Stories

Led by UX designer and computer scientist, Khalia Braswell, INTech has provided numerous opportunities for girls in her home base of Charlotte to get involved in technology and kickstart fruitful careers in computer science. One of their annual events is a summer camp designed to help young girls learn technology skills, meet women mentors in the technology industry, and visit high-profile technology companies across the Carolinas. 

But this year had to look a little different. Normally, INTech summer camps are held on college campuses. However, with COVID-19 regulations, INTech couldn’t hold their camps on campuses. So, like many organizations, they went virtual. Over the Zoom video conferencing platform, INTech hosted over 120 teen girls from North Carolina, Texas, California, and other states in a week-long virtual camp from July 6th-10th and July 20th – July 24th. 

You might be wondering, what does a virtual summer camp look like for INTech? Well, students all received a free LINGO kit, which Braswell described to SHARE Charlotte as “computer engineering in a box.” 

Lingo was created by African-American aerospace engineer and founder and CEO of STEMBoard, Alisha Bowe. Bowe developed LINGO to help teens learn the fundamentals of hardware development. 

In a press release by INTech, Bowe said, “LINGO is delighted to support INTech in delivering an exceptional virtual experience. The LINGO premise is quite simple: learn engineering and coding principles by building an autonomous vehicle sensor. Students can work at their own pace while learning basic coding and engineering concepts at home in a clear, fun, and engaging way,” 

One of the best parts about LINGO, is that it came to camp attendees complete with step-by-step videos and community support. The kit also includes follow-on materials that complement the highly-detailed instructional booklet. 

In addition to sending the LINGO box, INTech leveraged the BSD Education software which allowed students to create websites and web apps using HTML, CSS, and Javascript. In fact, when INTech made the decision to go virtual, the demand was so high they opted to hold two camps rather than their normal one.  

While summer camps are currently over for the season, the CLT community can still rally around INTech to further its mission. While virtual volunteers will be needed (and there is a page on their website to inquire for more information), INTech is still working out the details on how to best utilize them in the current climate. Because of that, the best way to support their cause is to donate financially. 

Additionally, INTech is always looking for educators or technologists as speakers to inspire students. Educators without technical expertise that can help with curriculum are also needed. 

For more information on how Khalia and INTech have been making a difference in the lives of girls in Charlotte, be sure to check out their news section!

VOTE NOW: INTech is in the running to win $5K this month thanks to the Amy and Brian France Foundation who have partnered with SHARE Charlotte for this year’s Spotlight Series and YOU can help when you VOTE NOW! You can also check out the other organizations eligible to win this month’s prize, here!