Wilmington and Kai Coders Celebrate New Partnership Introducing Kids to the Power of Coding
August 20, 2024
Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, Director of Parks and Recreation Ian Smith, City IT Director Demond May, and Kai Coders Founder and CEO Deanna Bledsoe are excited to announce the success of a free, two-week coding camp for kids aged 6 to 13. The camp was held at the William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center from August 6 to 16, 2024.
Over thirty kids took part in this first-ever coding camp, made possible through a partnership between the City of Wilmington and Kai Coders, a local woman- and minority-owned business. To celebrate the camp’s conclusion, a special showcase of the kids’ coding projects was held on Friday, August 16, in the computer lab at the “Hicks” Community Center. Families, City representatives, and members of Kai Coders gathered to see the children’s projects and cheer on their newfound love for coding. The City’s IT Department even provided lunch for the campers.
“We’re always looking for new ways to help our kids succeed in the future,” said Mayor Purzycki. “This coding camp was designed to get them excited about technology, build their confidence, and give them a fun and safe space to explore. Even the youngest campers learned important skills like problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork—things that will help them as they grow up and start shaping the world around them.”
Kai Coders was founded by Deanna Bledsoe in 2021 to bring tech education to kids everywhere. “We want every kid to have fun with coding, no matter where they’re from,” Bledsoe said. “It’s amazing to see the excitement on their faces when they realize they can create anything they can imagine with code. We’re thrilled to be a part of their learning journey!”
Director of Parks and Recreation Ian Smith expressed his appreciation for the partnership. “We’re thankful to work with the IT Department and Kai Coders to bring this amazing experience to our summer camp. These kids are learning skills that will really help them in the future, and we’re looking forward to more projects with Kai Coders.”
Demond May, Director of the City’s IT Department, added, “We’re dedicated to helping our kids become digitally savvy. This camp is a great example of how working together with local businesses can make a big difference in our community.”