ngGirls set to debut its one-day programming workshop for girls, women in Kansas City

Developing a “stress-free,” immersive learning environment is key to paving the way for female tech talent in Kansas City, said Alisa Duncan.

“There are a lot of studies about how women learn better when they’re with other women and that kind of support system, so that’s what we’re trying to provide,” said Duncan, program director of ngGirls — the global network aimed at increasing diversity in the tech industry — which has partnered with Kansas City Women in Tech (KCWiT) to deliver a free, one-day programming workshop focused on underrepresented communities.

Click here to read more about KCWiT’s annual TechWalk fashion show that showcased female tech professionals on the runway.

The July 27 workshop is open to women 14 and older, she said, noting that applicants of its previous iterations have been across the age spectrum.

“We’ve had applicants that are 60-years-old and I think that’s really awesome to see,” Duncan added. “What we’re trying to do is decrease the barriers for women in technology fields so that they feel comfortable while learning.”

Previously appearing in cities worldwide, as well as recently in Seattle, Atlanta, and Salt Lake City, the ngGirls workshop is the first of its kind to reach the Midwest region, she said.

“We’re really excited to be the first to give Kansas City women a chance to learn a really valuable skill,” Duncan added.

Click here to learn more about the workshop or apply. The deadline is May 31.

The workshop is expected to use a new Google-developed open-source platform called Angular that operates like a framework for web development, said Duncan, noting the expected 100 students will be aided by 35 chosen mentors to build an interactive app.

“We understand that not everybody wants to be a developer, but may be looking to augment to their current profession that may be tech-adjacent,” she said. “We just want to make sure they have that opportunity.”

Transportation issues or a lack of access to the needed technology should not be barriers to education as well, she added, noting that ngGirls might be able to provide assistance, as needed.

Click here to learn more about ngGirls.