By Enid Doggett, Special to the AFRO
The Alice and Eugene Ford Foundation and Boolean Girl announced a partnership that will bring after-school clubs teaching computer science and engineering to students at Brookland Manor and Ward 5’s Noyes Elementary.
Following their Sept. 27 kickoff, the clubs offer programming for students in 3rd- 8th grades for the 2018-19 school year. The goal is for approximately 25 students to enroll in classes.
Boolean Girl and The Alice and Eugene Ford Foundation have partnered to bring after school programming to students at Brookland Manor and Noyes Elementary. (Courtesy Photo)
The Boolean Girl clubs at Brookland Manor and Noyes Elementary will start students’ education in computer science with Scratch. This introductory programming language was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and uses graphical blocks to allow students to build interactive stories, animated videos, puzzles and games. Students will then learn Python – an advanced language used in applications like Instagram and Amazon – and participate in projects in electronics, physical computing and more.
“This is exactly the type of community enrichment programing that Eugene Ford Sr. sponsored his entire career,” said MidCity’s Director of Community Relations Dr. Robert K. Johns. “We are thrilled to partner with Boolean Girl and proud to be supporting STEM education in Ward 5 – for our residents and the families served by Noyes Elementary.”
“Boolean Girl was created to address the declining number of women and girls in science, technology and engineering jobs and we’re proud to be bringing that effort to Ward Five,” said Ingrid Sanden, co-founder of Boolean Girl. “This partnership with MidCity and the Alice and Eugene Ford Foundation will help bring the promise of STEM to boys and girls in D.C. who deserve an opportunity to learn and work with technology.”
The programs are made possible through a donation of $17,250 from the Ford Foundation, which supports the club’s operations and helps provide equipment.
