Guest
By Calvin Carter, University of Memphis Entrepreneurial Journalism Student
Kimberley Bryant grew up in Memphis, but her startup, Black Girls Code, originated in San Francisco, where the biotechnology/engineering professional is currently based. The organization, which aims to teach young women of color ages 7 to 17 skills in computer programming and digital technology, has branched out to other cities before Memphis, including Chicago. It wouldn’t be until a local architect, Meka Egwuekwe, reached out that the startup would find itself in Memphis.
“I messaged her [Bryant] about it on Twitter,” Egwuekwe recalled.
Egwuekwe’s interest and involvement in the program—he has two daughters—has launched it from one-man operation in to a team of 20 to 30 volunteers.
Black Girls Gode has seen a lot of interest, and will hold a workshop February 16 at Rhodes University to help young women learn how to build their own websites. It immediately filled up with 60 participants, and a follow-up workshop is being planned.
Black Girls Code is another sign that Memphis isn’t as behind in embracing the 21st century as some outsiders or even some insiders may think.
“People seem to have this stereotype about Memphis,” Egwuekwe noted. “They find it hard to believe that we have stuff going on here with technology. They still think that this is the Memphis of 45 years ago, or what they’ve seen in documentaries.”
