The Hechinger Report
Isaiah Hickerson, inspired by a dream, pursued coding at Marcy Lab School, a nonprofit offering a tuition-free software engineering program for underrepresented communities. Nonprofits like Marcy Lab and Hack the Hood provide short-term training and job placement assistance, offering an alternative to traditional college education. These programs aim to increase representation in STEM fields and provide economic and social mobility. Marcy Lab has seen about 80% of its students graduate, with 90% landing STEM jobs. Hack the Hood also includes racial equity and social justice education in its curriculum.