Brianne Caplan

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Brianne Caplan is passionate about making an impact while having fun doing it. Frustrated with the current state of education, she acted, starting her own nonprofit to provide culturally relevant coding programs to underserved youth. At Code Your Dreams, she's teaching students to build mobile applications that solve problems they experience in their own lives.

When COVID-19 hit, Brianne stepped up again. Seeing her students struggle and recognizing the need for quality virtual learning opportunities, she started CoderHeroes, a virtual "learn to code" program for kids ages 7 and up with scholarships available to ensure equitable access for students.

In addition to starting her own nonprofit and startup, Brianne also has a full-time job in tech. Still, she somehow finds time to host OneTable Shabbat dinners, where she is known for baking way too much challah and preparing tons of food for her guests.

AGE:
28

PRIMARY GIG:
Program Director for Careers in Computer Science at University of Chicago

ON THE SIDE:
Executive Director & Founder at Code Your Dreams

A JEW WHO INSPIRES YOU:
My Opa who is turning 100 this year! His diary and other records are in the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

HOW YOU JEW IN CHICAGO:
I love baking challah and cooking way too much food. I'm a OneTable host and love hosting and attending Shabbat dinners.

IF TIME AND MONEY WERE LIMITLESS, I WOULD:
I would teach every child to code. Coding is a superpower for my students. They can experience a problem and solve it with code.