CodeSpeak Labs exists to help all kids get access to the tech skills they need to build a better world.
Vision
Our vision is that one day, the technology that shapes our lives will be inclusive, equitable and built by people who represent the interests of all people.
Core Values
Inspire with Fun: Our goal is to help every child feel like they want to learn and can learn. We lead with enthusiasm and do our best to inspire creativity and exploration. We know specific languages and tools will become obsolete, but self confidence and passion for learning and creating is lifelong.
Continuous Improvement: We are continuously growing as people and as a team. We embrace experimentation and new ideas; we’re obsessed with feedback and we change course quickly when needed, all in the service of our students and schools. We model what we teach our students: our belief that mistakes are an excellent learning opportunity.
Flexibility and Teamwork: We meet schools and students where they are and partner with them to tailor our programs to maximize student learning and to best fit with the school environment. We’re empathetic to student needs and do our best to make the learning environment conducive for all students. And, we’re a team that “act like owners” even when we are co-teaching, commit to supporting each other, and step up when needed.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We believe every student should have access to CS education, regardless of their background, race/ethnicity, gender, or abilities. We aim to model the way the world should be: inclusive, equitable, and diverse. We believe that technology has the power to unite people, lift barriers, disrupt outdated ways of thinking, and create new opportunity.
Impact for the Future: We are training a new generation of activist developers: future startup founders and techies who are committed to developing ethical technology and who are driven less by “break things / fail fast” to “Am I building a better world?”
In the News
Circle View Elementary School is providing the building blocks for students to get a head start on coding.
For the past eight weeks, 30 first- to fifth-graders have spent their Wednesday afternoons learning simplified fundamentals of computer programming through an after-school program led by Jen Chiou.
The ways in which we work and engage with work are rapidly changing, precipitating new conversations around the innovative ways we prepare people for their careers, especially when it comes to that critical first job or line on a resume.
CodeSpeak Labs helps first-generation students identify paths that align with their goals and dreams, and connects them with coding instruction, collaborative work experience, and client management opportunities to ensure they have the in-demand skills they need to make those dreams a reality.
A few weeks ago, we talked to Issouf Diarrassouba and Yeasin Haque, who participated in CodeSpeak Labs’ new three-week-long program, in partnership with The Opportunity Network. The program equips students with career-connected opportunities by having them work closely with employer partners in real work environments. In our first conversation with Issouf and Yeasin, they said they were excited about not only expanding their technical knowledge and skills, but also gaining the confidence and soft skills to map their future career goals.
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