Actress, author, and entrepreneur Malinda Williams has taken a significant step towards promoting diversity and equal opportunities in the tech industry with the launch of a groundbreaking coding bootcamp, the E.S.T.E.A.M. Project, for women at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Through Williams’ Arise And Shine Foundation Inc., the innovative initiative aims to equip women with valuable coding and technical skills, fostering empowerment and advancement in the 21st century job market.
“As a professional actress and someone who has experienced first-hand the support of my community, I understand the value of collaboration and paying it forward,” said Williams. “The Arise And Shine Foundation exists to empower women to reach their goals, and coding is a powerful tool – it is the language of the future.”
The foundation’s pilot program, The E.S.T.E.A.M. Project (Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), is now accepting applications until March 31, 2024.
Selected students will embark on a four-week journey featuring an inspiring in-person weekend filled with skill-building workshops, networking opportunities, and discussions on leveraging coding and STEAM training for diverse career paths.
The curriculum, centered around Apple’s SwiftUI programming language, is supported by Apple’s Community Education Initiative. Apple is providing hardware, scholarships, and professional learning assistance to empower women in technology through the Arise And Shine Foundation.
The E.S.T.E.A.M. Project emphasizes three pillars: upskilling core competencies in technology, refining soft skills for business success, and facilitating industry mentorships.
By addressing the gender gap in tech and advocating for women in technology, this bootcamp aims to create a more inclusive and equitable tech landscape.
The in-person kick-off event for The E.S.T.E.A.M. Project will be held from May 30 to June 2, 2024, at Jackson State University in Jackson, MS. Women currently enrolled at HBCUs are encouraged to apply and join this transformative journey.
About the Arise And Shine Foundation
Founded in 2023 by Malinda Williams, the Arise And Shine Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to empowering underserved and underrepresented women and girls. Partnering with educational institutions, corporations, and communities, the foundation implements programs to advance personal and professional development.
Led by Malinda Williams, Lisa Sorensen, and Leslie Williams-Dunn, the foundation collaborates with accomplished women to achieve its mission of empowerment.
To learn more and apply for The E.S.T.E.A.M. Project, visit the Arise And Shine Foundation website.
