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Genesys Works Joins Everyone Can Code Initiative
City of Chicago, Chicago public schools, local businesses and tech giant work together to bring coding opportunities to Chicago’s youth
CHICAGO – December 13, 2017 – Genesys Works is excited to announce it is working with Apple and the City of Chicago to bring coding opportunities to Chicago’s nearly 500,000 students through a citywide expansion of Apple’s Everyone Can Code program. The initiative in Chicago was designed in collaboration with the Office of the Mayor, Chicago Public Schools, local businesses and other nonprofits that focus on youth workforce development. Together, these organizations are working to expand opportunities for students to build the skills they need to pursue careers in the app and coding economy by becoming proficient in Swift, Apple’s easy-to-learn programming language.
The comprehensive program includes a range of free resources, from helping students explore basic coding concepts to building fully functional apps. Genesys Works is excited to begin offering this new skillset to its students.
“Chicago’s vibrant business community and the untapped talent found in Chicago Public Schools makes Chicago a robust launch pad for inspiring the next generation of coders. This intersection of youth potential and business need aligns with our core mission and we’re thrilled to be part of this important work,” said Rafael Alvarez, Founder and CEO of Genesys Works.
This initiative builds on the work Genesys Works has been doing in partnership with Chicago Public Schools and the business community to create career pathways. Starting this spring, Genesys Works will expand its programming to include the Everyone Can Code curriculum and materials, helping students build skills around coding and app development. Students will be learning on the latest, up-to-date technology, provided through a donation by Diamond Assets.
“We are excited to offer an additional pathway to career success for Chicago’s youth,” said Liz Rafferty, Executive Director of Genesys Works Chicago. “Our participation in the Everyone Can Code initiative will help us equip more students with the tech skills required to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce.”
About Genesys Works
Genesys Works is a nonprofit social enterprise providing pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences, and impactful relationships. Its program consists of eight weeks of technical and professional skills training, a paid year-long corporate internship, college and career coaching, and alumni support to and through college. Its goal is to move more students out of poverty and into professional careers, creating a more productive and diverse workforce in the process. Since its founding in 2002, Genesys Works has grown to serve nearly 3,000 students annually in Houston, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington’s National Capital Region. To learn more, visit genesysworks.org.For more information, contact:
Name: Allison Kopp
Phone: 678-313-2966
Email: akopp@voxglobal.com
Name: Jennie Tollefson
Phone: 651-260-9008
Email: Jentollefson@genesysworks.org
