Malinda Williams Launches HBCU Coding Boot Camp For Women

Actress Malinda Williams is paying it forward to a new generation of HBCU scholars through her new coding boot camp for women.

The Wood star launched The E.S.T.E.A.M. Project Feb. 15, a coding boot camp aimed at fostering diversity and equal opportunity in the tech industry for women at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Created through Williams’ non-profit Arise And Shine Foundation Inc. the new initiative aims to empower women by equipping them with valuable coding and technical skills.

“As a professional actress and someone who has experienced first-hand the support of my community, I understand the value of collaboration and paying it forward,” Williams said in a press release.

“The Arise And Shine Foundation exists to empower women to reach their goals and coding is a powerful tool—it is the language of the future. The E.S.T.E.A.M. Project will offer young women an avenue to acquire valuable skills to propel them forward in the 21st century.”

The pilot four-week program is centered around education initiatives mentoring scholars in entrepreneurship, science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (E.S.T.E.A.M).

Participants will explore how coding, app development, and STEAM training can pave the way for success across diverse career paths. They’ll also master Apple’s SwiftUI programming language and enjoy an in-person weekend filled with inspiration, impactful life lessons, skill-building, and networking. The Apple SwiftUI programming comes as part of Apple’s Community Education Initiative that will provide The E.S.T.E.A.M Project with hardware, scholarships, and professional learning assistance.

Williams launched her Arise And Shine Foundation in 2023 as part of her mission to be a conduit of information, inspiration, and empowerment to women in all walks of life. The foundation collaborates with educational institutions, corporations, and the community to initiate and amplify programs aimed at promoting the personal and professional growth of underserved and underrepresented women and girls.

The E.S.T.E.A.M. Project is accepting applications through March 31, 2024, from women currently enrolled at HBCUs. An in-person kick-off will take place May 30 through June 2, 2024, on at the Jackson State University campus in Jackson, MS.