Community Partner: Code in the Schools
Intern: Serena Thomas
Site Supervisor: Charlotte James
What is Code in the Schools?
The mission of our organization is to expand access to computer science education to
underserved and underrepresented Baltimore City youth.
If you have met me in the summer of 2016, then you know that I love
my internship. Although I was originally hesitant about working for
Code in the Schools because my coding skills are mainly Google based,
it has been a perfect fit and I am beyond grateful that I ended up here.
Closing the diversity gap in STEM has been a passion of mine as a
female engineer. It has been an easy next step to narrowi that focus to
computer science with Code in the Schools as we work to provide
access to quality computer science education to the underserved and
underrepresented Baltimore City youth. To that end, I’ve been helping
coordinate CodeWorks, the pilot program of a 5 week coding
bootcamp for sixty 17‐21 year old YouthWorkers. This summer I’ve
been thrown into roles I had not anticipated, such as a treatment
writer for short films, a sponsorship searcher, a social media curator, a
quarterly report author, and an instructor to a large group of 17‐21
year olds. It hasn’t always been easy but it has always been worth it
and there has always been someone around to give me support when
needed. I have loved exploring the Baltimore that exits outside of our
campus walls as well as growing relationships with its residents and
finding out about their passions while discovering my own. I am so
thankful to CIIP and Code in the Schools for helping me grow during
the best summer of my life. Thanks especially to Charlotte, Gretchen,
and Amy for all the help, free rides, laughs, and love. I look forward to
continuing to see what great things you have in store for Code in the
Schools over the coming years.
‐ Serena
Tasks:
• Helped coordinate 5 week coding bootcamp for 60
YouthWorkers in the 17‐21 year old range
• Helped organize the nonprofit’s Artscape tent where
children came in and created their own video game to be
played on