Abby Swamidoss | CIIP 2023 Blog Portfolio

Posted: July 5, 2023

Orientation

Exploring the historical context surrounding Baltimore and its complex relationship with Hopkins was really fascinating for me to learn about during orientation. It also opened my eyes to the complex layers of systemic injustice that have shaped the city and its communities.

One aspect that stood out to me was the concept of redlining, a discriminatory practice that systematically denied opportunities and resources to Black neighborhoods. Learning about how these policies were implemented and their lasting effects on the socio-economic landscape of Baltimore was both enlightening and disheartening. It fueled my determination to delve deeper into the root causes of racial inequities and seek ways to contribute positively to the fight against them.

The Black Butterfly and the White L provided a powerful visual representation of the racial segregation within Baltimore. Understanding how neighborhoods were intentionally divided along racial lines and the impact this had on access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities was eye-opening. It highlighted the urgency for equitable urban planning and the need to address the disparities that persist to this day.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my learning experience was the opportunity to form relationships with various members of CIIP and the organizations that came to present. Interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds and hearing their perspectives enriched my understanding of the issues at hand. Hearing them present about their projects and engaging us in thought-provoking discussions fostered a sense of community and collective commitment to effecting change. I also really enjoyed forming relationships with the other interns through this orientation and had a great time getting to know my peer mentor group.

I particularly valued the sessions where members from the Baltimore City Council and the Black Church Food Security Network shared their insights and initiatives. Their dedication to addressing racial inequities and advocating for social justice inspired me. Learning about the many efforts and policy reforms being undertaken in Baltimore gave me hope for a more equitable future and I am really excited to be a part of working with these organizations.

Overall, my exploration of Baltimore, was a transformative experience. It deepened my understanding of systemic racism and its impact on marginalized communities. It also instilled in me a sense of responsibility to be an ally in the ongoing struggle for racial justice. Through the relationships formed and the knowledge gained, I am motivated to continue working towards dismantling the barriers that perpetuate racial inequities and contribute to building a more inclusive and equitable society.

Week 1

My first week at Code in the Schools was wonderful! I was added to the organization’s Slack channel and was introduced to everyone in the team (including Dave, our COO’s adorable dog). It was amazing to work with really passionate, cheerful, and friendly coworkers! Dianne, our COO, decided that Baz (another JHU student!) and I should be in charge of student engagement programming to ensure that Code in the Schools is incorporating the voice of participants as frequently as possible so they feel brought in, independent, and a core part of the program.

Code in the Schools hosts a summer program known as CodeWorks (part of YouthWorks) and employs student interns to work for around 25 hours a week. This is an opportunity for them to get paid to learn, develop, and use computer science skills. These skills will eventually prepare them for the workforce which is incorporating more and more technology. These student interns all come from the Baltimore area! The CodeWorks program starts July 10th and Baz and I have planned an orientation day/scavenger hunt for the student employees to get to know each other and also get to know the organization. Baz and I collaborated to work on organizing the orientation/scavenger hunt/icebreaker plans for this first day. We brainstormed some super fun plans for the students and I am so so excited to see how they engage in the games we have planned! I cannot wait to meet the student interns and become even more involved in the CodeWorks program.

On another note, Dianne and I had a really interesting conversation on my first day of CIIP. We talked about the complex relationship between Hopkins and the Baltimore community and it made me really reflect on what I could do as a Hopkins student to facilitate trust between the Baltimore community members and the Hopkins community. Before CIIP, I had little to no idea about this relationship, especially because I was not a Baltimore or Maryland resident, but I am thankful to CIIP for helping me become more aware and educated on this.

Looking forward to my next week at Code in the Schools and am excited to be a part of CIIP!

Week 2

This week at Code in the Schools, I have been faced with the challenge of adjusting to a hybrid work environment, with many of my coworkers working from home. As a nonprofit organization in Baltimore, we strive to provide coding and computer science education to students, and adapting to different work settings has become essential for us.

One of the significant adjustments I have had to make is balancing in-person and remote work. While I typically work in person, the flexibility to work from home has been invaluable. This flexibility has allowed me to collaborate effectively with my coworkers, even when they are not physically present in the office. For communication purposes, Slack has played a vital role in facilitating seamless interactions with my supervisors, Dianne and Trish. With its instant messaging capabilities, Slack has enabled us to stay connected, share updates, and address any questions or concerns efficiently. It has served as a centralized platform where we can discuss projects, seek guidance, and provide feedback.

Additionally, virtual meetings have become a norm for me, especially when collaborating with colleagues who work remotely. Google Meet has been an instrumental tool for hosting these virtual meetings. Whether it is a team brainstorming session, project discussion, or check-in with supervisors, Google Meet has allowed us to come together and engage in meaningful conversations, regardless of our physical locations. The platform’s video and audio capabilities have made it easy to have face-to-face interactions, fostering a sense of connection and teamwork.

Working in a hybrid environment has required adaptability and effective use of technology. It has taught me the importance of clear and timely communication, as well as leveraging digital tools to bridge the gap between in-person and remote work. By utilizing Slack and Google Meet, I have been able to maintain seamless communication with my supervisors and coworkers, regardless of our physical work settings. These tools have enabled me to stay productive, collaborate efficiently, and contribute to the mission of Code in the Schools, even in a hybrid work environment.

Week 3

A typical day of work for me at Code in the Schools in Baltimore is a really exciting and fun experience. I have the opportunity to work on various projects while collaborating with inspiring and entertaining individuals who are dedicated to making a positive impact in the community.

One of the highlights of my internship is working closely with Baz on social engagement programming. We understand the importance of student engagement for our organization, and we constantly brainstorm innovative ways to make the CodeWorks program a lot more interactive and enjoyable for the students. It’s been a really great experience working with Baz because they are also a student at Hopkins and we have had a good time getting to know each other.

In terms of my everyday routine, I have settled into a comfortable balance between working from home and coming into the office. It all depends on the tasks I have been working on for that week. I really enjoy the flexibility though and I never feel restricted or exhausted during work.

Beyond the work itself, I have had the opportunity to connect with Dianne, Trish, and Baz during my time at Code in the Schools. Last week, they recommended I try out a new restaurant called Nancy’s for lunch, and it turned out to be a delightful experience.

Currently, I am working on the organization’s website alongside Baz. We aim to create an engaging platform that effectively communicates the mission and impact of Code in the Schools Baltimore. It’s a challenging project, but we approach it with enthusiasm, constantly brainstorming creative ideas and exploring innovative design elements.

Week 4

Overall, my internship at Code in the Schools Baltimore has been an incredible learning experience. Every day brings new challenges, inspiring individuals, and rewarding opportunities to contribute to our mission of empowering students through coding education.

Today I had the opportunity to interview the COO, Dianne, for Code in the Schools as part of an assignment. Diane Conley is the Chief Operations Officer at Code in the Schools and I have had the pleasure of working with her consistently throughout my internship. She initially began her career in a publishing office in London where she discovered that though she only had a little bit of computer science education and web technology skills, she was able to take advantage of her technical skills and propel her career forward to achieve her career goals. She began to move into technology education because as interested as she was in technology she wanted to be able to see what it could be used for to make other lives better and she chose to work for an organization that promoted online education. However, she quickly realized the online education business became centered around marketing and enrolling and she felt disillusioned. Around this time, she joined the board at Code in the Schools because she believed a nonprofit organization would be closer with the community.

In terms of the greater public health context that Dianne has experienced in her time at Code in the Schools, after joining Code in the Schools she noticed a significant connection between economic well being and access to health care. Not only does just having a job increase your chances of accessing health insurance, but it is usually necessary to have a quality job and in our American society the main access to healthcare insurance is through employment. She felt she was personally able to benefit from the career mobility that learning technology can have through having had a career in the tech industry. Her goal has since transitioned towards something that is more about giving back rather than making money for a corporation. She is incredibly passionate about helping others have access to what learning technology did for her.

At Code in the Schools, our mission is to empower Baltimore City youth to thrive in the 21st century economy by expanding access to quality computer science education and building pathways from school to jobs and higher education. By focusing on youth traditionally under-represented in technology fields, we work to eliminate structural barriers and inequities in education and industry. By providing kids who enroll in our programs with computer science education, particularly kids who are unable to access this education on their own, we are able to help them achieve quality jobs which sets them up to achieve quality healthcare, access healthy food, afford safe and secure housing, and more. Dianne also mentioned that the entire community is able to benefit when young people can obtain quality jobs and contribute to the local economy and provide for a family.

This interview has made me really motivated and excited about the work I have been doing by providing me with a purpose. I thought it was interesting how Dianne used her experiences and used what she was interested in to drive her career goals and propel her towards what she wanted in a career and I want to treat my career the same way. Moving forward, this interview has also shown me how interested I am in public health and education and I want to continue to work towards understanding and improving the education system in Baltimore alongside dismantling inequities in healthcare.

Week 5

Through my experience at CodeWorks, a part of Code in the Schools, I have gained a deeper understanding of many class concepts I learned in the field of public health. CodeWorks, a summer program by the nonprofit organization Code in the Schools, focuses on educating youth in computer science skills, equipping them with real-world workplace skills, and helping them develop professional competencies to secure quality jobs.

The work I have been doing with CodeWorks has reinforced my understanding of public policy concepts such as housing, environmental justice, and the Four-Legged Stool model. This model emphasizes the importance of affordable housing in safe neighborhoods, education, livable wage jobs, healthcare access, and access to healthy foods. I have come to recognize the critical connection between education, income, and healthcare needs.

My coursework in public policy has provided me with insights into the perpetuation of generational poverty. I have learned that Black families constitute a significant portion of those trapped in generational poverty, and this has become particularly evident through experience. Children from lower-income families often experience poorer quality housing, which can result in receiving a subpar education due to limited resources for private or quality schools. As a result, they struggle to obtain well-paying jobs as adults, making it difficult for them to meet their healthcare needs.

This understanding has broadened my perspective on the impact of education on income, and subsequently, healthcare. It has reinforced the importance of providing quality education to children from disadvantaged backgrounds to break the cycle of poverty. By equipping youth with computer science skills through CodeWorks, I am contributing to their potential for obtaining quality jobs, leading to stable incomes. This, in turn, enables them to access essential healthcare services, health insurance, safe housing, healthy foods, and health education.

Overall, my work with CodeWorks has enhanced my comprehension of course concepts in public policy, specifically regarding the link between education, income, and healthcare needs. I now have a more nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities and the crucial role that education and job opportunities play in addressing these disparities.

Week 7

Intersectionality plays a crucial role in shaping the work I am doing as a part of CodeWorks this summer. CodeWorks is not just an isolated initiative; it intersects with various other organizations to create a network of support and resources to better serve the youth in the community. One of the key intersections for CodeWorks is with Dent Education, another organization focused on empowering young people through entrepreneurship education. Both CodeWorks and Dent Education are a part of YouthWorks. They also both share a common goal of equipping youth with essential skills and providing them with opportunities to explore their potential in a rapidly evolving job market. By collaborating, they can leverage their expertise and resources to offer more comprehensive and diverse programs to the youth they serve.

University of Baltimore’s Business Center is currently being used as a shared space that accommodates various organizations, including CodeWorks, KIPP Baltimore, and other YouthWorks programs. With this intersecting shared space, the potential for collaboration is vast. One idea for collaboration is to organize social events among the different organizations. Social gatherings can promote a sense of community and unity among staff and students from different programs. It allows them to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and build strong relationships, fostering a supportive environment for everyone involved. Additionally, a collaborative fair could be organized, where representatives from each organization present their respective programs and offerings to the youth. This way, the youth can make informed decisions about which program aligns best with their interests and aspirations for the upcoming summer. Such a fair would also promote a sense of agency among the youth, empowering them to choose the path that resonates most with their goals.

By working together and building a network of collaboration, CodeWorks, Dent Education, and other YouthWorks organizations can maximize their impact on the lives of the youth they serve. The synergistic effect of their combined efforts will not only provide more comprehensive support but also create a platform for continuous improvement and innovation in youth development programs.