Harrison Library Begins County Wide Code Heroes Classes

AT&T’s Code Heroes begins at the Harrison Public Library this week. AT&T and The Digital Arts Experience (DAE) have partnered with The Westchester Library System (WLS) to bring a first-of-its-kind of free computer coding educational program, AT&T’s Code Heroes, to all 38 libraries in the Westchester Library System. This unique program will serve more than 400 students between grades sixth through eighth, with a focus on engaging underserved youth. Young people from every Westchester community will have the opportunity to gain coding skills while learning how technology can be used for social good to curb cyberbullying, promote online safety and encourage good digital citizenship. The program is completely free and has been made possible by a $70,000 contribution from AT&T. New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senator Jamaal Bailey and Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow joined AT&T, the DAE and the WLS to launch the event with a number of Westchester County elected officials and community leaders.

Young participants of AT&T’s Code Heroes will learn computer coding basics from local mentors, explore how computer science is used in the real world, and learn how technology can be used for good to create solutions to issues impacting youth in our region, namely cyberbullying and good digital citizenship.

All students entering sixth grade through eighth grade enrolled in a school in Westchester County are eligible to participate in AT&T’s Code Heroes. To ensure inclusion and diversity, the program is completely free to all middle school students, with a focus on underserved students. No previous coding experience is required. The program is a wonderful opportunity to engage students in STEM education, an increasingly important area that is not always accessible for students. Participants also do not need a computer to take part, all technologies and education resources will be provided. Parents can register their children at theDAE.com/codeheroes and follow the instructions or directly through their local library. All dates and contact information for each library can be found via the registration page. Each library can accommodate 12 students, so it is recommended to register as soon as possible.

AT&T’s Code Heroes will task students to work collaboratively in teams to develop coding projects designed to make a difference in their schools and communities. Students will address the impacts of cyberbullying and design choose your own adventure games that present a variety of different cyberbullying scenarios. Each group of students will brainstorm and storyboard their scenarios, create custom graphics, and code their games using Scratch.

“I strongly applaud the efforts of AT&T, the Digital Arts Experience and the Westchester Library System to bring AT&T’s Code Heroes, a much-needed free coding education program, to over 400 Westchester County students. This initiative will not only give our middle schoolers the technology expertise that will help them in STEM education, but by adding a cyberbullying component, it will guide them towards positive digital citizenship,” said New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “I have always been a strong supporter of coding classes and the benefit it brings to our young people. There is no greater technology tool we can give our youngsters than to provide them with the coding skills to enter the growing field of STEM related jobs.”

"Providing students with access to coding programs at their local public libraries in Westchester not only promotes and expands STEM in the county, but it also encourages the youth to visit their local public library,” said New York Senator Jamaal Bailey. I want to thank AT&T, The Digital Arts Experience, and the Westchester Library System for seeing the importance of teaching coding to our youth and providing the resources and funds to make this a reality."

AT&T’s Code Heroes will culminate with the first Westchester Cyberbullying Summit, which will take place on November 14th at The Westchester County Center. Every library and participants will be in attendance to showcase the work they’ve created in the program as well as local elected officials, leadership from the DAE, Westchester Library System and the AT&T.

“I’m glad to see AT&T, the Digital Arts Experience, and the Westchester Library System taking the initiative to assist in the development of coding skills in our students,” said Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow. “The technological trend of the job market is creating more jobs, and it’s essential to prepare them for the opportunity. AT&T’s Code Heroes will teach our youth positive online skills and give them the chance to compete in this field. Keep up the great work!”

AT&T and the DAE partnered during summer 2019 to provide a revolutionary computer coding class for underserved middle school students. The program was designed to encourage more students to enter the field of technology, specifically coding, an industry that is growing exponentially and to address the diversity gap in the technology industry. AT&T also partnered with the nonprofits Sister to Sister of Yonkers and Northeast STEM Starter Academy of Mt. Vernon last summer to provide similar free computer coding programing for girls of color as part of the company’s commitment to helping to bridge the gender and diversity gaps in the innovation sector. All three STEM programs are the foundation and framework for AT&T’s Code Heroes.

Computer coding is quickly becoming the new literacy and is the driver of all new digital technology. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Labor, much of the growth in the domestic and global economy will come from STEM-related jobs – a highly lucrative and competitive field. It is estimated by the end of 2020 there will be more than 2.4 million unfilled STEM jobs with more than half made up of computer and coding careers, underscoring the importance of providing the youth the tools and skills necessary to compete in this innovation economy. These statistics emphasize the importance of providing youth education programming like AT&T’s Code Heroes, especially for girls and students of color to help fill the significant gender and diversity gaps within the technology industry, an issue AT&T has been committed to bridging.

“AT&T is proud to collaborate with The Digital Arts Experience and the Westchester Library System to develop and support this unique and free coding education for local students. We are committed to providing resources for computer coding and STEM-related educational programming throughout Westchester and across the State,” said Amy Kramer, president, New York, AT&T. “As our economy continues to transform at a robust pace – requiring a workforce with a focus on technological education and digital literacy – computer science programs like this one are vital to ensure that the students are equipped to compete in the global innovation economy of tomorrow. The program also aligns well with AT&T’s commitment to educating young students on the dangers of cyberbullying and to encourage good digital citizenship, while demonstrating how tech can be an excellent tool for social good.”

“Since our inception, the DAE has been focused on supporting and collaborating with our community. Over the past seven years we’ve provided high-quality STEM education to kids and teens all over Westchester through partners like The Westchester Library System, White Plains Youth Bureau, Boys and Girls Club of New Rochelle, and others,” says The Digital Arts Experience Founder & President, Rob Kissner. “Knowing how to code is the literacy of the future, and at The DAE we believe that literacy should be accessible to all kids regardless of where they grow up. AT&T’s shared commitment to the community has enabled us to provide so many kids with an awesome opportunity.”

"The Westchester Library System is excited to partner with AT&T and DAE to provide youth throughout Westchester County with the opportunity to learn coding – an important aspect of digital literacy – at their local public library, said Terry Kirchner, executive director, Westchester Library System. “Coding skills are highly valued in today’s workforce, and we’re pleased that we’re able to introduce this potential career path to a new generation."

“AT&T’s Code Heroes program is an outstanding learning opportunity for kids in Westchester County. Learning the language of coding is a key attribute for future technology workers,’ said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. “The fact that the program combines technology training with social responsibility on issues like cyber-bullying makes it one of the highest and best uses of our library system.”

AT&T’s support for this program is part of the company’s legacy of supporting educational programs focused on STEM disciplines in New York through AT&T Aspire, the company’s signature $450 million philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issues including funding, technology, programming, employee volunteerism and mentoring. Aspire is one of the nation’s largest corporate commitments focused on school success and workforce readiness by creating new learning environments and educational delivery systems to help students succeed and prepare them to take on 21st-century careers.

The Digital Arts Experience is Westchester’s leading tech learning center for STEM/STEAM education. Pushing far beyond the acronyms and buzzwords, their talented and unique instructors, coupled with a hands-on, project-based learning approach are what differentiates them from other STEM programs.

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About The Westchester Library System
For 60 years, the partnership between Westchester Library System (WLS) and the County’s 38 public libraries have provided Westchester residents with the best in library services, open access to technology, and free programming for anyone who lives, works or goes to school in the County. This strong partnership proves that there is strength in numbers; shared resources save libraries thousands of dollars and offer patrons more options that would be difficult, if not impossible, as independent stand-alone institutions. WLS and the County’s public libraries work together to promote reading and technology, improve academic achievement, increase economic advancement and enhance the quality of life in Westchester. More at www.westchesterlibraries.org

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
AT&T is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement, and address community needs. The Company’s signature philanthropic initiative, AT&T Aspire, drives innovation in education to promote student success in school and beyond. With a financial commitment of $450 million since 2008, AT&T is leveraging technology, relationships, and social innovation to help all students make their biggest dreams a reality.

About The Digital Arts Experience
The Digital Arts Experience is Westchester’s original, homegrown tech learning center for STEM/STEAM education. Pushing far beyond the acronyms and buzzwords, their talented and unique instructors, coupled with a hands-on, project-based learning approach are what differentiates them from other STEM programs. They’ve taught thousands of kids from all over Westchester and Fairfield counties since they opened in 2012. The class catalog includes coding/programming, game design, 3D printing and modeling, graphic design, YouTube video production, 2D and 3D animation, virtual reality development, robotics, and more.