The Detroit-based coding training institute Grand Circus will now offer 10-week, full-time coding workshops for free to women who are Michigan residents. The boot camp, which will be offered in Detroit and Flint, will train students for the role of a Java developer.
“Women make up a little more than half of the U.S. workforce, but hold only a quarter of the information technology jobs,” says Damien Rocchi, founder and CEO of Grand Circus. “At Grand Circus, we are focused on closing that gap by making it easier for women to gain real-world experience through intensive career-changing boot camps. It’s fitting that we are kicking off this boot camp in Detroit and Flint — two cities that share a similar history — and we are confident that we have put together the right partnership to begin changing the narrative in both tech communities.”
Rocchi says the so-called DEVELOP(her) boot camp’s initial class will consist of 20 women who will receive 10 weeks of training followed by career mentorship through the Michigan Council of Women in Technology. He says the program will give students a strong understanding of front-end or back-end programming, which will position students for an entry-level developer position.
“Flint and Detroit are experiencing rapid growth in the tech sector and encouraging women to be a part of that growth is vital in creating a flourishing, diverse tech industry,” says Jocelyn Hagerman, co-founder of The Hagerman Foundation in Flint, a partner of Grand Circus on the initiative. “This boot camp is just the first step in a progressive effort for greater inclusion and advancement.”
Applications open May 16 for the DEVELOP(her) boot camp, which begins July 18. Applicants must be women who are Michigan residents. Training and networking events will be held in both Detroit and Flint.
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