“Computing is where the jobs are — and where they will be in the future, but fewer than 1 in 5 computer science graduates are women,” according to the Girls Who Code website.  

Girls Who Code is a nationwide initiative to close the gender gap in technology. The program began five years ago in New York City, and according to the Girls Who Code website, will reach 40,000 girls across all 50 states by the end of the year. 

“Tech jobs are among the fastest growing in the country, yet girls are being left behind. While interest in computer science ebbs over time, the biggest drop off happens between the ages of 13-17,” states the website.  

Kelly Cardenas, head of youth services and acquisitions with the Pell City Public Library, saw a need in the area for girls to have access to more technological learning.  

“We had an informational meeting on Sept. 13 just to see if there was enough interest to even start a club,” Cardenas said. “We were amazed by the turn out, and had enough girls sign up that day to allow us to have our first meeting Sept. 27. Aside from a break at Christmas, we’ve been going strong ever since.” 

Fifteen girls from St. Clair County between the ages of 13-17 signed up for the ten-week course and didn’t want to stop when the course was over.  

“There is such a comraderie between the girls,” Cardenas said. “We have some that home school, some in high school, Victory Christian…they really help each other. They only have positive things to say to each other, nothing negative to say. They build each other up.” 

The Girls Who Code group received some unexpected support from CGI, one of the largest IT and business consulting services firms. Founded in 1976, CGI has hundreds of locations worldwide, over 5,000 clients, and 71,000 professionals.  

Trey Valentini from the Hoover location of CGI saw a post from Kelly Cardenas on Facebook concerning a need for the group.  

“They (library) only had a handful of machines. Our company was going through a converted laptop refresh,” Valentini said. “I reached out to our company about donating and they made the machines available.” 

Valentini, who lives with his wife Brandy and two-year old daughter in Pell City, brought 12 donated laptops from CGI to be used for Girls Who Code.  

“Especially with having a daughter, I wanted to give girls like her the advantage I didn’t have,” Valentini said. “I had never coded until I was in college. Coding helps teach critical thinking skills, with an emphasis of “if/then” statements.” 

Valentini said that they have women who work with CGI in the tech field who would be willing to speak to the Girls Who Code class. 

“It’s been really rewarding and I am very proud of them (students),” Cardenas said. “It has been a lot of fun and I’m learning along with them.” 

Currently, the Girls Who Code class is full, but Cardenas plans to extend and grow the program at the library.  

For more information on Girls Who Code, visit girlswhocode.com. To learn more about programs offered at the Pell City Library, including Girls Who Code, visit pellcitylibrary.com.