Bank of America recently announced CodeCrew as its inaugural Neighborhood Champions awardee in Memphis for 2019 with a grant of $50,000, bringing the bank’s total year-end support for the organization to $62,500. The contributions to CodeCrew have helped further its work ensuring that participants in Memphis are afforded training opportunities in a growing career field focused on computing, programming and development. At the luncheon celebration on Thursday, graduates will have the opportunity to share their projects with representatives from some of Memphis’s largest businesses and nonprofits including RegionalOne Healthcare, ALSAC/St. Jude, Autozone, International Paper, Devcon, IndigoAg, Vaco, Eatfix and Education Reform.

CodeCrew’s Code School is designed to train individuals to be entry-level software developers within a six-month course. Students work in a small classroom setting and use real-world technologies to learn the fundamentals of coding, app development, and the leadership and life skills needed for a successful career and job market competitiveness.

“It is important for Regional One Health, and specifically our Center for Innovation, to be a part of events like [the] luncheon to see the talent that is coming out of the program,” said Alejandra Alvarez from Regional One Health. “Our Center for Innovation is working with developers to create new technology that will improve patient outcomes or healthcare services in different ways. Events like the luncheon allow us to engage with potential interns or employees and continue a partnership that is beneficial for Memphis’s ecosystem.” 

“I think Memphis has a really valuable tech market with companies like Autozone, FedEx, and International Paper,” said Code School Graduate Autumn Ragland. “Code School connected me with the network they have built in Memphis, and I think those employers are really impressed with the caliber or developers coming out of Code School.”

Code School graduate Myiah Moore has experienced significant transformation as a result of this program. Moore was facing dead-end job after dead-end job with growing debt on her plate. After deciding to attend Code School, Moore’s life has completely changed. “I loved the program because it challenged me to be better every day,” Moore said. “After the program, I had three job offers and got to pick the one that worked best for me and my family. I am now financially stable, able to take care of my kids, and pay all of my bills. My life is completely different than before, and I am proud of myself for taking a chance at a better future.”

Bank of America’s Neighborhood Champions program, in particular, supports the role strong nonprofit leaders play in advancing economic mobility and is an extension of the bank’s signature philanthropic initiative, Neighborhood Builders, the largest corporate philanthropic investment in nonprofit leadership in the country. Alongside Memphis, the bank is bringing the program to 40 communities across the U.S. as part of its commitment to investing in the long-term health of communities.

“The Neighborhood Champions grant has helped us provide critical resources to our Code School students with the skills and supportive services they need for long-term career success, and has brought corporate and nonprofit partners in to support our students in new ways,” said Meka Egwuekwe, Executive Director, CodeCrew. “We value Bank of America’s partnership in helping us achieve our goals.”

The Neighborhood Champions program is for nonprofits that are poised to take their work to the next level. Leading members of the community participated in a collaborative selection process to identify this year’s awardee. Examples of the topics for the virtual leadership training awarded include human capital management, increasing financial sustainability and storytelling.

For more than 15 years, Bank of America has invested $240 million in 49 communities through its signature philanthropic initiative Neighborhood Builders, partnering with more than 1,000 nonprofits and helping more than 2,000 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills. The Neighborhood Champions program in Memphis will strengthen the bank’s commitment to advancing economic mobility and nonprofit leadership.

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