Black Girls Code is back with another initiative to educate young Black girls about coding.
According to an April 2024 press release, nonprofit Black Girls Code teamed up with GoldieBlox, a STEM-focused children’s multimedia company, for Code Along Jr. The free video-based coding academy is based on Code Along — a Black Girls Code coding program — and is for girls who are ages 7 to 10.
Launched live in Los Angeles, CA, Kalani Jewel, a child actress, hosted the coding academy’s live event, the press release details.
“Together, we can change the face of technology,” Black Girls Code CEO Cristina Jones shared in a statement. “Kalani, as a vibrant and energetic 12-year-old, is the perfect host for Code Along Jr. She shows girls that tech is fun, not scary. She reaches them at their level and shows them that they can do anything they want. This is so important because tech is at the center of everything we do, and Black girls absolutely have a lot to offer as entrepreneurs, executives, creators, and artists of the future.”
Powered by the kids coding platform Scratch, Code Along Jr. consists of six free coding video tutorials for skill-building. The program encourages and inspires the next generation to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), just as Code Along has done.
With a mission to help young girls develop an early interest in STEM, Black Girls Code’s new program greatly aligned with GoldieBlox’s work.
“GoldieBlox lives at the intersection of technology, play, and girl power,” Debra Sterling, founder and CEO of GoldieBlox, said in the press release. “A partnership with Black Girls Code on Code Along Jr. is a natural fit for us. We are thrilled to help expose girls to the magic of tech-enabled creativity and support them on their learning journey.”
Content Courtesy – Black Girls code
