[Events] economic diversity

[Larissa Shapiro]

Catherine,

Im wondering if mobile app dev is a reasonable thing to consider in this context? *what* to program on remains an issue, though. Is there any group like a Kids on Computers style project that could get refurbished laptops into the right hands? Just s few thoughts on an insomniac Saturday morning...

Larissa

On Jan 26, 2013, at 4:26, Catherine Devlin <catherine.devlin at gmail.com> wrote:

> At and after the Columbus Python Workshop, some of the students and I talked about how we could use workshops for not just gender diversity, but economic diversity.  They had great suggestions for organizations and agencies I could partner with - job agencies, women's shelters, and so forth.  Lots of possibilities there.
> 
> But lots of questions, too, that I'd really appreciate your thoughts on.
> 
> - Is this really a practical skill for people in tough economic straits?  Obviously programming is a great career; just as obviously, nobody's ready to start at Google the Monday after a weekend workshop.  The workshop is obviously not just about careers - it's also about having fun, building self-confidence, understanding our computerized world better, etc. - but I don't know if those noneconomic motives will ring hollow.
>     - And if it is practical, how can I *sell* its practicality to get agencies onboard and students in the door?
> 
> - Programming on *what*?  Laptops are cheap these days but many of these students probably still don't have them.  Some agencies have computer labs - I'm told the YWCA Columbus has one, for example - though that merits careful checking, because sometimes machines are so locked-down as to be useless.  (The Columbus Public Library machines, for example, run only IE, Word, and Excel; and the library IT director *does not have the ability* to loosen them up.  Grrrr.)
>     - But even if computers can be found for the workshop itself, if the students don't have regular access to computers that are more or less their own, will they be able to follow up on the workshops afterward?  It seems almost cruel to show people this kind of fun if they can't follow up.
>     - Is there any practical over-the-web programming solution?  One where students could actually do things like keep their files, install packages, etc.?  Then a student could conceivably pursue her own programming over a web browser in a library.
> 
> Thanks for any ideas...
> -- 
> - Catherine
> http://catherinedevlin.blogspot.com
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