Holberton Tulsa and Urban Coders Guild to Offer Youth Programming for Computer Science Education Week

Hour of Code events will take place at Holberton, Dec. 5-6

Tulsa, Ok | Dec. 1, 2022 – Holberton Tulsa, a software engineering school, and Urban Coders Guild, a nonprofit organization dedicated to working with children and parents in underrepresented communities to develop tech talent, are collaborating to host Computer Science Education Week activities.  The week is a national call to action to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity and celebrate the contributions of students and teachers.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Urban Coders Guild to participate in the world’s largest computer science learning event for kids,” said Libby Ediger, CEO of Holberton Tulsa. “By learning together, we can break down fears and stereotypes of coding and inspire the next generation of technologists.  We want every student to know they have the opportunity to thrive in Tulsa’s technology ecosystem.”

Joining millions of students and teachers in more than 180 countries to generate interest in code during the week, Hour of Code events will be held at the Holberton campus for the Urban Coders Guild students on Dec. 5 and 6 from 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.  Activities include a tour of the Holberton Tulsa campus and a coding activity to engage middle school and high school students and their families.  

“The Hour of Code takes place annually during Computer Science Education Week,” explains Mikeal Vaughn, founder and executive director of Urban Coders Guild. “This is an excellent opportunity for us to engage students and families in coding activities that build a sense of comfort and confidence as computer science learners. And we’re especially excited to partner with Holberton to introduce both our students and their parents to solid pathways towards thriving in Tulsa’s tech-powered future.”

The 2022-23 Urban Coders Guild group represents more than 56 students across four cohorts (Android, iOS, Unity and Web Development) at nine Tulsa-area middle schools and high schools.  Sixty three percent of students identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and 25 percent identify as female.

The Hour of Code serves as the last event for Urban Coders Guild cohort members before the Winter break. Students will resume their 28-week program in January, shifting from instructor-lead classes to work on individual and group web, mobile app and game capstone projects.

About Holberton Tulsa

Founded in Silicon Valley, and brought to Tulsa by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, Holberton Tulsa opened in 2019 and the first cohort began in 2020. The innovative software engineering school located in downtown Tulsa helps remove barriers to entry in the technology field. The 20-month curriculum provides a foundation in software programming, and specialized instruction in a preferred field of study, including augmented reality / virtual reality, machine learning, linux programming and advanced algorithms and full-stack web development. Holberton Tulsa is dedicated to meeting the educational needs of Tulsa’s rapidly expanding technological community by preparing students academically and professionally to meet the constantly changing employment requirements needed to be successful in a career in software development and engineering. Learn more and apply today at holbertontulsa.com.

About Urban Coders Guild

Urban Coders Guild exists to provide computer science education access and opportunities to youth from historically underserved, underrepresented and otherwise under-resourced communities. Urban Coders Guild strives to educate parents, especially those of Black and Brown children and those of young girls, about the opportunities STEM and computer science education can offer their children. And Urban Coders Guild recognizes the need to provide multiple pathways for students – academic, professional, and entrepreneurial. All students will be exposed to coding technologies, but in developing a viable tech ecosystem, we recognize the need to showcase other roles within the tech sphere: IT project managers and business analysts, product designers, product developers, tech salespeople, as well future tech entrepreneurs.

Pictured below are students from the Urban Coders Guild.