girls Code” – Kimberly’s organization.
If the issue of inclusivity matters to you, be prepared to learn about an initiative and an individual that is doing everything possible to make a difference and to turn our society into a better, friendlier one.
The history of Black Girls Code: Because coding is for everyone!
On the website of Black Girls Code, their mission is the first thing that catches the eye of their visitors. They make it very clear that they are here for a reason, and that their existence is indispensable.
Founded in 2011, Black Girls Code declares that they exist to increase the number of women of color in the digital space by empowering girls of color ages 7 to 17 to become innovators in STEM fields, leaders in their communities, and builders of their own futures through exposure to computer science and technology.
They also emphasize that Bryant founded this organization to provide African-American youth with the skills to occupy some of the numerous computing job openings expected to be available in the U.S in the next couple of years and to train 1 million girls by 2040.
In April of 2021, and thanks to their amazing partnerships they had an extraordinary Hackathon with Nike. As they say it themselves, Black Girls CODE is teaming up with Nike to host a virtual hackathon that wants to explore the intersection of sports and activism from a technological perspective.
Kimberly Bryant: The founder of Black Girls Code
In this great TED talk, Bryant talks about one alluring fact: the risks of failure are not equitably distributed. In some sort of way, this fascinating lecture represents who Kimberly Bryant actually is. In just 20 minutes, it gets easier to comprehend the character and her layers to deeply understand why she founded Black Girls Code.
Bryant’s hard work has been recognized a number of times. In 2012, she received the distinguished honor of being awarded the Jefferson Award for Community Service, thanks to her work to support Bay Area communities with Black Girls Code.
Then, in 2013, she was recognized as a White House Champion of Change for her efforts in tech inclusion. In the same year, she was selected as one of the 25 most influential African-Americans in technology by the well-known magazine Business Insider.
Among other awards, she was one of the 65 finalists to present projects during the annual interactive innovation awards organized by KPMG; and the list keeps on getting longer and longer.
Maybe her life story can explain her fantastic legacy. Kimberly Bryant was born and raised by a single mother in Memphis, Tennessee. She always thought she was a “nerd” because she had exceptional grades in both mathematics and science when in school. That excellence allowed her to earn a valuable scholarship to be part of Vanderbilt University.
Although she planned to become a civil engineer, she then changed paths to Electrical Engineering because of the deep interest she showed in the microchip, the personal computer, cellphones, and other devices. When studying Electrical Engineering, she got a minor in Computer Science, strengthening her passion and interests.
Coding is for everyone. Your kid deserves to learn!
All kids should have a learning environment that enables them to reach their full potential through methodologies in which mistakes are considered valuable learning opportunities. In the live, online coding courses offered by Tekkie Uni, this is the case.
Your kids will be able to learn everything they need to gain useful 21st-century skills, phenomenal future-ready tools, and amusing life perspectives that -all together- will locate them in a bright path for future success.
Take a look at the courses offered by Tekkie Uni and start nurturing your children today with the skills they’ll need tomorrow.
