For the past eight weeks, the headquarters of the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) in Northwest D.C. has been a training ground for the next generation of computer programmers.
Through Project Steam Ahead, youth ages 11-17 take introductory computer coding classes, not only to learn new skills, but also to tap into possibilities for the future.
“Somebody say ‘very well,’” the Rev. Kindred Curry, pastor of Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church and chair of the GWUL board of directors, told the crowd as part of the Project Steam Ahead showcase on May 9. “If you are willing to go very well, you can go well beyond here.”
During the culminating event, students presented original games and animated stories, sharing their newly acquired skills and hopes for next steps.
“In this program, students combine critical thinking skills with creativity to produce animated stories and original video games,” said Dr. Lynn Nehemiah, chairwoman of GWUL’s youth education and development program. “Many know how to make computer games, animated software, and other electronic items.”
As part of the showcase, Shaunah Boone, a junior at Dunbar High School, was awarded a $40,000 scholarship from LinkedIn and $8,000 from the Urban League for her project “Polite Enough,” a simulation game that responds to various gender biases.
“Someone walks through life as a Black female,” the junior explained about her game.
She plans to use the funds toward next steps at George Washington University, where she will start a special five-year program next year.
“I plan to major in mechanical engineering,” Shaunah told The Informer.
Other participants included high school freshman Dylan Rowe, who created a game called “Collect The Stars.”
Danela Kabebe created the game “Bananas! A Monkey’s Life,” with a picture based on the character Curious George, tapping into her earlier years.
“When I was a child,” Danela, a high school freshman, said, “I was raised on Curious George.”
Curry, who, in addition to pastoring, serves as an environmental consultant at the National Institutes of Health, offered advice for the participants.
“[Students should be] lifelong learners, systematic thinkers and critical problem solvers,” he said.
