Topics

• You Can Start a Tech Club in Your Community
  By: Brianne Caplan
  Experience Level: Novice
  Length: 45 Minutes
  Description:

  You don’t need a nonprofit, funding, or a perfect curriculum to start a tech club—just a starting point.

  Today, access to computer science education is still deeply uneven. Only about 60% of U.S. high schools offer foundational computer science, and participation gaps persist for girls, Black, and Latino students. Further, most students are unlikely to pursue tech pathways unless they are exposed to computer science early in school and in ways that feel relevant to their lives.

  In this talk, I’ll show how developers, students, and professionals are starting tech clubs in their communities using the skills they already have, and how Code Your Dreams supports people in actually doing it. We’ll walk through how to go from idea → first session, how to teach beginners (even if you’ve never taught before), and how to build something that lasts.

  I’ll share real examples of clubs launched in schools and community spaces, what worked, what didn’t, and how small efforts can turn into real community impact.

  If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to give back, but I don’t know where to start,” this is for you.

  What You’ll Learn:

  • Why computer science education is still important in the age of AI
  • How to launch a club or get involved in your community
  • Ways to teach coding / tech and keep participants engaged
  • How Code Your Dreams can support you in getting started
• The Job Market, a Tale of Pain
  By: Hugo Seguin
  Experience Level: Novice
  Length: 20 Minutes
  Description:

  In this talk, I share what it was really like spending seven months trying to land a job in today’s market, applying to both data analyst and data engineer roles. I’ll walk through how I approached it and how I changed my techniques along the way.

  I’ll talk honestly about what actually helped me get interviews, what I found didn’t work, and the mistakes I made early on and currently. That includes how I handled resumes, technical interviews, networking, and figuring out what companies are really looking for when they hire for data roles.

  I’ll also share the resources and tools I wish I knew about from the beginning things that would have saved me time, energy, and a lot of trial and error. The goal of this talk is to give practical, experience-based advice so others can approach their job search with a clearer plan and avoid some of the frustration I ran into.