As the tech world makes innovation gains, cracking the code on diversity and inclusion in the workforce is moving slower.
The non-profits the AIM Institute and Seventy Five North are not looking toward the future for solutions, they're looking at the present by recruiting area students of color.
This career is not just for people like me - white guys, says Kent Smotherman, the director and lead instructor for institute.
"Anybody can do this," he said.
Yet, studies reveal white males comprise the majority of the tech workforce.
So, the duo organizations partnered to offer a code camp over the next seven weeks. Facilitators interviewed roughly 50 students from four high schools within Omaha Public Schools: North, Northwest, Central and Benson. About a dozen or so students made the cut.
Students meet everyday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to learn about web development starting with the basics like HTML and Javascript.
Eventually, Somtherman said, the students will move on to projects involving multi-page websites.
Thanks to @ShawntePassmore from @3NewsNowOmaha for stopping by the @AIMCareerlink #BrainExchange & talking to students from @seventy5north Higlander Code Camp this morning. Check out her story tomorrow at 4:00 to learn more about this great program. #YouthInTech #DiversityInTech pic.twitter.com/XKfImGqudh
— Erin (@lasiter1) June 4, 2018
The Highlander Code Camp, partly named after Seventy Five North's development south of 30th and Lake streets, meets at the institute where Smotherman hopes students will gain exposure.
Omaha North's sophomore student Macrina Barber-Holmes said she became interested in the recruitment's mission.
"It's a very good aspect of this camp and is necessary," she said.
