LaunchCoder Girls Rule

Women coders? Thanks to LaunchCode, a local non-profit, a field once dominated by men is seeing more women join its ranks. It’s happening via an off-shoot program called LaunchCoder Girl, located at CIC (Cortex Innovation Community) in the CWE’s Cortex District (4240 Duncan),

A wide variety of women are gathering to learn computer coding on Wednesday evenings at CIC as they work their way through Harvard’s online CS50 class. CoderGirl meetups are free. Participants need only bring a laptop, a desire to learn a new language (coding), and a love for creating something from nothing. Approximately 16 experienced programmers mentor participants, assisting as needed while each student works through the Harvard course at her own pace. After participants complete CS50,  they are placed in a paid internship that can lead to a well paid full-time job.

Shown above left are Crystal Martin, Community Education Coordinator of LaunchCode, and my good friend Rosa Mayer, right, LaunchCode’s Director of Business Relations. They are standing next to a board posting the number of jobs that LaunchCode had found for graduates of its program at the time of my visit. Since the date of the photo, there are now 172 graduates who have been placed in jobs in St. Louis and beyond.

Among the founders of LaunchCode are Brendan Lind and Jim McKelvey. McKelvey is a founder of the CWE’s Glass Factory and co-founder of the Square payment system, which has become ubiquitous in the 5 years since its launch at Pi.

Recognizing that there are many educational opportunities to learn coding in the U.S., but seeing that many with programming skills could not qualify for one of the many jobs available without a four-year degree, the founders determined to “create pathways to economic opportunity and upward mobility through apprenticeships and job placement in technology. We (LaunchCode) partner with hundreds of companies to set up special on-ramps into apprenticeships and jobs in technology that bypass your credentials and focus on you. If you have the aptitude, professionalism, and skills to get a job, LaunchCode can help you get your foot in the door.”

When 70% of those who showed up for the first LaunchCode meetup in October 2013 were male, women attendees felt intimidated. So it was decided that creating a LaunchCode meetup specifically for women was a smart idea. In May 2014, a group of 300 women (40% over the age of 35) showed up for the first LaunchCoder Girl meetup.

Currently 50 to 100 women learn to write code on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. The photo above shows mentors (in yellow shirts), who are experienced programmers, offering assistance to participants only when needed.

The following video highlights the mix of people who attend LaunchCoder Girl meetups and what it takes to become a programmer:

Last month, LaunchCode was singled out by President Obama during an announcement for a new technology initiative called TechHire. Jim McKelvey and Brendan Lind were invited to the White House for the announcement, along with LaShana Lewis, a recent graduate of Coder Girl. Lewis, who was introduced by the president, grew up in East St. Louis and worked part-time as a bus driver after she wasn’t able to find work as a programmer (read account in Post-Dispatch here). Lewis discovered LaunchCoder Girl in 2014, completed the program, and was subsequently placed as an apprentice at MasterCard, where she is now working full time. Watch Lewis’s inspirational story here.

As long as women continue to show up for CoderGirl meetups there will be a mentor available to help them work through CS50. For more information visit the website, CoderGirl’s Facebook page, or contact [email protected]. Meetups are on the second floor at CIC, 4240 Duncan.