It’s November already, can you believe it? The year is almost over, and we all know what that means: the holidays are here! A joyful stretch of ugly sweaters, raucous company parties, big family gatherings and probably way too much food.
Between a packed social calendar and those red eye flights to make sure you’re home in time to see your parents, it can be easy to lose track of what’s so important about this season — appreciating our loved ones, our communities, and remembering that the world can be a truly beautiful and inspiring place.
To help warm up your holiday spirit for the season of giving, here are five coding for good organizations you should support this season:
(Note: none of this is paid or partnered content! We just think these folks are great.)
Based in Oakland, California, Hack the Hood fosters economic empowerment of local youth and growth of small businesses, all in one program. By teaching underserved youth technical skills focused on building websites, young people gain real-world, portfolio-worthy tech experience while helping local businesses overhaul and improve their websites to stay current with today’s consumers. Currently operating in multiple cities around the Bay Area and Central Valley, more than 200 young people have completed their programs to date. Show these guardians of The Town some love and donate here.
This isn’t the first time we’ve given LWT a shout out, and it likely won’t be the last. Self-described as “queer, inclusive and badass”, this incredible organization more than lives up to it. With a global network more than 30,000 strong, Lesbians Who Tech supports lesbians, people of color, women and other underrepresented groups in tech to build greater visibility, expand access and cultivate a community of respect in the industry. Also, their events are amazing and so fun! Check out the Tech Jobs Tour when it lands in your city, and help them keep rocking it by donating to their Edie Windsor Coding Scholarship fund for LGBTQ women today.
From their website: “Code2040 is a community of Black and Latinx technologists and their allies who are diversifying tech to create a more equitable, inclusive, and prosperous economy.” By the 2040 decade, People of Color will make up the majority of the US population. Code2040 is working to ensure that Black and Latinx professionals are equally represented in the digital innovation economy by or before that time through fellowship programs, company partnerships and more. Learn more about their groundbreaking work and donate on their website.
Offering eight different programs focused on advancing and empowering, engaging and educating women in tech, Girls in Tech has a global network more than 100,000 strong. All national and global chapters are volunteer-led. Rithm has had the privilege of hosting and teaching a few bootcamps for the San Francisco chapter, and can speak to the awesomeness of this community. You can help out by starting your own fundraiser or donating on their website.
Electronic Frontier Foundation
“The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF champions user privacy, free expression, and innovation through impact litigation, policy analysis, grassroots activism, and technology development.” (https://www.eff.org/about). Most of us know that Bill Gates doesn’t own the Internet and can’t save us from its numerous threats and criminals. In the era of increasing government surveillance and sweeping digital delinquency, EFF are the champions of digital civil rights. It might not have occurred to you before now how important that is, but trust us — it’s worth supporting. Donate on their website, or pick up some swag to channel your inner digital warrior.
Happy Holidays!
Want to learn about even more amazing tech-forward organizations? Check out She’s Been Persisting: 6 Women in Tech Organizations You Should Know About.
