2023-October-30
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How Code the Dream Is Building a More Inclusive Future
BY LATOYA DAVIS AND HELEN GALL
3 MINUTE READ · 4 MINUTE LISTEN
Imagine a Silicon Valley and the tech industry becoming a reflection of our population’s wonderful, rich diversity.
Code the Dream (CTD) recognizes that individuals from immigrant backgrounds and communities of color have valuable ideas and will play a growing and significant role in our 21st-century economy.
Immigrants are already more than twice as likely to start businesses, which create over 25 percent of new jobs. Imagine the impact they could have if they also had coding skills.
Cisco and Code the Dream are working together to make that happen!
Three years ago, Engineering VPs Chris O’Rourke and Tony Jeffs took on the challenge of addressing a gap in the tech industry. To help fill this gap, they decided to partner and volunteer with Code the Dream, an organization focused on developing tech talent and making a positive impact in the community.
This collaboration involves participating in various initiatives, such as career prep workshops, gender diversity in tech roundtables, and apprenticeships. Cisconians are actively involved in these efforts, with some holding board level roles and others volunteering their time. Together, they are working towards creating the next generation of tech talent and making a difference in their community.
By elevating the voices of marginalized communities and creating a path for great, previously unheard ideas, CTD provides a firm and safe platform for people with hope and determination. Their impact improves the economy, enriches the technological ecosystem, and promotes innovation.
Many of the world’s most pressing problems require solutions that both equalize opportunities and foster open authentic communication. Crucially, CTD leverages their experience in these areas to drive effective, compassionate change.
With the support of key Cisco and CTD stakeholders, we can change the course of job opportunities within our community.
The advantage of the CTD apprentices is their background, with work experience in a variety of fields and varying levels of responsibility. This maturity and experience translated into high quality work with meticulous attention to detail, requiring minimum oversight from a management perspective.
By acknowledging the need for diversity and taking action, we can leverage Code the Dream to source contractors and develop their skills, moving in the right direction.
One team of four Code the Dream apprentices worked on a graphical user interface project last year. They self-organized and effectively managed themselves as an independent Scrum Team, working on a backlog we. They delivered full-automated test coverage for wireless WAN control UI development.
By the end of the second month, the team was fully trained and performing at the same level as Cisco’s development teams.
More Cisconians have been sponsoring and volunteering since the start of our partnership three years ago.
We want everyone at Cisco to benefit from the impact Code the Dream is making in the future of developers and coders.
You do not have to be an engineer or software developer to get involved or volunteer.
To build a more inclusive future for all, we all must take the step to leverage new organizations, to instill change. We extend our gratitude to our Code the Dream partners for their assistance and support.
If you want to learn more or join in giving back, visit the Code the Dream website to become a life-changing advocate for someone.
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