Tulsa’s Tech Future Begins Here: Inside Urban Coders Guild’s Summer Coding Camp
As Tulsa steps confidently into its role as a federally designated Tech Hub, conversations are rightly centered around innovation, infrastructure, and economic growth. But the future of a thriving tech economy will not be shaped solely by companies or capital. It will be shaped by people. And perhaps most importantly, by the students who are growing up in our communities today.
Urban Coders Guild is preparing those students to lead. Through programs like our Summer Coding Camp, we are investing in the next generation of diverse, homegrown tech talent. Our approach is rooted in equity, driven by opportunity, and grounded in a clear belief: Tulsa’s tech future should reflect all of Tulsa.
Investing in Access and Potential
This June, we welcomed 47 middle and high school students into our summer program. The camp is taking place on the campus of the University of Tulsa, hosted in the Computer Science and Gaming department. Sessions run Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., providing full-day instruction, mentorship, and project-based learning.
We are incredibly grateful to the faculty and staff at TU’s Computer Science and Gaming department for opening their doors to our students. This marks our third consecutive summer holding camp at TU, and their partnership continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the youth we serve.
Among this year’s students:
74.5 percent identify as boys and 23.4 percent as girls
50.9 percent identify as Black, 19.1 percent as Latino, 14.55 percent as Native American, and 7.27 percent as Asian
54.3 percent qualify for free or reduced lunch, a strong indicator of economic need
These students are talented, curious, and capable. But far too often, students from similar backgrounds are not represented in traditional tech pipelines. According to the Pew Research Center, Black and Hispanic professionals make up just 9 percent and 8 percent of the U.S. STEM workforce, despite representing a much larger share of the population. These disparities are not due to lack of ability. They are due to lack of access.
Urban Coders Guild is closing that gap by offering free, high-quality programming that empowers students to explore, build, and grow in spaces that often feel out of reach.
A Learning Model That Centers Students
At the heart of everything we do is our commitment to the Five C’s. These are the principles that shape our instructional approach and help students thrive.
Comfort in advanced, technical learning environments
Courage to try something new or difficult
Confidence to persist when challenges arise
Community as learners, creators, and collaborators
Competency as future professionals with real-world skills
When these elements are present, students do more than learn. They begin to see themselves differently. They begin to lead.
What Our Students Are Learning
This year’s camp offers three specialized tracks: Game Development, Web Development, and Cybersecurity. Each one is designed to expose students to real-world skills through hands-on, project-based learning.
In Game Development, students are using Unity and learning the C# programming language. They have built working prototypes with movement controls, camera mechanics, and animation. They are now adding visual and audio effects and refining user experience features.
In Web Development, students have built personal one-page websites using HTML and CSS. They are exploring semantic structure, accessibility, and responsive design. This week, they are learning to create forms, integrate multimedia, and enhance visual layout with advanced styling techniques.
In Cybersecurity, students are analyzing real-world threats like malware and ransomware and learning how cybersecurity professionals respond. Through guided labs and scenarios, they are applying their knowledge to protect networks and digital systems.
Each track connects technical learning with collaboration, creativity, and real-life application.
Building Skills and Professional Identity
Our students are not only learning to code. They are building the foundation for professional success. Before the camp concludes, every student will:
Create a LinkedIn profile to begin building a professional presence
Receive a high-quality headshot suitable for resumes and online platforms
Launch a GitHub account to publish their code and track their growth
Begin preparation for industry-recognized certifications in web development, mobile app development, or cybersecurity
According to the 2024 CompTIA Workforce Report, cybersecurity, software development, and web technologies remain among the most in-demand sectors in the U.S. tech economy. Our students are gaining early exposure to these fields and learning how to navigate them with confidence.
Demonstrating Measurable Impact
Urban Coders Guild is not just a summer program. It is a strategic response to the growing demand for a diverse, skilled, and inclusive tech workforce. Since our founding, we have:
Served more than 300 students through afterschool and summer programs
Delivered over 500 hands-on computer science learning experiences
Maintained an average attendance rate of more than 80 percent
Provided pathways to academic credit, credentials, and internships
This work aligns with broader initiatives across the city. We are proud to partner with organizations like Black Tech Street, the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, and local school districts to create clear, sustainable pathways into technology and innovation careers.
Our efforts are also supported by national research. The Brookings Institution reports that early access to computer science education and inclusive learning environments significantly increases long-term success in STEM among underrepresented students. Urban Coders Guild brings those findings to life right here in Tulsa.
Moving From Promise to Practice
Tulsa’s Tech Hub designation brings with it a powerful opportunity. But growth alone is not enough. Equity must be part of the equation. Otherwise, we risk reinforcing old patterns of exclusion rather than building something new.
Urban Coders Guild is committed to ensuring that Tulsa’s tech economy reflects the full talent, creativity, and promise of our city’s youth. We are preparing students not only for success in the classroom, but for leadership in college, careers, and their communities.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
Our work is possible because of the support of families, partners, donors, educators, and community advocates who believe in the value of access and inclusion. Together, we are proving what is possible when students are given the tools, mentorship, and encouragement to thrive.
We invite you to be part of this journey.
Support a student.
Share this story.
Invest in a more inclusive future.
Because the future of tech begins here. And it belongs to all of us.
References
Pew Research Center. “Black and Hispanic Workers Continue to Be Underrepresented in the STEM Workforce.” April 2023.
Brookings Institution. “How to Make Computer Science Education More Inclusive.” June 2022.
CompTIA. “State of the Tech Workforce 2024.” March 2024.
National Science Foundation. “Broadening Participation in STEM Education.” 2023.
