Carrying the Torch through Memphis: CodeCrew

Tell us about CodeCrew: What’s the mission statement and vision? Why is the work you do important?

Our mission is to cultivate excellence, resilience, and innovation in the next generation, ensuring they have the tools to succeed in an ever-evolving digital economy.

We integrate AI into our curriculum across mobile and web app development, game design, robotics, and programming. Our diverse programs — including in-school classes, after-school and weekend activities, summer camps, and an intensive Code School for adults — offer hands-on learning experiences that prepare students for real-world success in technology.

At CodeCrew, we believe that opportunity should be based on passion and perseverance, not just credentials. That’s why we serve anyone with the grit and determination to change the world through technology. Our work is especially vital in creating alternative pathways to success, particularly for those without traditional degrees. Through our Code School, we provide access to in-demand tech skills that lead to life-changing careers, breaking cycles of poverty and unlocking boundless potential.

How did CodeCrew start?

CodeCrew began in 2015 as part of StartCo’s Sky High Accelerator Program. At the time, we were all working full-time jobs, Meka Egwuekwe and Petya Grady at Lokion, and I was at AutoZone. We were incredibly fortunate to have employers who believed in our mission. Lokion has been a longtime supporter, providing donated equipment, volunteers, and funding, while AutoZone has backed our programming for years. In fact, just last year, AutoZone hired one of our Code School alumni — an incredible full-circle moment, knowing that a CodeCrew graduate now walks the same halls I once did.

Meka, Petya, and I first crossed paths while volunteering with another organization, and it was through the generous support of Elliot Perry and Diane Terrell that we secured the seed funding to launch CodeCrew. 

Why is this organization located in Memphis? 

Memphis is filled with individuals whose intelligence and potential deserve to be recognized and nurtured. CodeCrew exists to provide those with the drive and merit the opportunities they need to excel.

We are responding to the rapidly evolving demands of the tech landscape. With xAI making its way to Memphis, other tech and tech-adjacent companies will follow, marking the first time Memphis and technology are synonymous on a global scale. It fills me with pride to know that our students, equipped with cutting-edge skills and a commitment to excellence, are the future of technology in this city.

At CodeCrew, we are not just preparing students for jobs; we are building the next generation of tech innovators and leaders that our community needs. Our work serves as a blueprint for how cities can create thriving tech ecosystems ensuring that merit, intelligence, and excellence are the driving forces shaping Memphis’ future.

How can Memphians get involved with your organization or volunteer?

There are so many ways for Memphians to get involved with CodeCrew, and you don’t need to be technical to make a difference!  HR professionals can volunteer to review résumés and conduct mock interviews for our Code School students. Tech professionals from all fields can inspire the next generation by giving career talks to our students. Tech and non-tech volunteers are essential at our exposure events, where we introduce young minds to the exciting possibilities in technology.  

Advocacy is powerful! One of the most impactful ways to support CodeCrew is by spreading the word. Some of our biggest opportunities have come from Memphians sharing our story and making valuable connections on our behalf.  You may not be in a position to fund our Capital Campaign, but you might know someone who can. A simple introduction could open doors that change lives. 

What are some big events or fundraisers that CodeCrew has annually, and how can people contribute?

Our largest fundraising event of the year is coming up on May 8 at The Kent! Tickets go on sale soon, and we sell out every year. This event is our chance to highlight some of the brightest minds in tech while celebrating a huge milestone: CodeCrew’s 10th anniversary! 

This year, we’ve launched a $7 million Capital Campaign as we prepare to move into Northside Square, our future CodeCrew World Headquarters. This new space will be the premier tech hub for Memphis, bringing all of our programming under one roof. We need the community’s support to make this vision a reality, and every contribution gets us one step closer. 

Another major event is our Annual Hackathon in July, one of the largest youth hackathons in the region. This year, we’re inviting all of Memphis’ sports teams to get involved for a sports-themed hackathon! Imagine students from across the city coming together for three days to build and create tech innovations in sports like AI-powered coaching assistants that analyze player performance, wearable health trackers to prevent injuries, smart ticketing systems for stadiums, augmented reality fan experiences, and apps to increase youth sports participation in underserved communities. 

 Tell us about CodeCrew's dreams and goals. What does success look like for your organization? 

At CodeCrew, we dream of a future where we are not just a household name, but a driving force in reskilling and educating Memphians in AI. We want Memphis to be ahead of the technology curve, setting the national standard for how thriving tech and startup ecosystems function.

In the short term, we are laser-focused on expanding our impact, growing our programs, reaching more students, and ensuring that Memphis is a leader in AI and emerging technologies. We want employers to see CodeCrew graduates as the gold standard in technical excellence, proving that intelligence, talent and potential matter more than traditional credentials.

We envision CodeCrew programs in communities across the world, transforming lives through accessible, high-quality tech education. We will reshape the workforce by redefining how employers view talent and by shifting mindsets and empowering the students we serve to become tech producers, not just consumers.

Success for us means breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and ensuring that anyone regardless of where you start can thrive in the tech industry. CodeCrew is more than an organization; it’s a movement, and we are just getting started.

Tell us a little about you: How did you get involved with CodeCrew? What's your favorite thing about your work? 

I am one of three co-founders of CodeCrew, and like most startup founders, I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years. I served on our board and taught after school classes but I wasn’t always here full-time. A few years ago, I was working in the corporate world, wrestling with a life-changing decision. It was shortly after my brother was senselessly murdered, and I found myself deeply re-evaluating my work, my purpose, and my impact.

At the same time, the person leading our Code School was relocating, and the timing felt serendipitous. I stepped in, and in that first year alone, we grew enrollment and graduation rates. That year, CodeCrew Code School became one of the top producers of Black and Brown software engineers in Tennessee.

I won’t pretend that leaving corporate life was easy, but I wouldn’t trade this work for the world. CodeCrew is home for me. Here, my impact extends far beyond my immediate reach. I’ve mentored students who had no degree, who once questioned their place in tech, and who have gone on to mentor the next generation. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see our graduates buying homes, driving cars they didn’t have to take out high-interest loans for, and earning salaries well above a living wage. It’s proof that what we do changes lives. 

As Chief Innovation and Programming Officer, I ensure our curriculum stays ahead of the ever-changing tech landscape. I don’t have a computer science degree. That was once seen as a limitation, but now I get to be a living example for our Code School students, showing them that they, too, can build successful careers in tech without a traditional path. 

Every single day, our students and this Memphis community remind me that I am exactly where I’m meant to be.