LEARN TO CODE & CHANGE THE WORLD through NEWBURGH GIRLS CODE CLUB at the Newburgh Free Library

 

Girls Who Code

 

About the program

Newburgh Girls Code Club (NGCC) is a youth leadership development program designed to foster youth STEAM learning opportunities and close the gender gap in tech. Based on the Girls Who Code curriculum, we are using Computer Science to change the world: We build a diverse sisterhood of supportive peers and role models; explore fun, online coding tutorials; identify issues that matter to us in our community and design real solutions to address them through code.

As Reshma Saujani, GWC founder, CEO said:  "We're raising our girls to be perfect, and we're raising our boys to be brave.” 

We are in charge to socialize young girls to take risks and learn to program -- two skills they need to move society forward. 
To truly innovate, we cannot leave behind half of our population. 

"I need each of you to tell every young woman you know to be comfortable with imperfection."

Be Brave, Not Perfect

YOU are the next generation of coders who will make an impact. In this club, you learn:

  • From professional Coding mentors 
  • What is computer science, who are computer scientists and what they do?
  • How to write code in different languages, using Scratch, Python, HTML / CSS, JavaScript
  • About unconventional career paths for coders & programmers
  • How to amplify your voice and share your coding stories with other young coders
  • Different coding roles, like Designer, Problem Solver, and Coder
  • Pair programing, and collaborative learning models
  • Podcasting 

What makes Girls Who Code special is that we're not just here to teach you how to code. We want to help you become the most awesome, inventive, creative, curious, passionate, playful, resourceful, fun, and friendly computer scientists possible!
To do that, you can't just practice coding skills. If you want to be the best computer scientist possible, you will also have to grow some important strengths to help you and your projects succeed.
The strengths you'll focus on here are:

  • Bravery
  • Resilience
  • Creativity
  • Purpose

But the most important, it awakenes our Problem Solving abilities, and Courage To Create. It provides safe environment and empowers gils with Curious Exploration and peer support, 

 

Timeline and records

In 2019-2020 we started with in person classes with two cohorts for Fall 2019, and launched another batch in Spring 2020. Thanks to Yulia's hard work reaching out and assisting each member 1:1, we were able to transition to fully remote class in March 2020. We were supporting Girls thprough the Summer to keep them engaged.  Check out some of our past work on Weebly  

During 2020-2021 school year NGCC pivoted again and used the hybrid mode. We were able to host two new cohorts introducing girls to Compuer Science concepts and coding basics, and hosted Summer Coding Camp focused on Web Development. The program was a year long, and we delivered the Spring and Fall semester with 14 sessions each (one class per week) for four cohorts of students (two and two) of different age, 10-18. We also were able to run a Summer Intensive bootcamp 2 weeks long, daily. Total - three semesters, with different outcomes, but definitely creating a peer environment and transformation for girls, cultivating sisterhood and bravery. We were able to empower them with the idea: Coding is Fun with friends, and they are capable of creating things using technology. Check out their incredible projects here:

2021-2022 we hosted 3 semesters as we learn it serves best our constituences:

2022-2023 is  here with 3 semesters trhough the year again

 

Press/ Testimonials/ Interviews::

 

Blog posts: 

 

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Thanks to all who made this program possible: Rowley Family Foundation and their Fund for Women and Children, Newburgh Free Library, OpenHub's dedicated team and many enthusiasts, volunteers and supporters. We appreciate the program ancestors Girls Empowerment program at St.George's Episcopal Church in Newburgh.

We are excited to continue using Girls Who Code curriculum as the key part of our growing curriculum. Check their Code-At-Home page available for all.

We are so proud creating this program of excellence with all involved!