DREAM HUSTLE CODE®
inspiring innovators
The Playing Field
To truly level the playing field, ALL must play by the same set of rules.
But let's face it, in many underrepresented and underestimated communities, the rules are different from the rest of society, especially in the Tech Industry.
Our job is to lift them up
“Our job is to be here to lift them up. We all know how this works. The proof is right here in this room.
We’re here to lift up people like Ian Michael Brock, who I had the pleasure of meeting tonight. He’s a 14 year old entrepreneur from Chicago whose nonprofit Dream Hustle Code (it’s got all that Millennial stuff) it aims to level the playing field for underrepresented people in the tech industry - something I’m very passionate about.”
Robert F. Smith
Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners
By INSPIRING their thinking early, and showing them what’s possible
We can start leveling the tech playing field
OUR MISSION
Dream Hustle Code is on a mission to inspire our youth's confidence and interest in Computer Science by training and empowering them with tools so that they can become producers of new technology, and not just be consumers.
Our programs and unique events, show them that creating and shaping technology is possible for them. Through technology, they will ultimately have access to the economy.
We want to ensure that Computer Science is truly for All.
OUR VISION (is our Mission)
Technology touches every aspect of our lives and across all industries. The demand for talent far outnumbers students who are taught these skills in school.
Our Vision is for every student to have access and opportunity to learn computer science as frequently as learning other subjects like math, science, reading, and writing.
By INSPIRING their thinking at an early age, we will empower young people to dream bigger, hustle harder, and be writers of their own life code.
Our ultimate vision is to close the wealth and opportunity gaps that exist in underrepresented and underestimated communities.
Circa 2013
IF YOU CAN SEE IT, YOU CAN BE IT
We didn’t plan for it.
But the universe aligned and our mission began.
It started in March of 2013 on Facebook when Mark Zuckerberg posted Code.org's video What Most Schools Don't Teach (he rarely posted back then). Trying to get our 8 year old son to pay attention to a "cool video" about Computer Science turned into a chore until he saw "someone cool" who looked like him and who shared the same interest as him "basketball." That's all it took and our journey began.
Thank you Chris Bosh!
We didn’t settle.
Technology and Computer Science is not going away. Tech affects our lives daily. Today, there are over half a million jobs in computer science/computing. Sadly, there are less than 10% of computer science grads who are ready for the job market. And the numbers aren't looking better. In Black + Brown communities, those numbers are more grim.
So instead of complaining about it, we did something about it! Since 2013, we have organized computer science events so that youth from underrepresented and underestimated communities can tap into the tech ecosystem and see how they, too, can be creators + producers of technology and not just consumers.
