These two tech powerhouses have joined forces to increase accessibility and diversity in tech.

PORTLAND, OR, February 11, 2020 – An innovative partnership between national nonprofit ChickTech and global coding academy CodeWizardsHQ is doing double duty for advancing diversity in tech! By combining CodeWizardsHQ’s hands-on, accessible online coding for youth ages 8-18 with hand-in-hand donations to ChickTech, one of the nation’s top nonprofits empowering and educating female- and nonbinary-identifying students and adults, the two organizations have found synergy in their shared goals of making the technology industry better for all.

At the core of CodeWizardsHQ is the fundamental belief that computer coding is for everyone.

“I founded CodeWizardsHQ to support my daughter’s interest in technology, which I believe will prepare her for a myriad of opportunities in a tech-driven world. Providing access to coding classes for kids and teens is a priority to guarantee a future-ready generation so the partnership with ChickTech was a must!”

Jey Iyempandi, CodeWizardsHQ Founder & CEO

This common vision between the global coding school and ChickTech drove the two organizations to partner through offering a reduced-cost Intro to Programming course and a donation to ChickTech for each registrant. The new $20/student rate reduces the barriers to coding and CodeWizardsHQ’s donation to ChickTech of 50% of class tuition provides crucial resources helping ChickTech provide FREE technology workshops to more students across the nation. 

“We’re thrilled to partner with CodeWizardsHQ,” said Katie SanFilippo, ChickTech Interim CEO. “Because of their deep passion for gender equity in tech, together, we’re empowering and igniting excitement in hundreds more young girls to thrive in the digital world. We can’t thank them enough for supporting ChickTech’s work to make the tech industry more accessible and welcoming to all.”

CodeWizardsHQ offers an Introduction to Python class that is designed to create Aha! moments while exposing students to the wonders of programming, creating a passion for coding! Interested students and parents can learn more about the class and register at codewizardshq.com

About ChickTech

ChickTech is a 501(c)3 US-based nonprofit dedicated to retaining women in the technology workforce and increasing the number of female- and nonbinary-identifying youth and adults pursuing tech-based careers. ChickTech offers educational workshops, mentoring, and internship opportunities for high school students who aspire to technology careers. Additionally, ChickTech provides career events for women and allies in technical fields to create a supportive community of professionals to network, grow their skills, and discover employers looking for exceptional talent. For more information, visit chicktech.org.

About CodeWizardsHQ

CodeWizardsHQ is the leading online coding academy for kids and teens ages 8-18. They deliver the most fun and effective live, online coding classes which are designed to give students the programming knowledge, skills, and confidence to thrive in a digital world. For more information, visit codewizardshq.com.

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The Austin EdTech Startup has partnered with ChickTech to #GiveBack

[Austin, TX, October 1, 2019] CodeWizardsHQ, the global coding school for youth ages 8-18, has partnered with ChickTech, a national organization serving thousands of girls and women every year through tech programs and events.

The partnership aims to improve access to technology education to students and broaden the impact of ChickTech. ChickTech & CodeWizardsHQ are working together to create a roadmap for local ChickTech Chapters to involve youth in coding. 

The harder part of getting girls and youth into technology is getting them to try it and experience the fun and joy of programming. CodeWizardsHQ offers an Introduction to Python class that is designed to do exactly that. We create Aha! moments while exposing students to the wonders of programming, creating a passion for coding! 

With this partnership, CodeWizardsHQ and Chicktech plan to bring that introductory programming class to a far broader audience. 

The introductory class typically costs $39/student. As a result of this partnership, the course will be made available at a partner price of just $20/student. Of that, 50% of the class fees will be donated back to ChickTech by CodeWizardsHQ. The funds raised will help ChickTech continue FREE youth hands-on, technology workshops for girls, including non-binary and transgender youth, across the country.

ChickTech was founded in 2012 to engage women and girls of all ages in the technology industry while working to create a better technology culture for all. ChickTech has made a direct impact on tens of thousands of participants, including girls, women, and men. Their programs include summer camps, ChickTech: High School, Meetup groups for adults in tech, and ACT-W Conferences.

CodeWizardsHQ offers an innovative and pragmatic multi-year curriculum for grades 3-12. For young learners, CodeWizards’ Junior Level focuses on scratch programming while older students participate in a comprehensive course sequence that begins with an introductory programming series that progresses through advanced algorithms and data science. The final year students get real-world experience through an internship or capstone project. Beyond coding, the CodeWizardsHQ educational experience nurtures curiosity and builds confidence through a student-centric pedagogy that includes social and emotional components that foster collaboration, exploration and personal growth.

If you would like more information about this topic contact Ana-Maria Medina, ana@codewizardshq.com.

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A little while ago, I spent 2 full-days at the Ann Richards school for young women leaders introducing real coding to 7th grade students. What an amazing opportunity to contribute back to the community.

Ann Richards School (ARS) is a one-of-a-kind school. It’s a public all-girls school of choice that serves grades 6 – 12 for the Austin Independent School District. 100% of the students are accepted to college. More than 60% of the students are the first generation college bound. Students wouldn’t have these opportunities available to them, if not for ARS.

Below are some pictures from the workshop.

A couple of weeks after the event, I got a plethora of hand-written thank you notes. I was speechless that those kids took the time to make this and mail it to me.

Awesome kids and excellent teachers. Great experience for me. Thank you Ms. Roy and Ms. Goka for the opportunity.

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