Earlier quoted context omitted.
> treat it like a blue collar job instead of a profession Blue collar work isn’t a profession?
it's my impression that professionals are business people lawyers doctors etc
Trades people are certainly professionals.
Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs
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Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs
#92How do they define “disadvantaged?”
By disadvantaged we mean people from a lower socio-economic background.
Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs
#93John Carmack has commented on this company before - does he have any affiliation? https://twitter.com/id_aa_carmack/status/1435307747470454787
Didn't see him on their GitHub, can't see LinkedIn. Maybe just a cool guy tweeting about a cool thing.
I reached out and asked him for his support. He thinks its an interesting problem to solve and has decided to help.
Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs
#94Are developers the new blue-collar workers? I haven’t seen a similar program for aspiring lawyers, doctors or accountants. Aren’t we too eager to commoditize the profession?
People who think devs can become blue collar workers don't understand that you actually have to be smart to be a good developer regardless of credentials. The only difference between a programmer and a lawyer is a lawyer can't practice law on his own and get feedback without hurting anyone, and a programmer can get feedback from his laptop.
I don't like the implicit statement that trades workers are not smart.
Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs
#95Although I support the idea, the web site seems a bit … sparse … to me. This is an area that I know well. I’ve been working with folks like this for decades. One huge problem with rehabilitation and reentry programs, is a fairly significant level of sketchy behavior. Many times, these efforts start from a good place, but fall victim to corruption. It’s difficult to work with folks that have criminal backgrounds, but…
Hi founder of Underdog Devs here.... 1. The website is sparse because we spend our money on the mentees bills and so relied on those learning to build it. 2. As for orgs having a "fairly significant level of sketchy behavior" and falling victim to corruption, as you put it...sounds like a lot of speculation. I cant know either of those assertions as I dont have any data on it. I only know what we are doing. 3. I disa…
upvote
Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs
#96Throwaway for obvious reasons. I became a convicted felon a hair after my 18th birthday, for a trespassing charge I received while out-of-my-mind high on drugs. Long story short, by the time I started highschool, I was experimenting with drugs and skipping school. I was in and out of youth prison for drug-related stuff, and never finished highschool. My life spiraled out of control, in full-blown drug addiction, unti…
Thank you for sharing.
It seems that we used to call prison "paying your debt to society", but now we as a society charge interest on that debt to insure it's never paid off. We're loan-sharking people's past mistakes, which is not justice.
Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs
#97Underdog Devs founder here...
We are a scrappy group of software engineers working to create opportunities for people who might not otherwise have them. Mainly the formerly incarcerated.
We are a very unique org in that we have no operating costs. No operating costs and yet we do the following....
We provide pair programming sessions all week for mentees with professional software engineers, they meet every other week with another mentor for career guidance, we have interview prep, our bootcamp partnerships provide free seats at various bootcamps, they get code assessments to determine progress by a CTO of a successful fintech company in San Fran, and a group of them have their bills paid so that they can focus on developing their skills unimpeded. Again, costs nothing, so all our money goes to the mentees bills.
We have had 16 people hired in under a year and without a website. We plan to have 6 more hired within the next couple months. Although these aren't huge numbers remember that these are folks who have done prison time, who usually dont have degrees, who come from low income, and who many times felt like giving up on their software dev aspirations. This isn't the architect turned coder...this is major economic mobility that will change entire their family's trajectory. That 16 is a very meaningful 16.
If anyone is interested in more info reach out.
on Twitter Im @RwoltX and you'll find UD at @UnderdogDevs
Or email us: questions@underdogdevs.org
Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs
#98Although I support the idea, the web site seems a bit … sparse … to me. This is an area that I know well. I’ve been working with folks like this for decades. One huge problem with rehabilitation and reentry programs, is a fairly significant level of sketchy behavior. Many times, these efforts start from a good place, but fall victim to corruption. It’s difficult to work with folks that have criminal backgrounds, but…
Hi founder of Underdog Devs here.... 1. The website is sparse because we spend our money on the mentees bills and so relied on those learning to build it. 2. As for orgs having a "fairly significant level of sketchy behavior" and falling victim to corruption, as you put it...sounds like a lot of speculation. I cant know either of those assertions as I dont have any data on it. I only know what we are doing. 3. I disa…
I won’t get into a pissing match, here, but my own life story is one you might find interesting (or maybe not).
I’m not some “ivory tower geek,” using strawman arguments. I have over 40 years, working directly with folks, suffering from withering challenges. It's entirely possible that we might travel in the same circles, and you may have even run across my work (most folks don't know it's my work, but a lot of people use it).
But I sincerely wish you well, and I’m gratified that you responded. You are always free to reach out (I’m easy to find), if you want to continue the discussion.
Good luck, and Godspeed.
[EDITED TO ADD] And welcome to HN! I'm looking forward to seeing your viewpoints here. You have a unique life story.
Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs
#99Earlier quoted context omitted.
it's my impression that professionals are business people lawyers doctors etc
Trades people are certainly professionals.
Not saying that trades people aren't professional and work with professionalism.
But there's a common understanding of the noun professional as the upper tier White collar jobs.
accountants lawyers doctors etc