Kenosha-area residents looking to enter the tech workforce with job-ready skills have a unique opportunity to learn basic coding and web development for free.
And, on Thursday night more than a dozen people took the first step in attending an information session to learn about the partnership between Jockey International, Inc. and LaunchCode, a national non-profit workforce development organization that specializes in assisting and identifying those who have the aptitude and passion for technology, but may not be able to afford the educational requirements that go along with it.
LaunchCode was established in 2013 by Jim McKelvey – inventor of the successful payment app Square — who recognized the shortage of workers skilled in the tech fields in his hometown of St. Louis.
“What we do is provide free and accessible education and job placement program so we can help people start tech careers,” said Lin Wang, LaunchCode’s chief program officer, who led the more than hourlong presentation held at Jockey’s International’s headquarters at 2300 60th St.
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In April LaunchCode began accepting applications to the free, full-time course, which is open exclusively to Kenosha County residents. The course will start on July 5 and will be held virtually, according to Lin Wang, LaunchCode’s chief program officer.
LaunchCode’s coding course is a first for Kenosha and Wisconsin.
Applications will be taken through June 10. From there, applicants will be sent a link via email that will take them to a 10-question, multiple choice assessment for problem solving, also due June 10. The assessment will not have coding questions, she said.
“The earlier you apply, the better,” she told the group.
Candidates selected will be invited to attend a 20-minute virtual interview, with admission results sent by e-mail no later than June 17.
No coding experience needed
Applicants need not have coding or web development skills to apply for the course, according to Wang.
But, they must live in the Kenosha area, have an aptitude for problem solving and a willingness to commit to an intensive program that will and go through Oct. 15, with one holiday, Labor Day, in between. The classes are held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a lunch hour, Monday to Friday. Students must also be eager to enter an apprenticeship after they complete the full course, Wang said. Eligible residents will have graduated from high school.
Technical requirements for the virtual course include the use of computers that have reliable internet access. PC owners must have Windows 8 OS or more recent, but Windows 10 is strongly preferred. The most recent Mac OS is strongly preferred for Mac users. Laptops used for virtual courses also need to meet Zoom’s system requirements.
The course, which will have a maximum of 30 students, is divided into two units The first half will involve students learning computer programming fundamentals using Java Script, while the second half will focus on “back end” web development with the C#.
The final two weeks of the course students will have a chance to apply their new-found learning toward a personal project that showcases their job ready skills. A graduation date is yet to be announced.
Wang said that some might find the offer for free course in web development and coding “suspicious” and wanted to allay any concerns about the company’s ability to provide the course at no cost.
“I know that is actually quite a bit alarming and suspicious to people who don’t already know us,” she said.
Wang said the non-profit company’s model is based in philanthropic grants and other funding from organizations aligned with workforce development. LaunchCode also has a donor program that solicits donations from individuals, including alumni of their course program.
“When we do place people with our company partners, we do have revenue. We charge our company partners,” she said. “Our way of thinking as we do this work is to really educate companies that, you know, you want the talent you want, you’ve got to invest in them.
“We want to take that burden of cost from individuals and then transfer it back to the corporate world, who says, `We need more talent’,” Wang said. “They need to do better at investing and improving the culture and just really being creative and trusting people who don’t always have the opportunity to pursue the most traditional type of four-year-degree program.”
Wang said that companies like Jockey not only think about their own talent, but want “to bring it back to the community.”
Jake McGhee, vice president and chief philanthropy officer for Jockey, said that the company was interested in the work that LaunchCode has done in training and recruiting a diverse workforce for tech jobs as the community needs skilled workers.
“As an employer who is constantly looking for talent, we thought we could help bring the program to our community and essentially bridge that gap,” said McGhee. “We’re really excited about it.”
At the end of program, students who graduate will be eligible for the opportunity to be an apprentice for either LaunchCode or Jockey.
According to officials, more than four out of five of the program’s apprenticeships result in a full-time job offer, and on average, LaunchCoders more than double their previous salary after securing a full-time job.
According to Code.org, there are almost 9,000 open computing jobs in the state of Wisconsin, each with an average salary of over $80,000, which is significantly higher than the average statewide salary.
LaunchCode has previously worked with such companies as Boeing, Mastercard, Microsoft and Spectrum, among others, to place course graduates into apprenticeships and jobs with top companies, providing opportunity for upward career mobility.
Those interested in the Jockey-LaunchCode partnership can go to launchcode.org/Kenosha to learn more and begin the application process.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Emily Schinkowitch, a University of Wisconsin-Parkside student, checks out second floor plans of the proposed Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy following a press conference held Thursday at the site of the former Brown National Bank Building, 2222 63rd St., on Tuesday, April 26, 2002. The academy will occupy the former bank building.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
An artist’s rendering of the building exterior for the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy, which will be located inside the former Brown National Bank building in the city’s Uptown district.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
State Rep. Tip McGuire, D-Kenosha, left, along with others, examines architectural drawings and floor plans for the proposed Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Sign depicting public and private organizations partnering with the City of Kenosha to create the proposed Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy at 2222 63rd St. in the city’s Uptown district. The academy, which caters to youth in middle school and high school and young adults ages 18-24, is expected to open as early as January 2023.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian applauds students from Lincoln Middle School’s Teen Achievers program, which will be part of the new Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy, during a press conference Tuesday at the former Brown National Bank building in Uptown, where the academy is planned. The academy is expected to open as early as January 2023.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Katherine Marks, community outreach coordinator for the City of Kenosha, talks about the exciting opportunities at the proposed emerging leaders academy for youth and young adults as she addresses a group of University of Wisconsin-Parkside students during a press conference Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at the site of the academy.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Mayor John Antaramian, left, introduces Ardis Mahone Mosley, Mahone Fund community engagement director and a parent liaison with Lincoln Middle School, during a press conference announcing the creation of the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Katherine Marks, Kenosha’s community outreach coordinator, left, looks on as Ardis Mahone-Mosley of the Mahone Fund, second from right, accepts a hug from Carthage College President John Swallow at Tuesday’s press conference announcing the creation of the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy in the former Brown National Bank building in Uptown.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Cindy Altergott, Kenosha Family YMCA executive director, discusses the collaboration efforts with the city and several organizations that helped establish the new Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy at Tuesday’s press conference as Katherine Marks, City of Kenosha community outreach coordinator listens.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Jake McGhee, vice president, chief philanthropy officer for Jockey International, announces a partnership with Best Buy, to create a teen technology center within the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy during the press conference on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Emily Schinkowitch, a University of Wisconsin-Parkside student, checks out second floor plans of the proposed Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy following a press conference held Thursday at the site of the former Brown National Bank Building, 2222 63rd St., on Tuesday, April 26, 2002. The academy will occupy the former bank building.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
An artist’s rendering of the building exterior for the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy, which will be located inside the former Brown National Bank building in the city’s Uptown district.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
State Rep. Tip McGuire, D-Kenosha, left, along with others, examines architectural drawings and floor plans for the proposed Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Sign depicting public and private organizations partnering with the City of Kenosha to create the proposed Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy at 2222 63rd St. in the city’s Uptown district. The academy, which caters to youth in middle school and high school and young adults ages 18-24, is expected to open as early as January 2023.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian applauds students from Lincoln Middle School’s Teen Achievers program, which will be part of the new Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy, during a press conference Tuesday at the former Brown National Bank building in Uptown, where the academy is planned. The academy is expected to open as early as January 2023.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Katherine Marks, community outreach coordinator for the City of Kenosha, talks about the exciting opportunities at the proposed emerging leaders academy for youth and young adults as she addresses a group of University of Wisconsin-Parkside students during a press conference Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at the site of the academy.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Mayor John Antaramian, left, introduces Ardis Mahone Mosley, Mahone Fund community engagement director and a parent liaison with Lincoln Middle School, during a press conference announcing the creation of the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Katherine Marks, Kenosha’s community outreach coordinator, left, looks on as Ardis Mahone-Mosley of the Mahone Fund, second from right, accepts a hug from Carthage College President John Swallow at Tuesday’s press conference announcing the creation of the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy in the former Brown National Bank building in Uptown.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Cindy Altergott, Kenosha Family YMCA executive director, discusses the collaboration efforts with the city and several organizations that helped establish the new Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy at Tuesday’s press conference as Katherine Marks, City of Kenosha community outreach coordinator listens.
KENOSHA EMERGING LEADERS ACADEMY
Jake McGhee, vice president, chief philanthropy officer for Jockey International, announces a partnership with Best Buy, to create a teen technology center within the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy during the press conference on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
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