The NBA Foundation has announced a total of more than $3 million in grants aimed at creating employment opportunities, furthering career advancement, and driving greater economic empowerment in Black communities.
Two of the nine organizations chosen to receive grants are based in Memphis — CodeCrew and The Collective Blueprint.
CodeCrew, founded by Nnaemeka Egwuekwe in 2015, educates and mentors Black students and professionals who are underrepresented in tech to become tech innovators and leaders through practical hands-on computer science training.
Egwuekwe said the grant would be used to provide support to a program for young adults training to be entry-level software developers. In the nine-month comprehensive course, students work in a small classroom and use real-world technologies to learn the fundamentals of coding and system development. The students, who receive a stipend, also get leadership training.
The Collective Blueprint, which partners with CodeCrew, has similar programs for young adults such as assisting with credential attainment in in-demand career fields including IT, healthcare, and the skilled trades. The nonprofit initiative was started in 2016.
