Cyber G.IRL

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

The overarching goal of G.IRL is to address the reduction in education around art, music, health, and technology in Los Angeles County. Due to a lack of funding and qualified instructors, access to classes on these topics diminishes across the county and the SPA 6 region. Identifying this issue, G.IRL has equipped itself with determined and effective leadership to increase access to these spaces for girls and gender-nonconforming youth in the community. Technology is becoming more necessary to successfully navigate the world as it infiltrates the youth's daily social, professional, and academic lives. This infiltration requires youth to be fluent in technology; however, those residing in low-income, impoverished communities cannot gain this fluency. Through Cyber G.IRL, G.IRL is eager to equip youth with the community, tools, and knowledge necessary to address this gap.

Cyber G.IRL is a well-renowned coding camp offered by the Compton G.IRLS Club. For 9 weeks, G.IRL provides all girls and gender non-conforming youth, grades K-12, in Compton, Watts, Willbrook, and South Central with the opportunity to explore the intricacies of STEM and the fundamentals of coding. Cyber G.IRL focuses on graphic design career training, journalism career training, and tech career training, prioritizing Black and Latinx youth in low-income communities. Through the work in this program, G.IRL aims to make technology and technology education more accessible for marginalized youth in the area. G.IRL attracts some of the most vibrant and competent facilitators to guide Cyber G.IRL cohorts. In the 9-week timeframe, students receive free transportation, hot meals and snacks, new laptops, and other digital equipment. Cyber G.IRL's curriculum includes coding from a partnership with the Hidden Genius Project, Graphic Design with Hunnibuzz, and Journalism with OurWatts Bookshop. Cyber G.IRL stands out in the SPA 6 community as it cultivates a space for BIPOC girls and gender-nonconforming youth to explore a framework they aren't introduced to in the traditional classroom. Currently, G.IRL hosts one 9-week program each fiscal year. However, with additional funding, G.IRL can complete two Cyber G.IRL cohorts in one fiscal year, increasing our reach and expanding the program's impact.

Los Angeles County acknowledges the evident "Digital Divide" that was made even more prominent at the height of COVID-19. In 2020, there were over 250,000 households without home computers and over 400,000 without access to the internet. These statistics are particularly alarming when communities of underserved youth express interest in STEM, specifically coding, but cannot explore the field due to lack of accessibility.
G.IRL's work through Cyber G.IRL makes STEM a readily accessible and attainable option for girls and gender non-conforming youth residing in the SPA 6 region of California. The efforts of Cyber G.IRL have made a difference in Los Angeles County, proven by the many testimonials from participants and parents coupled with the uptick in participants, since the start of the program.
By Cyber G.IRL continuing to thrive in Los Angeles County, directly addressing the Digital Divide, the organization realizes hobbies and future careers in STEM for forthcoming generations.

Currently, Cyber G.IRL measures the impact of its efforts through qualitative and quantitative measures. To prioritize impact, G.IRL established the following measurable outcomes to be achieved in the 9-week coding program.
75% of girls+ participating in Cyber G.IRL will learn a new STEM-based skill that can lead to a career in tech
100% of girls+ participating in Cyber G.IRL will be introduced to a BIPOC leader in STEM
55% of girls+ participating in Cyber G.IRL will consider a STEM-based career.
By meeting or exceeding these outcomes, Cyber G.IRL determines the program's effectiveness, pain points, and areas of improvement. To further identify that these outcomes are being met and participants are satisfied, we solicit voluntary feedback from participants and their parents. By evaluating responses from both the participants and their parents, G.IRL will be able to determine student progress inside and outside of the Cyber G.IRL space.