Written by volunteer writer Amy Freeman

Jamal Cromity, a user experience designer at Optum, got his first taste of running a TechGirlz workshop on May 31 when he assisted at the Make a Website Using HTML/CSS workshop. During the workshop, girls learned the basics of HTML and CSS to create websites. They created a custom website using templates, a text editor, and a web browser.

Although Jamal has helped out with similar programs in the past, it was the first time that he volunteered at a coding workshop designed specifically for girls.

He said that he hopes Optum will continue to partner with TechGirlz and offer more programs in the future. If that happens, he’ll jump at the opportunity to volunteer each time, so that the workshops and programs can reach as many girls as possible.

Thinking back on the May 31st workshop, Jamal says that the best part of the experience was seeing the girls’ eyes light up as they typed in the code and saw the changes they made appear in real time on their screens.

Jamal personally knows the benefit of getting started with technology from a young age. He grew up with a Commodore 64, an old-school computer that piqued his curiosity and inspired a lifelong interest in programming and design. As a UX designer, he now works with interface code indirectly on a daily basis.

One of the biggest takeaways Jamal got after running the workshop is that coding, such as HTML and CSS, is for everyone. The girls at the workshop found the subject exciting and were enthralled by the things they were able to do in the web browsers.

According to Jamal, the programs TechGirlz offers are ideal for sharing a love of technology with others and for introducing people to a technology topic in a hands-on manner.

If you want to experience the excitement of leading a TechGirlz workshop, sign up to volunteer today!