Helping Teach America how to Code, One Line at a Time

For over two years now I’ve been part of a small group of friends helping close the computer literacy gap by teaching people of all ages how to code. What started as a voluntary endeavor is now turning into a full-fledged business. I’m excited to announce that today I made the most important investment of my life: I cofounded Codespace.

Codespace was created under the principle that anybody can learn to code. People of all ages need access to technology to succeed in our society, and yet we still struggle to place an emphasis on computer literacy. As the President outlined today in his ‘Computer Science For All’ plan, while 9 out of 10 parents want their children to learn code, only 25% of all schools actually have a computer science program.

What’s wrong with that picture?

I firmly believe that code is as important as the alphabet, math or science. Learning to code helps build critical thinkers. It helps improve skills in problem solving while overcoming intellectual hurdles that you may never have thought possible. Code isn’t just a list of commands that tells a computer what to do; it’s an outlet for creativity and a booster of self-confidence.

While we live in a digital world filled with social networks, mobile applications, and algorithmic methods of serving everything from stock trades to advertisements, very few of us actually understand how they work.

Codespace is setting out to change that.

We’re teaching students the fundamentals of front-end web development: HTML, CSS and Javascript. We’ve worked diligently to create a customized curriculum for all ages and skill levels that provide some of the best methods to learn code, in a fun and collaborative environment.

And educators are listening. Last week alone, we joined local school administrators, principals, teachers and librarians to outline our own strategy on making learning code fun while removing the intimidation gap.

My partners Matt, Ben and I are excited to launch in partnership with some of the state’s most prominent charter schools. We’ve spent nights and weekends developing a service that helps our community through education. Our end goal is creating value through you. Expanding your own skill sets and knowledge base to do something amazing, something you may have never thought possible. Something that allows you to engineer the future.

But we need your support. Let’s make computer literacy a topic at dinner tables, with your schools and teachers. I’ve seen students eyes light up when they learn code, let’s work together to make certain more children get that opportunity.

We want to create a movement and we’d love for you to join us.