Urban Coders Guild, Tulsa’s Tech Future, and the Urgency of Indigenous Inclusion
Tulsa is entering a pivotal moment. As a federally designated Tech Hub, our city is receiving national attention and investment to become a leader in innovation and advanced technology.
But while this future is filled with opportunity, it raises a critical question: Who is this future being built for?
For years, equity advocates have sounded the alarm about the underrepresentation of Black people in computer science and technology. At Urban Coders Guild, we have taken that call seriously and made Black students central to our work. But equity requires us to look even more broadly.
Indigenous communities are also deeply underrepresented in tech and computer science education, and they are too often left out of the conversation entirely. If Tulsa is serious about building an inclusive tech economy, then Native American students must also be a priority.
This is especially urgent given where we are.
Tulsa is the largest city in the United States located on tribal land. It sits at the intersection of the Cherokee Nation, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and Osage Nation. Roughly 5 percent of Tulsa’s population identifies as Native American. Yet Indigenous students are nearly invisible in both tech workforce statistics and the local computer science education pipeline.
That must change.
Indigenous Students Are Being Left Behind
National data shows that Native students are less likely to attend schools that offer computer science courses and are significantly less likely to earn CS degrees. Only 20 percent of high schools on reservations offer computer science courses. Native students account for less than 1 percent of all computer science degrees awarded in the U.S., despite representing nearly 2 percent of the national student population.
This is not because of lack of interest. It is the result of persistent underinvestment, limited access to culturally relevant programs, and a long history of systemic exclusion.
In Tulsa, where significant federal investment is being made to grow the tech workforce and create tens of thousands of new jobs over the next decade, Indigenous youth are at real risk of being left behind again, not by intent, but by omission.
Who We Are: Urban Coders Guild
Urban Coders Guild is a Tulsa-based nonprofit committed to expanding access to computer science and tech education for students who have been historically excluded from the field. We serve Black, Latino, Indigenous, and female-identifying students, with a particular focus on youth from underresourced schools and communities.
Our vision is to create a more inclusive and diverse tech ecosystem by preparing students for college, careers, and leadership in the digital economy.
We do this through free, in-person, project-based coding programs designed to help students not only learn how to code but to build confidence, curiosity, and a sense of belonging in tech.
What We Do: Explore. Equip. Empower.
Our programs follow a year-round learning model:
Explore: Students begin with hands-on, beginner-friendly experiences like web development, Python programming, and Unity game design. These programs are fun, creative, and accessible with no prior experience required.
Equip: Students progress into more advanced areas like mobile app development, cybersecurity, and data science. We prepare students for real-world tech projects, certifications, and advanced coursework.
Empower: Students are invited to take on leadership roles, mentorship opportunities, and teaching assistantships. We also provide access to internships and networking with industry professionals.
All classes are held at Langston University–Tulsa and meet in the evenings to accommodate students’ schedules. We provide food, transportation support, and equipment so that nothing stands in the way of learning.
Why This Matters for Native Students
Urban Coders Guild’s approach is intentionally designed to support students who may have never seen themselves represented in tech. We create spaces that are culturally responsive, inclusive, and focused on student well-being and growth.
We follow a salutogenic model, which focuses not on deficits or barriers but on the conditions that allow students to thrive: safety, connection, relevance, and joy. Our "5 Cs" — Comfort, Courage, Confidence, Community, and Competency — guide every part of our teaching and mentorship.
Urban Coders Guild’s 2025 enrollment data reflects both meaningful impact and exciting momentum.
Eight percent of enrolled students identified as Native American, and 66 percent identified as Black or African American. These numbers show that Native youth are already participating in our programs and engaging with computer science education in powerful ways.
We see this as a foundation to build on, a signal that interest is present and growing. With continued outreach, deeper partnerships, and intentional trust-building, we can welcome even more Native students into our programs and continue to create spaces where they feel seen, supported, and set up to thrive in tech.
A Call to Action: Partner With Us
Tribal leaders, education advocates, and civic partners have a role to play in shaping Tulsa’s tech future. Inclusion does not happen by accident. It happens through strategy, collaboration, and investment.
Here is how you can help:
Share Urban Coders Guild opportunities with Native families in your community
Invite us to meet with tribal education offices or present at Native-serving schools
Collaborate with us on culturally grounded curriculum, mentorship, and outreach
Fund or sponsor transportation and tech tools for Native students in your area
If we want Tulsa to grow equitably, we must make Indigenous representation a priority, not later, but now.
Urban Coders Guild is ready to be a partner in that work. Together, we can ensure that Native youth are not left out of the tech economy but are prepared to lead in it.
To learn more or start a conversation, visit www.urbancodersguild.org or contact us directly at info@urbancodersguild.org.
Works Cited
Kapor Center. The Path Not Yet Taken: The State of Native American Representation in Tech. Published in partnership with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), 2021. https://www.aises.org/news/path-not-yet-taken
Engineering Is Elementary. “Native American and Indigenous Representation in STEM: Where Are We Now?” Museum of Science, Boston. https://blog.eie.org/native-american-and-indigenous-representation-in-stem-where-are-we-now
U.S. Census Bureau. “QuickFacts: Tulsa City, Oklahoma.” Updated 2024. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/tulsacityoklahoma
U.S. Economic Development Administration. “Tech Hubs Program Overview.” U.S. Department of Commerce. https://www.eda.gov/programs/tech-hubs/
Urban Coders Guild. 2025 Program Year Demographic Overview. Tulsa, OK. Internal report, 2025. https://www.urbancodersguild.org
Urban Coders Guild. “About Our Programs.” Accessed August 2025. https://www.urbancodersguild.org
