He's helping kids explore their passion in technology. He's this week's KRLD Difference maker.
When Jimmy Tran left corporate America, he knew he wanted to own a small business
"I am the owner of Code Ninjas. When I came across Code Ninjas, it really fused my interest in kids, in education and in coding all in one," Jimmy said.
Jimmy says coding is a language all kids can learn.
"If kids can play on an iPad, they can code now," he said. "There are programs that actually teach kids how to code using blocks. Of course it gets more complicated when you switch from blocks to scripting but scripting is just the language computers use. It's amazing to see these kids in our dojo, which is just our computer lab, and progress through our program. We start with kids as young as 4 or 5 and top out at about 14."
Jimmy says many kids thrive in their social learning environment.
"Many kids have interest in sports or in other extracurriculars, but what we've seen through Code Ninjas is it may not be the best fit for all kids. Some kids thrive in technology and they thrive in coding and computers. And there was not an outlet or a way for kids to explore this interest that was engaging and social," Jimmy said.
Now, with Code Ninjas kids can learn to code alongside their peers and friends in an engaging and social environment.
And Code Ninjas is inclusive to all children - no matter their challenges.
"In our centers, the culture is ... we really want every kid to feel like they belong," Jimmy said. "Some of our kids may have learning differences. We have some kids on the spectrum. We have some kids who have ADHD, etc. But it's amazing, you put them in front of the computer and it's their love language, if you will, and really coding is just communicating with a computer. These kids get in front of a computer and they feel comfortable, they have others around them. They are engaging adults who are teaching them. They're engaging with other kids who are learning."
We're proud to call Jimmy Tran and Code Ninjas this week's KRLD Difference Makers.
"What we love is being able to help and support people out in the community. It feels good to be a part of something that is making a little difference in some small way," Jimmy said.
If you know someone making a difference in the community, send us an email at differencemaker@krld.com.
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