Black Girls Code

Black Girls Code is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the number of women of color in the digital economy by providing programming and technology education to young girls. Founded in San Francisco, the initiative focuses on empowering girls from underrepresented communities through workshops, hackathons, and after-school programs in fields like web design, game development, and robotics. Its work addresses the significant racial and gender disparities within the technology industry and STEM fields.

History and founding

The organization was founded in 2011 by Kimberly Bryant, an electrical engineer who had worked in the biotechnology sector at companies like Genentech and Merck. Bryant was inspired to create the initiative after seeking a computer programming camp for her daughter and finding a lack of accessible, culturally responsive options for girls of color. The first workshop was held in 2012 at the Microsoft campus in San Francisco, teaching basic web design using HTML and CSS. Early support came from partnerships with established tech entities like the Google Foundation and the National Center for Women & Information Technology.

Mission and programs

The core mission is to provide African American and other minority girls aged 7-17 with the skills to become innovators in STEM fields and leaders in their communities. Key programs include single-day workshops, multi-week coding classes, and larger annual events like the Summer of Code and Hackathons. These sessions cover emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, mobile app development, and 3D printing. The organization also runs chapters in multiple cities across the United States, including Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, and Memphis, as well as internationally in South Africa.

Impact and recognition

Since its inception, the organization has taught programming skills to thousands of students and has expanded its reach to over a dozen chapters. Its impact has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Smithsonian's American Ingenuity Award for Social Progress and accolades from The White House under the Obama administration for excellence in STEM education. Alumni have gone on to pursue computer science degrees at institutions like the MIT and Stanford University, and to secure internships at major firms like IBM and Facebook.

Partnerships and funding

The organization has secured strategic partnerships and funding from a wide array of corporate, philanthropic, and academic institutions to sustain and scale its operations. Major corporate sponsors and partners include Google, Microsoft, AT&T, Intel, and Oracle Corporation. It has also received grants from foundations such as the Kapor Center and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Collaborations with universities like the University of California, Berkeley and Spelman College help provide curriculum support and venue space for its educational programs.

Criticism and challenges

Like many nonprofit organizations focused on diversity in tech, it has faced challenges related to scaling its model sustainably while maintaining program quality across diverse geographic chapters. Some observers within the broader movement for equity in STEM education have noted the persistent structural barriers in the technology industry that require systemic change beyond single-organization interventions. The founder, Kimberly Bryant, has also been vocal about the challenges of fundraising from traditional venture capital and philanthropic sources for organizations led by women of color.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in San Francisco Category:Science and technology in the United States Category:Educational organizations established in 2011