As Tulsa positions itself as a growing tech hub, Urban Coders Guild is ensuring that students from historically underrepresented communities have access to education, mentorship and certifications necessary to succeed in the digital economy. Through free, high-quality coding programs, middle and high school students develop technical skills, industry knowledge and career readiness, opening doors to post-secondary education and high-paying jobs in technology.

Tulsa is on the cusp of a technological renaissance. As a designated federal tech hub and a central player in the American Heartland tech initiative, the city is poised to become a national leader in innovation. However, if this transformation is to be equitable and enduring, it is essential to prioritize and expand Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives in computer science education. These programs are not merely about representation—they are the foundation for sustainable economic growth, intergenerational wealth creation, and a thriving regional economy.

Urban Coders Guild is proud to present “A Community Conversation with Emmitt McHenry,” an event dedicated to celebrating the legacy of Tulsa native and tech industry pioneer, Emmitt McHenry. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Greenwood Cultural Center.

Emmitt McHenry, best known for founding Network Solutions, transformed the way the world interacts with the internet by creating a system to register domain names. His contributions allowed websites to be easily identified by names instead of numerical IP addresses, paving the way for the user-friendly web we rely on today.

Urban Coders Guild proudly joins CSforALL in announcing 143 commitments from 136 organizations within the computer science education community. This community includes schools, school districts, nonprofits, universities, curriculum providers, researchers, and corporate partners, all dedicated to advancing high-quality, equitable computer science (CS) education across the United States.

Emmitt McHenry is a pioneering entrepreneur, engineer, and visionary in the field of telecommunications. Widely recognized for his contributions to the tech industry, McHenry is best known as the founder of Network Solutions, Inc., where he played a pivotal role in the development of the domain name system (DNS), which underpins the modern internet. His groundbreaking work at Network Solutions laid the foundation for the commercialization of the Internet by enabling individuals and organizations to register domain names, making the Web accessible to a global audience.

Urban Coders Guild (UCG) is dedicated to fostering an environment where students can thrive academically and professionally by experiencing comfort, confidence, courage, competence, and a sense of community of belonging. These outcomes are essential for nurturing students' STEM identity and supporting their persistence in post-secondary education and STEM career pathways.