Help Elleona Break into Tech!

I have been accepted to UC Berkeley Extensions coding boot camp, and here is where you all come in. 

I have been searching for my calling, and I believe I have found it. Being from a community that has been consistently disenfranchised, and intentionally left out of career fields such as tech because of their inability to obtain a computer, stable internet, and other barriers - I want to be a part of the change.

There are few Black and genderqueer people within the tech industry, but I believe that once I've gone through these courses, I will be able to create affordable classes and donate my time and energy into my community so that this field doesn't seem out of reach to so many.

The cost of tuition is $12,995; a laptop with updated dual processor and adequate RAM is $1,600.

The Background 

In June 2020, during the height of the pandemic, I graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelors of Science, majoring in Conflict Resolution. While a full time student I worked at the public library with plans to become a librarian. I applied to get my MLIS and was accepted to Washington State University. 

If you live in Portland and you love libraries you know that in October 2020, we had major layoffs within Multnomah County Libraries, where I had worked as a Black Cultural Library Advocate, Library Assistant, for the past five years. Some of the hardest hit by these layoffs? Librarians. 

Then, on December 15^th 2020 my mother received her double lung transplant at UCSF. I was her caretaker, spending nights in hospitals, advocating for her when she was unable to speak, and being someone grounding her while she tried to process what all had happened. 

During that time I quickly picked up on medical routines, asked questions regarding recovery plans, etc. The medical staff were surprised, many voicing my next career move should be to become a nurse. I looked into respiratory therapist schooling and nursing school, but I was pretty sure my interest came mainly from wanting to keep my mother safe and healthy, not for my interest in medicine. 

With my mother home and healing and my sister with us once more, I began my search.

It took me over a year to realize my calling: technology. In my current job, I help many people, typically over the age of 50, with digital literacy. I also help them troubleshoot front end issues with different applications the library uses, while explaining how and why they are built the way they are. 

I have been creating websites from scratch on sites such as Wix, Squarespace, and Zyro. I learned some basic HTML, CSS, and javascript. I am hoping to build upon these skills with a mix of paid self study courses, and a 3-6 month long bootcamp.

I am now utilizing Udemy, Skillcrush, and Codecademy to further my education. On top of that, I have been applying to boot camp programs. The best and most affordable I have found is UC Berkeley extension.

Representation matters, however, the sharing of community knowledge, and resources - investing in one another, is how we will begin to see systems shift, and people thrive.

Thank you,

Elleona