Last weekend, Girls Who Code hosted the Inaugural Teacher Training Workshop at our NYC headquarters. Each of our stellar teachers flew in for three packed days of prep for this summer’s programs.

We could not be more excited about the passionate professionals who will be teaching in Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Programs this summer!

Stay tuned for more exciting announcements!

Girls Who Code 2012 alumnae are on the move and we are thrilled to pass on news of their achievements.

Last Monday, Nikita accomplished something that will forever live on the bucket list of most adults — she met President Obama!

Nikita was invited to present her GWC final project, “Tree Sitter”, at the 2013 White House Science Fair. “Tree Sitter” is an Android mobile application built atop the Twitter API. The app was designed to advocate for the environment by giving users an easily accessible tool to make a difference.

“Trees are important for the city environment,” Nikita stated in her presentation of her app during a GWC event last summer, “but they have a hard time growing up due to human activity and pollution. Tree Sitter allows users to adopt trees through the environmental organization Million Trees NYC, and then create a twitter account for their trees. It not only enables users to care for the environment, but also allows users to share with followers how their trees are doing. This spreads awareness and gets more people involved in the cause.” Nikita built the app with help from Twitter engineers.

During the White House Science Fair, Nikita toured the White House, met other young innovators and discussed their projects, and was inspired by President Obama’s remarks (below) on the importance of science education. The icing on the cake, however, was the opportunity to shake the hand of President Obama.

We are proud of Nikita and know that this won’t be the last time that her work is shared in such an important forum. Congratulations, Nikita!

Last Sunday, the Girls Who Code team and an assembled group of experts in technology, education, and non-profit management read through hundreds of applications. Let us tell you, they are pretty amazing.

On the 15th, when applications closed, we thought that we had gotten some pretty stellar candidates. Program Managers had been pounding the pavement for weeks — helping girls fill out applications in libraries, classrooms, and cafeterias across the country — and they told us that the crop was looking good.

Good was an understatement. We could not be more humbled and inspired by our applicants’ dreams, ambitions, solutions to everyday problems, and sense of humor.

In the spirit of sharing what makes us happy to go to work each morning, here are some of the most memorable quotes from 2013 Girls Who Code applications:

“Being a rebel, naturally I leaned into math.”
“When I grow up, I want to be a CONTRADICTION! I don’t believe that people can be defined by one adjective: girls, athletic, smart, etc.”
“Girls are half the world’s population — it’s time to get moving!”
“I want to build beautiful things that people want to use.”
“I would love to be the first girl at my school to join the computer-related clubs and, hopefully, to act as a role model and pioneer, paving the way for other like-minded girls in my community.”
“Technology cannot solve all of our problems, even with eHarmony.com.”

We hope that you’re inspired, too!

Dear amazing applicants,

We’ve been wowed by the quality of your applications and by your inspiring stories and dreams.  We know that many more applications are in the works and want to help make sure that you, our amazing, aspring Girls Who Code, have all the information you need to get your application in by 11:59 p.m. Eastern / 8:59 p.m. Pacific on Monday.

Friendly Flo, Girls Who Code’s fabulous New York City Program Manager, is here to help. Check out this short video to find answers to the top 10 application-related questions.  Then, turn back to your application, finish up, and SUBMIT!

Hey world,

When asked what you want to do when you grow up, do you answer — without a hint of sarcasm — “change the world”? Do you lie in bed at night wondering what goes on in a startup non-profit? Do you consistently find “empowering the next generation of female innovators” on your to-do list?

We thought so, and we’ve got some great news:  Girls Who Code is looking for outstanding interns in New York City, Detroit and the Bay Area! We are looking for dedicated, creative, and capable college students who are passionate about our mission and want to learn about our work.  The lucky few will get an insider’s view into the day-to-day operations of our organization and will help implement programs in each market.

If this sounds like the answer to your dreams (or lack thereof, if you’ve been kept up wondering about how to get involved), please check out the job description below and send your resume and a cover letter to jobs [at] girlswhocode.com.  Please include the location of the position to which you’re applying in the subject of your email.

Can’t wait to hear from you!

-The Girls Who Code Team

**

Position: Intern

Location: New York, NY; Bay Area, CA; Detroit, MI

Job Category: Internship, according to availability. Opportunity for part-time and summer engagement.

ABOUT GIRLS WHO CODE

Launched in Spring 2012, Girls Who Code is a national nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in the technology and engineering sectors. With support from Twitter, Google, GE, ebay, and AT&T, Girls Who Code programs work to educate, inspire, and equip high school girls with the skills and resources to pursue computing careers.

Together with leading educators, engineers, and entrepreneurs, Girls Who Code has developed a new model for computer science education, pairing intensive instruction in robotics, web design, and mobile development with high-touch mentorship led by the industry’s top female developers and entrepreneurs. Girls Who Code empowered young women from all five boroughs of NYC in its inaugural program and is expanding to the Bay Area, CA and Detroit, MI in 2013.

We are a small, dynamic group of individuals passionate about changing the world. We thrive on working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. We represent a diversity of backgrounds, a wealth of experience, and a ton of fun. Girls Who Code offices are located in NYC’s Flatiron District.

POSITION

Girls Who Code is searching for interns to work directly with our Program Managers in New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Detroit. S/he will support the development and implementation of program initiatives, fundraising, communications, and administrative operations in a fast-paced, high-performance environment.  Interns will effectively and eagerly operate across all departments of a growing non-profit.

The successful candidate will be a college student with a strong interest in (or experience with) launching and managing programs in a nonprofit context.  Successful candidates will have demonstrated capabilities using technology tools to manage projects or programs (Google docs, Microsoft Office, email, etc) but computer science expertise is not required.  Direct experience working with teenagers (or experience coordinating programs for teenagers) is also a plus but not required. This is a part-time internship position that offers the opportunity for year-round, summer, or semester engagement (and the possibility of full time engagement during the summer). 

RESPONSIBILITIES

● Assist in the development and execution of programmatic objectives, particularly related to the Summer Immersion Program and In-School Clubs programs

● Support the operations of the organization, including managing logistics around our immersion program (food, transit, coordinating speakers, etc) researching and writing grants, fulfilling administrative needs, drafting social media-related and other communications, and assisting staff as needed

● Take on projects as assigned by staff with creativity, initiative, and self-direction

QUALIFICATIONS

This is an extraordinary opportunity to be part of a small, talented team in a dynamic startup environment. The position offers great potential for learning and affords real opportunity to have a tangible impact on communities across the country.

 Requirements include:

• Demonstrated abilities in problem-solving and working as a team

• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to balance multiple priorities in an evolving environment

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience in such mediums as grant proposals, emails, blogs, web copy and social media; exceptional attention to details

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance startup environment

• Integrity, maturity, credibility, and a demonstrated commitment to Girls Who Code’s mission

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and references to jobs (at) girlswhocode.com with “Intern” and the location to which you are applying in the subject line.

Position open immediately.

Last Friday, Girls Who Code was honored to join some of the most inspiring women of our time — women like Hillary Clinton and Oprah– on the stage at the 2013 Women in the World Summit.

Read more »

WHEN Julia Geist was asked to draw a picture of a computer scientist last year, the 16-year-old sketched a businessman wearing glasses and a tie. Looking around at her classmates’ drawings, she saw similar depictions of men.

Now, Ms. Geist said, “I see a computer scientist could be anyone” — including herself. Read more »

We are thrilled to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2013 Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program in San Francisco, San Jose, Davis, Detroit, and New York City! Apply today for the opportunity to participate in eight extraordinary weeks of learning and exploration alongside the brightest minds and most innovative leaders working in technology today.

Read more »

The National Center for Women in Technology has awarded four Girls Who Code alumnae with its 2013 Award for Aspirations in Computing. The prestigious national award honors young women at the high school level for their computing-related achievements.  Read more »

I sit quietly in the corner as 20 students work diligently in pairs, writing Python code on black laptops. Their instructor walks around the room unpacking the robots they’re programming and announces to the group, “Just so you know, this assignment is the same as a late-semester project for a Bryn Mawr computer science course.” The students are unfazed. Read more »