A new partnership between Providence-based Citizens Bank and the nonprofit organization Black Girls CODE will give women and girls of color opportunities to get involved in the technology field.
As part of Citizens’ previously announced commitment to promote social equity and advance economic opportunity in underserved communities, the partnership includes four new virtual CODE clubs to increase participation and interest in technology, including one in Boston, the bank said in a statement.
“One of the ways we are demonstrating our commitment to social and economic equity is through partnerships such as this that promote inclusivity and access to opportunity,” Bruce Van Saun, chairman and CEO of Citizens Financial Group, said in the statement. “The virtual CODE clubs being launched with Black Girls CODE will provide access and training to girls of color, helping to develop the kinds of creators, innovators and leaders that will power the workforce of the future.”
The virtual CODE clubs will be based in Providence, Boston, Phoenix and Charlotte, and each program will host 25 girls for six weeks. Citizens said it would work with local community partners to recruit girls ages 14 to 17 for the program. Students will be introduced to coding and the tech space through project-based collaborative learning. The virtual CODE Club is offered twice per week for one hour each session, led by tech instructors and supported by trained volunteers.
“We’re grateful to have the support of Citizens in the launch of our new virtual CODE clubs. The first step towards eliminating the socio-economic barriers that stand in the way of tech education is ensuring that it is accessible,” said Kimberly Bryant, founder and CEO of the California-based Black Girls CODE. “Through our partnership with Citizens, we will empower youth to step into tech by equipping them with the necessary resources and tools; ultimately cultivating a solid foundation for our students to enter the industry and thrive.”
Each city will host one virtual CODE club in 2021, providing a total of 100 girls of color with hands-on, intensive training to develop skills sets in one or more coding technologies. The curriculum is project based which allows the students to learn in a focused and engaged environment with a small group of peers. After completing the CODE clubs, students will be Black Girls CODE alumnae, with access to internship and networking development opportunities as they progress through their higher education journey.
Announced last summer, Citizens Bank’s social equity commitment also includes grants and charitable support for initiatives aimed at supporting underserved communities through technology, education and digital literacy, and more than $500 million in incremental financing and capital for small businesses, housing and other development in predominately minority communities.
