Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 6225 24 Skills for Success Shemar Dacosta never would have predicted that by learning to code, he would be inspired to create a valuable platform to give people a voice to address social issues close to home. This very inspiration would lead him all the way to the White House. Initially uninterested in his Code/Interactive (C/I) computer classes at the Bronx Academy of Software Engineering, Shemar eventually devoured the program’s curriculum, and he and his classmates seized the opportunity to develop an app called Voices. The app serves as a forum for students to submit their opinions on a variety of issues, such as bullying, anon- ymously. Reports can then be made to school administration on issues students otherwise may not feel comfortable enough to address. Shemar was one of two young students from New York City chosen to attend the 5th White House Science Fair in March 2015, where he presented the app and met the president. It was an opportunity that would not have been possible without Code/Interactive. Founded in the Bronx in 2001 as a nonprofit organization, Code/Interactive has expanded nationally this year to now serve more than 5,000 low-income students nationwide; New York City and Central Texas are C/I’s largest service areas, with approximately 3,450 and 1,500 students in each area, respectively. Code/Interactive teaches in-demand technology skills to high school students from under- served communities. With these new skills, students become creators, rather than simply consumers, of technology. Working closely under the guidance of C/I, students create apps, video games, and websites. The organization also finds paid internships at tech companies for students, setting them on a path for long-term careers in technology. “Now, we teach students how to code, and they have the opportunity to practice coding skills at hackathons and code camps, and can be placed in internships and apply their skills in professional settings,” Executive Director Mike Denton said. “We wanted to teach students what they could do to help themselves out of poverty.” Attorney Stephanie Leopold started working with Code/Interactive in the summer of 2014. Through the organization’s growth, Stephanie has been there to provide support—reviewing documentation and agreements, and advising the organization as it built official partnerships. The firm’s New York office also hosts and documents board meetings, which Stephanie attends. “We help contract the internships, review employment agreements, and make sure the orga- nization, the students, and the company are all protected,” said Stephanie. “It’s truly amazing to see what attending these programs can do to change the lives of these students.” “We are at the beginning of an inflection point that’s very exciting. We have very strong intentions to make an impact on low income students, and we couldn’t do it without Mintz Levin.” Mike Denton Executive Director Code/Interactive continued