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File #: 240508    Version: 0 Name:
Type: Resolution Status: ADOPTED
File created: 5/23/2024 In control: CITY COUNCIL
On agenda: Final action: 5/23/2024
Title: Honoring and recognizing Coded by Kids for preparing underrepresented people for leadership roles within the tech and startup space.
Sponsors: Councilmember Landau, Council President Johnson, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Young, Councilmember Thomas, Councilmember Brooks, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember O'Rourke, Councilmember Harrity, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Driscoll, Councilmember Phillips
Attachments: 1. Signature24050800
Title
Honoring and recognizing Coded by Kids for preparing underrepresented people for leadership roles within the tech and startup space.

Body
WHEREAS, Coded by Kids was founded in June 2014 with a mission to change the face of tech by helping underrepresented young people springboard into the tech and startup space. Over the past decade, they have provided tech education to over two thousand children across thirty locations in three states, including right here in Philadelphia. In 2023 alone, they provided programming to three hundred and fifty youth and over six hundred adults; and

WHEREAS, The Economy League of Greater Philadelphia found that the tech industry in Philadelphia displays stark inequities, where only 7.3% of those employed are Black, 6.6% are Hispanic and 19.6% are Asian, compared to the 64.1% who are white. Through its programs, internship and competitions, Coded by Kids is doing the critical work of opening the tech industry to young Black and Brown Philadelphians; and

WHEREAS, Coded by Kids accomplishes their goals by providing free programs to students, teaching them a variety of skills in the tech industry, from the basics of coding to incorporating a startup, to empower students to become leaders in the tech space; and

WHEREAS, Their programs currently include: Ctrl+Shift, which is a competition where high school students showcase their web-development skills; CBK Classroom, which shows students the foundations of web-design, problem-solving and business creation; a paid Tech and Innovation internship; and an Innovation league, which engages high school students to learn how to build businesses by attending weekly meetings led by Innovation Coaches and competing for a five-thousand dollar cash prize; and

WHEREAS, Coded by Kids has served over two thousand youth and one thousand adults in the City of Philadelphia, proving its commitment to making the pipeline to careers in tech more equitably accessible.

WHEREAS, Students who have s...

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