-
Ford STEAM Lab, a Ford Motor Company Fund program, to host a hackathon
for 100 middle school students to learn software coding skills,
develop solutions to education reform
-
Ford is collaborating with California-based #YesWeCode and Level
Playing Field Institute, and two Detroit organizations, Sisters Code
and Grand Circus, a tech training company
-
Event features a high profile panel of judges including Stephen
Henderson/Detroit Free Press; Van Jones/#YesWeCode; and Skype
appearance by Detroit native and rapper Big Sean
-
The hackathon will be held March 27-28 at the Ford Resource and
Engagement Center in Detroit. MSNBC will broadcast live from the
hackathon on Friday, March 27
Company Website:
http://corporate.ford.com/
DETROIT -- (Business Wire)
Ford STEAM Lab, an educational program from the Ford Motor Company Fund,
is bringing the power of Silicon Valley to Detroit with an innovative
two-day hackathon to help middle school students improve their education
while exploring high-tech careers.
The 100 students from five Detroit-area middle schools will learn the
basics of software coding as they create and “hack” an application that
will help them learn better. Their projects will be judged by a high
profile panel of judges as they compete for bragging rights and more
than $30,000 in scholarships and awards.
“Student voice and authentic inclusion is important to students
succeeding in education," said Shawn Wilson, manager, Multicultural
Community Engagement, Ford Motor Company Fund. “Ford's goal is to not
only empower students to take control of their educational future, but
also discover a potential career pathway in Michigan’s growing
technology sector.”
Ford STEAM Lab is collaborating with:
- #YesWeCode, an Oakland, Calif.-based organization that targets
low-opportunity youth and provides them with the necessary resources
and tools to become world-class computer programmers.
- Level Playing Field Institute, an educational organization
based in Oakland, Calif., committed to eliminating the barriers faced
by underrepresented people of color in science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM).
- Sisters Code, a Detroit organization dedicated to helping women
succeed in STEM-related fields.
- Grand Circus, a company based in Detroit that provides training
and other skills necessary to work in technology companies.
- National Dropout Prevention Center/Network, a national
organization that works on strategies to increase the graduation rate
in America's schools.
"In the new century, technology is central to middle class jobs and
income. We are proud to work with partners like Ford and the Level
Playing Field Institute, to support 21st Century opportunities to
students in Detroit,” said Van Jones, #YesWeCode founder.
The hackathon will be held March 27-28 at the Ford Resource and
Engagement Center at 2826 Bagley St., Detroit, 48216.
MSNBC will broadcast live from the hackathon on Friday, March 27. More
details on the program will be announced at a later date.
After learning coding skills on the first day, students will present
their app ideas to a panel of judges on the second day. The panel will
include Stephen Henderson, Pulitzer Prize-winning Editorial Page Editor
of the Detroit Free Press and co-host of Detroit Today on WDET; and Van
Jones, #YesWeCode founder, and environmental and civil rights advocate.
At the conclusion of the event, students will hear via Skype about two
very different success stories. Detroit native and singer/songwriter Big
Sean will speak to the importance of technology in music and how it
changed the music industry.
Ford STEAM Lab was launched in October 2014 to spark high potential, low
opportunity student passion for technology entrepreneurship and careers
in traditional STEM fields, as well as automotive design and vehicle
technology. STEAM Lab adds an arts component to help students learn how
to use creativity and innovation in problem solving and collaboration.
Ford Motor Company Fund invests more than $8 million a year in
scholarships and other education initiatives. In addition to the Ford
STEAM Lab, Ford Fund educational programs include Ford Blue Oval
Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning, Ford College Community
Challenge and Ford Driving Dreams Tour.
About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community
partners to advance driving safety, education and community life. The
Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 60 years with ongoing
funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford Driving Skills for Life teaches
new drivers through a variety of hands-on and interactive methods.
Innovation in education is encouraged through programs that enhance high
school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants.
Through the Ford Volunteer Corps, more than 25,000 Ford employees and
retirees each year work on projects that better their communities in 30
countries. For more information, visit http://community.ford.com.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Michigan manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 187,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the
company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company
provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more
information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and
video, visit www.media.ford.com.
Contacts:
Ford Motor Company Fund
Eric Mitchell, 734-612-8267
Emitch15@ford.com
Campbell
Marketing and Communications
Melissa Bunker, 586-219-0094
mbunker@campbellmarketing.com
N’Touch
Communications
Lisa Wilmore, 313-980-4766
Lisa.wilmore@comcast.net
Source: Ford Motor Company
© 2024 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.