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Lewis Legacy Women, Architects of “All-Star Code,” Building Opportunities for Young Men of Color Seeking Tech-Business Careers 

Dream Builders …

All-Star Code, an innovative program giving young men of color hands-on, project-based learning and a first stepping stone to college and eventual tech entrepreneurship, is driven by a legacy of success – with two premier businesswomen at the steering wheel.

Founded by Christina Lewis, award-winning journalist (Wall Street Journal), daughter of Loida Nicolas Lewis and the late Reginald F. Lewis, the business legend and the world’s first African-American billionaire, All-Star Code – over the past six years–has created a powerful, reinforcing alumni network where students can celebrate failures and promote their successes in a safe space.

And All-Star’s success was shimmering at last Thursday’s annual spring fundraising cocktail event in Manhattan at Chelsea Pier’s Current event space.

Denzel Dixon

The initiative raised nearly $95,000 to help fund the organization’s educational programs for young men of color and feature impressive interactive demonstrations and Scholar Product Stations by All-Star Code students.

Some of the innovations included: College Start, a one-stop shop website for college preparation that helps students find scholarship opportunities, internships, connections and more; Inquirix, an interactive web app that provides students with tools to create an individualized study experience that best fits each student’s needs; and M.A.R.S., a nonprofit that provides community service opportunities so students can help clean up beaches, learn about the underwater world and spread awareness of how to make oceans safer for both humans and marine life.

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It’s no small wonder that 95 percent of All-Star Code students have matriculated to four-year colleges, over a third of which are top 100-ranked universities. Eighty-percent of All-Star Code students are majoring in or plan to major in computer science or a related field.  

“Our goal is to close the tech entrepreneurship gap in the United States by developing a pipeline of diverse 21st century leaders,” according to Ms. Lewis.  And they have a head start.

“All-Stars finish the program with both coding skills and an entrepreneurial mindset,” adds Miss Lewis.

All Star Code Scholars

All-Star Code’s flagship program is their free Summer Intensive, a 6-week program in New York, NY and Pittsburgh, PA with over 200 hours of computer science instruction and soft skill development which is designed to give high school boys the access and exposure they need to become successful tech entrepreneurs.

In 2018, All-Star Code received over 800 applications for 144 spots in the Summer Intensive. Due to the growing demand, 2019’s program plans to serve 200 young men of color this summer. All-Star Code’s Summer Intensive takes place in New York City and Pittsburgh and serves students from across the country.

Kudos to Christina Lewis and Loida Lewis who are keeping Mr. Reginald Lewis’s legacy alive and working for young men who will be the tech leaders of the future. 

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River Fields

In addition to celebrating the Scholars, John Henry, Partner, Harlem Capital, and star of Viceland’s upcoming doc-series, HUSTLE (executive-produced by Alicia Keys), with the Hank Williams Trailblazer Award.   

Our Time Press will feature the All-Star Code scholars, heirs to a legacy, and Reginald Lewis (the first to create a Black law firm on Wall Street) in its June Men’s Issue.  For more information: www.allstarcode.org/.  (BG)

 

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