"Girls Who Code--Decorah" is getting launched this week for Decorah girls in 6th through 12th grades

A new program is getting launched this week for Decorah girls in 6th through 12th grades.
 
"Girls Who Code Decorah" will be a local project that uses the national "Girls Who Code" platform to teach girls how to help write computer code—and re-write the future. Classes are weekly (with the exception of holidays and snow days), and start this Thursday from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.  The program is completely free, with registration taking just a few minutes online.
 
The spark behind the program is that tech jobs are among the fastest growing in the country, yet girls are being left behind. By 2020, there will be over 400,000 new jobs available in computing-related fields and yet women are on track to fill just 3 percent of those openings.  While interest in computer science ebbs over time, the biggest drop off happens between the ages of 13 and 17, which is why local organizers think it's critical to reach these girls.
 
Organizers received grant funding earlier this year from Thrivent Financial.  Some of those funds were used to put on a "Technology + Tea" event with regional women in tech. The gathering was filmed, attendees interviewed, and a short film was made to help area girls understand why women belong in the technology field
 
In addition to learning computer program coding, class participants will identify a problem or issue within their community, and then spend their academic year together creating technology to address that problem.
 
Register for "Girls Who Code Decorah" at www.arthausdecorah.org and connect with the group on Facebook.