Students learning to sauter at a ChickTech: High School Kickoff event in Portland, Oregon.
What makes our program different?
Many young women and non-binary adults do not reach their potential in tech because they were told it wasn’t for them. Some are led to think it is too difficult; others do not have role models in the field to help encourage and guide them. ChickTech exists to break down these barriers preventing historically-marginalized people from thriving in STEM.
A crucial aspect of ChickTech: High School is working with students who would not otherwise have thought of themselves as capable of succeeding in a high-tech career. We focus on recruiting students who do not see themselves as technical but have the aptitude to do very well in technical fields. By asking educators, parents, and youth advocates to nominate participants for our program, we give our students a vote of confidence. People who know them and recognize their abilities have nominated them for this incredible opportunity!
Our program is free to participants. Transportation assistance and food are provided at all in-person events, and child-care stipends are also available for teen parents. We place additional emphasis on recruiting students additionally marginalized by race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+, and/or ability.
Learn more about ChickTech
How we’re keeping students safe
Soon after the onset of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020, ChickTech shifted high school programming into an online space for the safety and well-being of students, volunteers, and the greater tech community.
In the 2022/2023 school year, ChickTech: High School will continue to offer virtual hands-on workshops and group mentorship opportunities for students—but don’t worry! We’re increasingly confident we’ll be able to resume in-person events and workshops.
