It turns out my neighbors wanted to learn to code, too. They just didn‘t realize it was possible.

As a full-stack developer, I know first-hand how learning to code can change your life. It‘s a skillset that‘s in high demand, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting employment for software developers to grow 22% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

But too often, coding feels out of reach for those without a computer science degree or connections in the tech world. This is especially true in underserved communities like South Los Angeles, where I live. Here, over 30% of households lack broadband internet access and less than 10% of students take an Advanced Placement Computer Science course.

However, I‘ve discovered a surprising truth – many of my neighbors are eager to learn to code. They see the well-paying jobs and exciting career prospects, but don‘t have the confidence or roadmap to get started. By starting a free coding club locally, I realized you can unlock immense untapped potential in your own community.

The hidden aspiring coders next door

It all began with a casual conversation with my neighbor Maria, a bright 35-year-old working as a receptionist. When I mentioned I was teaching myself full-stack development through online resources, her face lit up. "I‘ve always wanted to learn to make websites," she confided. "But I never thought someone like me could do that. I wouldn‘t know where to begin."

This conversation made me wonder how many other "Marias" were out there – curious, capable people held back only by a lack of opportunity and exposure to tech. So I started asking around, chatting with more friends and neighbors about coding. To my surprise, I kept hearing similar refrains:

"I want to build an app to help my sister‘s small business, but I don‘t have the skills."

"Working with computers seems cool, but you probably have to be a math genius, right?"

"I‘ve heard the money is good in tech, but don‘t you need a fancy degree?"

The more I dug, the more I uncovered a frustrating paradox. The people who could benefit most from tech skills – those lacking degrees, needing a career change, or wanting to build something to help their community – were the least likely to have access to coding education.

At the same time, the tech industry is in desperate need of more diverse talent. Despite some progress, Black and Hispanic workers remain underrepresented in STEM occupations relative to their presence in the workforce as a whole. Women make up only 28% of the STEM workforce, and the numbers are even lower for women of color.

Tech‘s homogeneity isn‘t just a PR problem – it has real consequences for the products that get made and who they serve. "When you don‘t have diversity in your workforce, you don‘t have diversity in your user base," explains Kimberly Bryant, founder of Black Girls Code. Diverse teams build better, more inclusive technology.

Starting South LA Codes

Recognizing both the need and opportunity, I decided to start a free coding club in my neighborhood called South LA Codes. The goal was simple – create a welcoming space for anyone curious about coding to learn the basics together.

We would meet for two hours every Saturday morning at a local coffee shop with free wifi. Using laptops, we‘d work through beginner-friendly coding tutorials on freeCodeCamp, starting with HTML and CSS fundamentals. No prior experience was necessary, just a willingness to learn and struggle through the basics.

In the beginning, I wasn‘t sure if anyone would show up. But that first Saturday, seven people came eager to learn, ranging from 16 to 65 years old. They were grocery store cashiers, restaurant servers, high school students, and grandparents. 65-year-old Ruth had never touched a computer before, but she was there, determined to understand what her grandkids were up to on their devices all day.

Week after week, the group kept growing. Members brought friends and family along. Ruth recruited fellow church members. High schoolers pulled in classmates. Even the baristas joined during their breaks. Within a few months, we had a dedicated group of 20 regular learners.

Coding together

The coffee shop became our informal classroom. Members claimed their favorite tables, posted up with their laptops, and dug into the tutorials. I floated around the room, answering questions and offering encouragement. The smell of fresh coffee and sounds of clacking keys filled the air.

The beauty was in the collaboration. When someone got stuck on a concept, their neighbor would jump in with an explanation. When someone‘s code refused to run, we‘d huddle around their screen and debug together. Slowly, members began to rely on each other for help instead of just me.

Ruth, who was the only member without a computer, was paired with Daniela, a patient 17-year-old who taught her the basics of typing and clicking. Within a few months, Ruth had completed the entire HTML/CSS module, building her first web pages. Her pride was palpable.

We incorporated pair programming, teaming up members to tackle freeCodeCamp‘s JavaScript algorithm challenges. Explaining solutions out loud to a partner cemented each person‘s understanding.

As members advanced, we introduced freeform group projects – build a recipe website, code a Mario-style game, make a Corona virus tracker. Breaking into teams, members sketched wireframes on napkins and planned out features. For many, it was their first taste of product development and working on a tech team.

Admittedly, the club wasn‘t all smooth sailing. Attendance could be inconsistent, especially around the holidays or as work schedules changed. Sharing limited devices was sometimes tricky. My own imposter syndrome would nag – what if I don‘t actually know enough to help them?

But the breakthroughs made it all worth it. Watching Ruth‘s face light up as she presented her first website, full of photos of her grandkids. Seeing Jamal run to hug his mom after his temperature conversion program finally worked. Having Daniela shyly admit she was applying to CS programs after all those months of helping others.

Beyond the coffee shop

As our members‘ skills progressed, their aspirations grew with them. Many began to glimpse new career possibilities. Kevin, a 24-year-old retail worker, landed a part-time front end developer role, his first tech job. Camila, a single mom, started taking on freelance web design clients, supplementing her income. High school senior Tanya was accepted to USC‘s computer science program.

Others realized technology‘s potential for entrepreneurship and community problem-solving. Daniela and her friend Joseph started a web development company serving local Black-owned small businesses free of charge. Jamal built an SMS tool helping unhoused residents find shelter during heat waves.

The impact rippled beyond the individuals to their families and community. Members became evangelists for coding education, speaking at PTA meetings and church groups. They volunteered to teach code at local schools and libraries. Some even started their own neighborhood coding clubs, multiplying the effect.

Scaling up

After two years and over 100 members, it was clear one coffee shop couldn‘t contain South LA Codes‘ momentum. We expanded into a network of neighborhood coding clubs, each with its own local volunteer leader. Meetups rotated between libraries, schools, churches, anywhere with outlets and wifi.

Tech companies began to take note of the diverse talent pipeline these clubs were generating. They sponsored laptops, hosted field trips, and provided mentors. Local community colleges partnered to offer course credit for participation. The mayor highlighted the initiative in his annual address.

South LA Codes showed me the incredible potential that exists in every neighborhood, hiding in plain sight. Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not. When we make coding education accessible where people are – in coffee shops, libraries, and kitchen tables – we discover the coders, creators, and entrepreneurs we‘ve been overlooking.

You don‘t need any special credentials to start a coding club, just a willingness to learn together. If you‘re a developer, you already have skills to share. If you‘re a beginner, even better – your newcomer perspective is invaluable. What matters most is creating a supportive, fun space for everyone to learn.

So start small. Post in your local Buy Nothing group or Nextdoor, inviting neighbors to learn HTML together. Gather a few friends in a park or cafe and dive into a JavaScript tutorial. Focus on cultivating community, not perfect curriculum. The most magical resource isn‘t any particular technical stack, but each other.

Then watch as the seeds you plant in your own backyard grow into a blooming ecosystem of community innovation and shared opportunity. There are future founders, inventors, and dreamers waiting in your neighborhood, ready to change the world. All it takes is extending an invitation, opening the door, and coding together.