Conference Presentation, Panel
YesWeCode: Training NextGen Technologists
Milken InstituteVan Jones, Laura Weidman Powers, Trabian Shorters, Mitch Kapoor, Joey Ito, Chris Tucker, Prince, Amy Henderson, David Robertson, Pamela Hodges, Jamie
- The tech sector faces a persistent skills mismatch projected to leave one million jobs unfilled by 2020 unless qualified graduates are matched with open opportunities, a gap expected to be exacerbated by a demographic shift where people of color become the U.S. majority by 2040.
- Initiatives like "Yes We Code" aim to train 100,000 low-opportunity youth, while the Code2040 program anticipates a 90% full-time job offer rate for participants and leverages 160 interested Silicon Valley firms to address a pipeline of 3,000 students.
- Boot camps have proliferated with 192 new programs emerging in the last three years, offering a potential trajectory where individuals with basic math literacy can transition from zero income to $80,000 annually within 12 weeks, though these programs currently lack coordination, funding, and accessibility for non-traditional learners.
- A strategic pivot is anticipated in the tech industry away from reliance on degree programs, supported by data from Google showing no correlation between degrees and employee performance, toward evaluating practical skills and contributions.
- Social impact initiatives have engaged thousands of students, including 2,500 by the Kapoor Center, with the "Yes We Code" initiative scheduled for a public launch on July 4th and support from entities like Facebook and the Ford Foundation.
- Entrepreneurial activity from low-income communities of color is expected to increase, focusing on specific market gaps such as bilingual education, payday lending, and low-cost prison phone services, while a shift in perspective regarding the value of human potential is projected to drive growth.
- Demographic projections indicate that Black men are 25% more likely than the national average to serve, protect, and give to charity, and that nearly twice as many Black males are currently in college rather than prison, supporting the view that tapping into the diverse Millennial generation is essential for continued economic growth.
- The entertainment industry faces stagnation or decline in diversity among directors, producers, writers, and cinematographers, creating a need for representation that mirrors the changing consumer base and workforce.
- Long-term strategic goals include fostering a highly visible Black or Latino entrepreneur within a five to ten-year timeframe to inspire broader community engagement, with success stories expected to be reported within one year.
- Educational models such as Connected Learning and the HOMAGO framework are expected to be replicated to connect informal learning with formal education, utilizing peer mentorship to bridge the gap between stranded talent and scalable opportunities.