Diversity & Inclusion
Coding / Education / Web development

Coded by Kids is coming to Wilmington

The coding education nonprofit will make its official Delaware debut in Riverside's Kingswood Community Center.

It all starts with a click. (Photo by Flickr user John Watson, used under a Creative Commons license)

Coded by Kids, a Philly-based nonprofit that offers free coding classes for kids at community centers and schools, is officially launching in Delaware, and is reaching out for volunteers.
After a successful pilot program over the summer, CbK chose Kingswood Community Center in the Riverside neighborhood of Wilmington as its first point of entry in the First State. Capital One is funding the program, which is slated to start in November.
CbK also has a school-based program in Philadelphia that is funded by grants, corporate sponsors and/or parent fundraising. That will eventually come to schools in Delaware as well. Launching in a Wilmington community center in a Riverside, however, is in line with the group’s mission to offer access to coding to all different kinds of kids.
“With the school-based program, there’s no guarantee that we’ll reach less-advantaged kids,” said Coded by Kids COO Maggie Deptola. “It depends on whether the school can get the money.” Not wanting the program to neglect more disadvantaged students, CbK originally partnered with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to offer the free classes in urban rec and community centers.
The program is more than a coding class. “So much of the tech community is about having contacts and who you know,” said Deptola. “What’s cool about the program is that, since many of our instructors work in the tech community, kids also build those connections.”
Right now, CbK is looking for volunteer instructors with a good grasp of basic languages like HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Instructors will be asked to make a three-month, once-a-week commitment.
“We’re looking for consistency and people who understand our philosophy,” said Deptola. “We’re mentors first. It’s not just about memorizing code.”
In addition to volunteers, CbK is also looking for one staff person for Delaware.
If you’re interested in becoming an instructor, registering your child or starting a CbK program at your school, email info@codedbykids.com.

Full disclosure: Technically Media cofounder and CEO Christopher Wink is on the board of Coded by Kids. He was not involved in this report.

Companies: Coded by Kids
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