By Amy Mihelich, SUN
“Girls at Falcon Ridge Middle School in Apple Valley are shattering glass ceilings by programming glass screens. Technovation[MN] is part of a global competition that supports diversity in information technology career fields. Through a 12-week program, mentors and coaches help teams of up to five girls brainstorm, create and pitch a mobile app that solves a social problem.”
By Patrick Kennedy, Star Tribune
“Last weekend hundreds of girls gathered to compete for Technovation[MN]’s Appapalooza international app-building challenge. St. Louis Park-based Code Savvy, a non-profit that encourages kids and teens to explore computer coding, runs Technovation[MN] and the regional competition of the event. They reported record participation with 74 teams presenting their apps this year. “
By Heidi Wigdahl, Kare11
“MINNEAPOLIS — The boardroom was full at U.S. Bank headquarters on Monday afternoon, but a majority of the people seated at the table were girls ages 10-18. Seven teams of young women in middle school and high school were there to present their mobile apps to U.S. Bank executives. Their apps were created as part of Technovation[MN]–a Code Savvy non-profit youth program where girls dream up, design code and pitch mobile apps that solve social problems. “
By Dan DeBaun, Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal
“Code Ninjas, a franchise that teaches youth coding and robotics, is starting to open locations in the Twin Cities. The first Minnesota Code Ninjas will open in Edina on Saturday at 3016 W. 66th St. (a former Subway restaurant), said Jon Blood, a local Code Ninjas franchisee.”
Via KMSP/Fox 9
“MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) – Donning black-rimmed glasses and a bright red tee, 12-year-old D.J. Comeaux of Minneapolis beamed as he sat inside the A Mill Artist Lofts Sunday. Just hours earlier he had launched a new initiative called Afro Bot Boyz, pairing his love for robotics with the goal of inspiring young black men and women to pursue careers in technology. “I want it to become something everyone can rely on,” he said, working to explain his signature brand.”
Via News Release
“On a recent Friday afternoon, a group of St. Thomas students gathered in a room at the Facilities and Design Center. Standing in a circle, they verbally tossed random words to their classmates until the room was swirling with excitement.”
By Dan Tynan, Edtech Magazine
“Students in Minnesota who live nearly an hour from a big city log plenty of time on buses, whether they’re traveling to away games with the hockey team or going on field trips with the science club.
Eastern Carver County Schools in Chaska, Minn., wanted to make those long bus rides more productive and help teachers put that otherwise wasted time to good use. But to do that they needed to put the internet on wheels.”
By Kelly Busche, Minnesota Daily
“A new technology center in Cedar-Riverside will connect youth from immigrant families to high-end technology. Kids and teenagers are already testing the equipment and professional software tools at the new technology center in the Brian Coyle Center on West Bank, which will officially open Dec. 4.”
By Madelaine Hahn, Kare 11
“ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. – Just 18 percent of computer science majors are women. That’s down from 37 percent in 1984. And women only make up 24 percent of the computer engineering workforce, according to a study by Girls Who Code and Accenture. That’s why St. Louis Park-based nonprofit Code Savvy’s female-only program, called Rebecca Coder Dojo, is taking on the tech industry – offering free coding classes to girls.”
By Anna Hensel, Venture Beat
“Five years ago, husband and wife Steve and Mary Grove, directors of Google News Lab and Google for Entrepreneurs, respectively, wanted to find a way to use their connections in the tech industry to give back to Steve’s home state of Minnesota.
The pair launched Silicon North Stars, a nonprofit organization that aims to introduce tech to Minnesota high school students — primarily those from minority and underrepresented backgrounds. In concert with Giving Tuesday, the pair has launched a $10,000 crowdfunding campaign to help cover some of the costs of their annual program.”