Meet Genevieve Jean-Pierre: getting an early start on tech for good
The incoming Duke University freshman picks up coding skills through Black Girls Code and Call for Code
Our world has witnessed transformative innovation spearheaded by individuals who have conviction in their vision and an unwavering embrace for the unknown. As Brian Chesky, Founder and CEO of Airbnb stated, “When you start a company, it’s more an art than a science because it’s totally unknown. Instead of solving high-profile problems, try to solve something that’s deeply personal to you. Ideally, if you’re an ordinary person and you’ve just solved your problem, you might have solved the problems for millions of people.”
Call for Code is the premier platform for individuals who fall in the category of feeling passionate about deeply rooted societal and environmental issues, and feel inspired to learn new skills, fail forward, and commit to something bigger than themselves. One steward of this concept, who epitomizes what Call for Code represents is Genevieve Jean-Pierre.
A Nashville, Tennessee native, Genevieve is an avid writer, runner, and researcher. Aside from those hobbies, Genevieve has a deep passion for technology, and views it as a catalyst for global change. With a strong interest in entrepreneurship, software development, and social justice, Genevieve found Call for Code as the perfect fit for diving head first into an opportunity where her passions can come to life — so she did just that.
By participating in Call for Code, and Black Girls Code, a not-for-profit organization that focuses on providing technology education for African-American girls, Genevieve gained valuable skills and experience that she’ll continue to develop and usher in to her next steps attending Duke University. The Call for Code team was able to catch up with her to learn more:
What inspired you to answer the call and get involved in Call for Code?
What inspired me to answer the call for code was purely interest and curiosity. I had always heard of the issues of racial justice and climate change, and though I am a stakeholder in both issues and belong to communities that are affected by both issues disproportionately, I didn’t realize that technology could be used to help mitigate their effects. So given a challenge such as Call for Code, though daunting at first, was something I wanted to get involved in order to push my own limits of what I thought possible in my technical skills, but also to push limits of what people think are possible when it comes to the breadth of uses of technology.
What valuable skills did you acquire through participating in Call for Code? How do you see these skills being applied to your future goals?
I learned a ton of skills while involved in Call for Code. Coding in html, using CSS and JavaScript templates, integrating front end and backend parts of websites, python code, and database setup are just a few of the things that I learned while answering the call. But one of the most important skills that I learned was communication and collaboration. I was able to work with a group of three other girls and four mentors and none of this project would be possible without meeting with each other, bouncing ideas, and gaining knowledge from each other’s’ experience, not only technical but also life experience. It amazes me how much personality, life and social skills have to do with coding. This is something I will use in college, my career, and future entrepreneurial endeavors.
Talk about your experience with Black Girls Code. Why should others consider joining?
I joined the Call for Code challenge and Black girls code simultaneously. It was a sort of serendipitous turn of events to be able to win the hackathon given that I had quite minimal coding experience and was not involved into BGC until a week after the challenge launched. But I thank God that I joined because I have been able to connect with many other extremely talented programmers and black women involved in giving back to the black community! This organization is exactly what the black community needs, and I would say that any black girl, regardless of any hesitation or trepidation about coding or tech should at least give the organization a try. The thing I have learned about tech, through BGC, is that there is something for everyone. Whatever interest one has, they can pursuit through the field of tech, it’s almost like a gateway!
As you take your next step, attending Duke University, what do you hope to achieve as it relates to your path in the field of technology, and how have organizations like Call for Code and Black Girls Code supported those goals?
At Duke and beyond, I plan to get involved in web and app development on campus through clubs, class, and internships. Call for Code and Black Girls Code have not only allowed me to dive into the necessary technical skills I need to accomplish these goals but have just given me the opportunity to see that it is possible to make a change in any field I desire.
Why should prospective participants join organizations like Call for Code and Black Girls Code?
Anyone eligible should join Call For Code and BGC because they can supplement or kickstart any passions for tech and just overall creativity, regardless of where one is in their journey. Opportunities such as these are what open doors for exploration and establishment in the tech industry. Even if a participant is unsure of their capabilities, like I was, they should still apply to give the challenge a try. They will be amazed at how much they learn!
Genevieve Jean-Pierre is a prime example of what can spawn when the right people are paired with the right opportunity. Call for Code is your opportunity to build your dev skills and help communities in need. Ready to make an impact? On September 30th, the Call for Code Education Innovation Case Competition is kicking off. With the goal of bringing students together to design solutions to fight back against educational inequality around the world, this is your chance to dive in — just as Genevieve did, to a worthy cause. Register now!
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