BPL Girls Code 205 Wins $15,000 Computer Science for ALL Grant

Zena Banker, an engineering student from UAB, is teaching a Girls Code 205 workshop at the Central Library.

What: Girls Code 205, a partnership between the Birmingham Public Library and National Center for Women & IT, has won a $15,000 grant from the CSforALL (Computer Science for ALL)
Details: The funding will support local organizing efforts to expand computer science opportunities for girls and women. The Central Library is hosting a four-week Girls 205 workshop that kicks off Thursday, November 7, the first of many taking place over the next 12 months.

CSforALL (Computer Science for ALL), with support from Schmidt Futures, has announced the Birmingham Public Library’s Girls Code 205 program is one of 10 national EcoSystemforCS grant recipients. BPL is the only winner from Alabama.

Over a one year period, the 10 selected communities—including BPL— will receive a catalyst grant of $15,000 with a required 1:1 match. The funding will support local organizing efforts to expand computer science opportunities for girls in grades K-12, and unlock resources, partnerships, and opportunities.

BPL has partnered with the National Center for Women & IT (Internet Technology) to establish the Girls Code 205 program. Girls Code 205 is hosting its first workshop presented by Zena Banker, a UAB Engineering Student, this Thursday, November 7, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Central Library.

“The Birmingham Public Library Youth and Teen Services is excited to partner with NCWIT and ALA (The American Library Association) to help provide computer science programs throughout the city,” said Bessie Miller, department head of the Central Library Youth and Teen Department.

BPL and the other nine awardees from across the United States represent the first national EcoSystemforCS recipients as part of an effort to expand computer science opportunities for girls and women. The National Center for Women & IT (NCWIT) and BPL program, Girls Code 205, is dedicated to increasing the participation of girls and women in K-12 computing opportunities in the Birmingham area.

Goals of the ecosystem include providing K-12 computing programs for girls/young women, professional development of educators for libraries and school partners, and development of resources for libraries and schools.

In an announcement out of Salt  Lake City, Josh Elder, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Computer Science for ALL, said the competition for the grants was extensive, with 74 applications received from over 30 states.

“We were looking for applications that had a diverse set of partner organizations, and committed to supporting the growth of CS (computer science) education in their community,” Elder said. “We are confident that these ten will strategically utilize their grant in a measurable and impactful way.”

The 10 awardees are:

1. Central Washington CS Alliance (Wenatchee, Washington)
2. Central2CS, (Worthington, OH)
3. CS4ALL Miami powered by Miami EdTech (Miami, FL)
4. CSforCHI (Chicago, Illinois)
5. CSforOK (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
6. CSforRGV (Mission, Texas)
7. CSMN-Southeast (St. Paul, Minnesota)
8. Gateway to Computer Science (Richmond, Virginia)
9. Girls Code 205 in Birmingham (Birmingham, Alabama) 
10. New MexiCodes (Santa Fe, New Mexico)

Read more about each EcoSysytemforCS winner.

About CSforALL (Computer Science for ALL):  CSforAll is the national hub of the computer science for all movement with a mission to make high-quality computer science an integral part of K-12 education in the United States. Follow on Twitter @CSforALL.  

About Schmidt Futures: Schmidt Futures is a philanthropic initiative founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, that finds exceptional people and helps them do more for others.

With 19 locations, BPL is one of the largest public library systems in the Southeast. Learn more about our many programs and services for the public by visiting the BPL events calendar.