Delawareans can join forces for this year’s Star Wars-themed Hour of Code

May the force be with you, coders!
This year’s Star Wars-themed Hour of Code initiative has arrived this week, and Delawareans can participate at any library in the state, and some of them, along with community locations, are inviting people at designated times to take part.
Hour of Code is an effort to get more people (the website says ages 4 to 104) educated about coding by taking an hour with its tutorials sometime between Dec. 7-13. The program teamed up with Disney and Lucasfilm to create Star Wars, Minecraft and Frozen-themed tutorials. Put on by programming advocacy group Code.org, Hour of Code is available in more than 40 languages with participants expected from more than 180 countries.
Mona Parikh, community developer at Archer Group and de facto community organizer for coIN Loft, and Sarena Fletcher, administrative librarian of emerging technology for the state, both won Delaware Innovation Awards and wanted to give back to Delaware’s tech community. Parikh joined forces with Megan Anthony at 1313 Innovation with the support of Robert Herrera from The Mill to set up participation times for people in Wilmington, while Fletcher enlisted libraries from across the state to host coders.

Thirteen Delaware public libraries are offering computer time to folks who want to code, including these locations:

• Bear
• Brandywine Hundred
• Claymont
• Rehoboth
• Greenwood
• Frankford
• New Castle
• Wilmington
• Woodlawn

And check out the events calendar for these public libraries that are offering specific times, some for certain age groups, to complete the Hour of Code:

• Appoquinimink Community
• Delmar
• Elsmere
• Laurel
• Seaford Library and Cultural Center

Parikh invites people interested in learning more about code to bring their laptops to coIN Loft on Dec. 9 from noon to 2 p.m., and 1313 Innovation will host Hour of Code Dec. 11 from noon to 2 p.m.
“Star Wars basically defines my childhood,” Parikh said. “I’m extremely excited to see the partnering of Lucasfilm with Disney for Hour of Code — that’s an example of a clear way to get not only a younger generation but my generation excited about coding.”