“I was fortunate to grow up in a place that values the changes technology can bring to the world and in a home with a parent who was striving to do just that. My mother sent me to tech day camps. She set an example for me every day. She showed me a world I may not have found on my own. But the truth is, most kids aren’t me, especially most girls. The majority of schools in this country don’t teach computer programming, a deficiency seen across communities, but even more so for minorities, especially black and Latino children. And yet tech jobs are the fastest growing in the country. Who’s filling these jobs? Who’s going to fill them in the future? Right now, fewer than one in five computer science graduates are women, and the number of female computer scientists is actually falling, down double-digit percentage points in the past ten years. If we don’t act now, women will phase out of computer science entirely, doing a disservice to the women who pioneered in the field.”

Lucy began to move to the side of the stage. “Women like Ada Lovelace, credited with being the first computer programmer. Her theories in the 1840s were a precursor to machines that had yet to be built. Our app celebrates women like Ada, introducing them to the next generation. Why? Because we need to get girls engaged and excited about computer science. We need to show them role models who look like them and make them understand that there’s a place for them, if they want it. Early on, it seems both boys and girls have that bug—pardon the pun.” Lucy winked. “But studies show that interest in computer science drops as girls age. Our goal with Girl Empowered is to capture those girls and offer educational coding games and programs entwined with compelling stories of historical women that will age with them, fueling their interest before it flames out.”

As Lucy passed the microphone to Maddie, she noticed Ryan had relaxed. Whatever he’d thought might happen hadn’t.

Yet.

*   *   *

Maddie accepted the mic from Lucy, and her “nailed it” crossed with Lucy’s “good luck.” Not particularly afraid of public speaking, Maddie didn’t delight in it the way Lucy did either. Fortunately, Maddie wasn’t speaking alone.

Sadie zoomed onto the stage on a scooter. Maddie set her laptop on a table Delia had stealthily carried onto the stage while Lucy was speaking. Maddie attached her computer to the cable coming up from the floor to sync it with the screen. As Sadie circled her, Maddie opened Girl Empowered. A tingle spread beneath her skin at the logo that had been confined to her laptop screen projected for all to see.

“What’s that?” Sadie asked, doing a figure eight on the stage.

“An app of games.”

“Computer games?”

Maddie nodded. “About coding.”