Code First: Congratulations to 250 Program Graduates!

By Ashwin Bharath

It is hard to believe we are approaching the one-year anniversary of the pandemic. 2020 was one of the hardest, most challenging years people have ever experienced. There will never be enough words to express its impact on individuals, families, businesses, and our economy. During the highs and the lows, thousands of individuals continued to show perseverance and one notable group we must always remember to place a spotlight on are our essential workers and frontline heroes.

Last spring, when shelter in place orders went into effect, essential workers continued to risk their lives to ensure the needs and safety of the general public were accounted for. Cashiers, stockers, delivery service drivers, mail services, and of course, first responders and healthcare workers were courageous, acting with big hearts, and working tirelessly to provide care, support, or services for those in need. The world came together – individuals took to their balconies or front porches every evening to applaud and show support for our essential workers and their dedication; we saw corporations pivot and transform their manufacturing facilities to produce more personal protective equipment (PPE) to help keep essential workers safe and on the front lines.

Technology became a critical component to business continuity and a means of communication for family members and employees. At the same time, my company, Revature decided to also launch an initiative, Code First, to provide free, instructor-led virtual coding courses to essential workers and their families.

After we made the official announcement last April, we were flooded with applications. Individuals were grateful, excited, and ready to apply themselves and acquire enterprise-level programming skills while working on real-world project scenarios and advancing toward industry-recognized professional certifications.

This past year we saw a significant increase in the demand for technology, its use cases, and how it will impact our lives in the future. Businesses were forced to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives creating a greater need for more diverse tech talent. At Revature, we believe in opportunity and in closing the technology gap. Code First not only provided an educational opportunity for our essential workers and their family members, but it also aligns directly with our mission to create a pathway for qualified talent from diverse experience and educational backgrounds to become technology professionals.

I am proud to share that Revature’s Code First initiative has reached its goal by training 250 individuals over the last nine months!

It has been an honor to give back to those who have sacrificed so much to our country during the pandemic. To now have 250 newly certified individuals, ready to embark on a new career pathway in one of the fastest-growing industries, brings joy and happiness to my heart.

Congratulations to all 250 participants of Code First. We are honored that you have chosen Revature, and we look forward to following your journey and success!

Read article on LinkedIn.