By William H. Kelly III
(JACKSON, Miss.) – The inaugural E.S.T.E.A.M. (Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Project HBCU Coding Bootcamp convened at Jackson State University on Saturday, June 1. Over 20 young women from HBCUs around the country joined for a weekend of sisterhood, mentorship, coding and new beginnings.
“The [E.S.T.E.A.M.] program’s core tenets to enhance students’ competencies in technology through immersion and networking aligns with our own mission to help our students become global leaders who will have an immediate impact in their communities and internationally,” said JSU President Marcus L. Thompson, Ph.D., in a welcome video to bootcamp attendees. “Our world needs more women at the helm of careers in entrepreneurship, science, technology, engineering, arts and math, and I’m confident that through this program, this will be achieved.”
From May 31-June 2, Jackson State students and a recent graduate, along with currently enrolled students from 15 higher education institutions such as Clark Atlanta University, Dillard University, Howard University, and Bethune Cookman University participated in learning Apple’s SwiftUI coding language, motivational chants, breath and movement exercises, and more. One affirmation that echoed throughout the program was: “I am happy. I am healthy. I am wealthy. I am wise.”
Each activity was specially curated to encourage healthy living, create a sense of community, and build “self-esteem”–a play on words deriving from the initiative’s name. This translated into group projects that brought mock app designs to life using artificial intelligence, learning the ins and outs of their newly acquired Apple devices, and more.
“Our E.S.T.E.A.M. Project kick-off weekend was transformational and uplifting. I am elated that we were able to partner with Jackson State University along with our generous sponsors, who helped bring this vision to life,” said Arise And Shine Founder and E.S.T.E.A.M. Project visionary Malinda Williams. “It is so important to create these spaces for young women at our nation’s HBCUs, where they can thrive and feel the support of their community as they are educated and empowered for greatness.”
The actress, author, and entrepreneur launched the HBCU Coding initiative through the Arise and Shine Foundation, Inc., to empower young women from HBCUs with the skills, network, and confidence to change the face of coding and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), while fostering diversity and equal opportunity in the tech industry.
Williams’ initiative is backed by sisters and co-founders Lisa Sorensen, a communications specialist and wellness advocate, and Leslie Williams-Dunn, retired senior director of technology for Johnson & Johnson, reaffirming the impact of true sisterhood.
Trenecea Atkins, a JSU industrial technology major and computer science minor, expressed gratitude for being in an environment of women that welcomed vulnerability and authenticity.
“They were so encouraging. We were doing affirmations for the whole weekend. It made me feel so much better about myself and what life has in store for me. I was just so excited and so happy to be around women with such positive light and good energy,” said Atkins.
She aspires to be a software developer and is confident that she will excel in developing and evolving the user interface (UI). The UI is the point of human-computer interaction and communication in a device. This can include display screens, keyboards, a mouse and the appearance of a desktop. It is also how a user interacts with an application or a website, using visual and audio elements, such as type fonts, icons, buttons, animations and sounds.
Over the next four weeks, the ladies will continue their learning via virtual instruction. The camp ends on June 28.
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