TechAlabama

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TechAlabama is a nonprofit organization focused on promoting science, technology and math education and career development. It was founded in 2015 by TechBirmingham president Jennifer Skjellum. Deontée Gordon, who had succeeded Skjellum at TechBirmingham, was named CEO of TechAlabama in April 2019. The organizations share offices at the Innovation Depot.

In 2020 TechAlabama launched Ed Farm as its signature program, operating from the Forbes Building at 1914 4th Avenue North. Ed Farm conducts educational courses for Birmingham City Schools students and faculty, as well as for adult learners. The program is supported by Apple Inc.'s Community Education Initiative and built around its "Everyone Can Code" curriculum and its "Swift" programming language. Apple CEO Tim Cook attended the dedication of the Ed Farm space in February 2020. The program was initially headed by Chris McCauley. Waymond Jackson was hired as CEO of Ed Farm in April 2020. In early 2021 Ed Farm announced that it had partnered with Apple Inc. and Southern Company to launch the Atlanta-based Propel Center to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities with institutional support for curriculum development, technology, career development and other resources.

The COVID pandemic created a large demand for Ed Farm's ability to provide online teaching and professional development programs, and the organization expanded to 77 districts in four states. The non-profit's staff grew to 25. In 2022 the program opened a South Hampton Innovation Library.

References

  • Beahm, Anna (February 27, 2020) "Apple's Tim Cook in Birmingham to tout Ed Farm, which teaches coding to young and old alike." The Birmingham News
  • Johnson, Roy S. (February 28, 2020) "We’re in for the long term in Birmingham education effort, says Apple CEO and Alabama native Tim Cook." The Birmingham News
  • Patchen, Tyler (April 3, 2020) "Waymond Jackson named CEO of Ed Farm." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Patchen, Tyler (January 13, 2021) "Ed Farm teams with Apple, Southern Co. on global hub for HBCUs." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Patchen, Tyler (January 20, 2021) "Ed Farm CEO on the new Propel Center." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Patchen, Tyler (November 29, 2021) "Ed Farm prepares for future after growing during the pandemic." Birmingham Business Journal

External links