There are a plethora of opportunities for Black students aspiring to venture into STEM, and CodeHouse — a tech-focused nonprofit — is one of them.
According to a press release, CodeHouse recently commenced the second year of the CodeHouse Scholars Initiative (CHSI).
After receiving a $1 million grant from Google.org for the four-year program, CHSI is now back with a new round of incoming HBCU freshmen heading into the field. The selected students will be awarded $20,000 in academic scholarships, professional development, and one-on-one mentorship, per the outlet. Thanks to the grant, CHSI was expanded from including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College to also Howard University and North Carolina A&T State University.
“We’re proud of the strides we made during the CodeHouse Scholars Initiative’s inaugural year, and today marks another important step in our journey to improve diverse representation in the tech industry,” said Ernest Holmes, CodeHouse’s president and co-founder, according to the press release. “As we welcome the next generation of leaders into the CodeHouse fold, we’re confident that we’ll be able to amplify their talents through our various initiatives and the support of our partners as we look to make the world a better, more inclusive place.”
Additionally, CHSI will have a four-week Summer Bridge Program to prime their professional and technical skills ahead of the school year.
In honor of the second cohort, CodeHouse hosted an opening ceremony dinner — where the next generation’s tech leaders were encouraged and empowered.
“We do everything we can as a nation to make certain people feel as if they don’t belong,” said Kim Jenkins, PayPal’s Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion. “The struggle is real. And I really appreciate opportunities for us to do whatever it is we need to do to make sure that the people who are watching us—because people are always watching—see the fight and the fire and the commitment.”
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