Meka Egwuekwe, CodeCrew
Meka Egwuekwe’s journey into computer science began with a Texas Instruments home computer, which ignited his passion for coding during his youth in South Memphis. Decades later, Meka has a master’s degree from Duke University and nearly twenty years of experience as a software architect for Fortune 500 companies. In 2015, Meka co-founded Code Crew to fill the void of tech opportunities for Memphis’ under-represented youth.
On Just Bluffin’, Campfire Collective talked to Meka about his work as the Executive Director of Code Crew and the future of artificial intelligence in our community.
In 2014, Code Crew didn’t exist. The three founders – Meka Egwuekwe, Pat Grady, and Audrey Willis – met when they volunteered for the Memphis chapter of Black Girls Code. The experience made them realize that there weren't enough opportunities for under-served communities to develop the skills that would help them in a tech-dominated workforce. “The cities of today and tomorrow are the ones that are generating the tech producers and tech influencers,” Meka said.
He added that he didn’t know anything about running a nonprofit, but wanted his daughters and others to have access to a sustainable computer science education.
Code Crew got its start as a single summer camp and has since expanded into summer programs, after-school programs, and extracurriculars in school. Students as young as kindergarten can begin learning how to program their own robots. In middle and high school, students are learning how to code their own video games. The Adult Code School helps people turn their careers around and make more money. Meka is proud to say that many adult students come out of Code Crew with training that allows them to quadruple their salaries.
The coding programs are also preparing students for a future full of artificial intelligence. “Just as tech and computing are undergirding every system, AI will be undergirding every industry,” Meka said.
Instead of these systems replacing jobs, however, Meka believes that having AI in the workforce simply enhances work. “The advice I would give is: don't be afraid of the technology. Go and try it. ChatGPT is free. Go out there and just ask it some questions,” he suggested. He added that there are plenty of free resources such as YouTube and podcasts that can keep you fresh on tech updates.
Becoming knowledgeable about AI is the key to understanding it – and not being tricked by it. “We need to understand the power of the technology so we are savvy enough to separate the wheat from the chaff,” he said. “It’s an information arms race, but continuing to learn and stay educated will allow employees and employers alike to stay on top of the changing world.”
After a lifetime in Memphis, Meka chose two favorite memories, both revolving around the women in his life. First, he has fond memories of his mom’s best friend Bertha Rogers Mooney, one of the Memphis State Eight who enrolled at the Memphis State University as an act of desegregation. She was a positive influence throughout his childhood, and he still texts her to this day. “The fact that we can be in a room having a conversation like this is because we're standing on her shoulders and that of the other seven who desegregated that institution in 1959,” Meka said. His other favorite memory was when his oldest daughter was a toddler and she was “Memphis’ biggest little Grizz fan.” Media representatives and photographers followed her around for a day while she was showered with Grizzlies merchandise at the stadium in the pyramid. “Hanging out with that little rockstar is a very fun memory,” said Meka.
To listen to our full conversation with Meka Egwuekwe, click here. And don’t miss any of our future conversations with Memphis leaders! Subscribe to Just Bluffin’ wherever you get your podcasts, and learn more about the team behind the mic at buildacampfire.com.
