03/03/2022
Citizens Renews Partnership with Girls Who Code to Help Young Women Explore Careers in Technology
Summer Immersion Program Will Serve Up to 6,000 Students
PROVIDENCE, RI –Citizens today announced its continued support of Girls Who Code, a nonprofit helping high school girls make an impact in their community while exploring careers in technology. The bank once again will sponsor the organization’s Summer Immersion Program (SIP), a free two-week virtual experience where 9th, 10th and 11th grade girls learn to code in a supportive environment while gaining critical leadership skills.
“Citizens remains committed to connecting a new generation of young women to opportunities in technology,” said Barbara Cottam, EVP and Head of Corporate Affairs and Corporate Responsibility at Citizens. “This connection is critical if we want to close the gender gap that exists in the technology industry today. Girls Who Code provides these young women with not only opportunities, but critical mentoring relationships to help develop them into the leaders of tomorrow.”
The Summer Immersion Program (SIP) hosts students in live, virtual classrooms led by mentors from industry-leading companies, including Citizens. Students learn the real-world impact of computer science skills through HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, while also getting an inside look into the tech industry. All high school students who identify as girls or as non-binary can apply, and no prior computer science experience is required. Being mindful that Girls Who Code students, half of whom come from historically underrepresented groups, often have part-time jobs or caregiving responsibilities, the organization is also offering a flexible Self-Paced Program (SPP). Students are able to earn beginner-level badges in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for web development or an intermediate-level badge in Python for cybersecurity through independent study and real-world projects. Since launching in 2012, Girls Who Code has reached 450,000 girls through their in-person programming and is on track to close the gender gap in new entry-level tech jobs by 2030.
“Girls Who Code’s summer programming has always been essential to turning early interest in computer science into real-world momentum through college and to a career in the tech industry,” said Tarika Barrett, CEO of Girls Who Code. “Our commitment to all-virtual programming in 2022 allows us to reach and support more students than ever before, especially those who typically lack access to such immersive experiences. We’re grateful for the support of our partners who will serve as mentors and role models for our students, and share our vision of a more equitable tech workforce.”
Computing skills are the most sought-after in the US job market, with demand growing three times the national average, yet the gender gap in technology and engineering is getting worse. Despite increased demand for STEM-related jobs, the share of women in the computing workforce has declined from 37% in 1995 to 22% today.
SIP is FREE and need-based grants of up to $500 are available to those who qualify, in order to provide assistance in lieu of paid opportunities such as a summer job or a paid internship. Current 9th -11th-grade girls and non-binary students are eligible to apply. For the third year, Girls Who Code will run its SIP virtually, leveraging significant gains achieved when it first ran online in 2020 in response to COVID-19.
Students across the U.S. can apply online at www.girlswhocode.com/sipapply through March 18. Check out the Girls Who Code SIP Flyer or join a webinar!
About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $188.4 billion in assets as of December 31, 2021. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a 24/7 customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,000 ATMs and approximately 940 branches in 11 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.
About Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology, and leading the movement to inspire, educate and equip young women with the computing skills needed to pursue 21st-century opportunities. Since launching in 2012, Girls Who Code has reached 500 million people through its work and 300,000 girls through its in-person programming. College-aged alumni of Girls Who Code are declaring majors in computer science and related fields at 15 times the U.S. average. In 2018, the organization was named the #1 Most Innovative Non-Profit on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list. Follow the organization on social media @GirlsWhoCode.
