Technology isn’t a field known for its diversity. Young, white, male – is often the image conjured up by people when they hear the words "computer programmer."

Code for Progress, a non-profit based in Washington DC, hopes to change that.

"We’re leaving a lot of possibilities on the table because we’re not bringing in people from different backgrounds and different life experiences who might be able to inform the work in a really different way,” says Michelle Fox, the program director at Code for Progress.

In an effort to empower members of traditionally overlooked communities, Code for Progress provides a 3–month intensive fellowship where participants – women, minorities, seniors, people with disabilities – take a variety of coding classes. The fellows then get paired with local nonprofits to create technology for them. Even after their residency ends, they're given support in the form of mentoring and career counseling.

The project was initially met by skepticism, even from the participants.

"I was like: Mmm… I don’t think I can do this. I mean, there’s probably no one who looks like me,” says Mariella Paulino, who was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in the Bronx. But after starting the program, she realized “in front of you is someone who looks just like you."
 
But it’s not enough just to teach people coding skills and send them on their way. Alumni fellows have started landing full-time jobs with some big organizations, like the Democratic National Committee and 18F.

Beyond getting jobs, fellows also have a role as ambassadors, "to help give language to other people who may kind of know diversity is important, but might not know how to talk about it or feel comfortable talking about it,” says Fox.