Girls Dream Code: Building Belonging In STEM with Victoria Kyereme

Imagine a classroom where every question is welcome, the instructor looks like you, and code feels less like a wall and more like a door. That’s the world Victoria Kyereme is building with Girls Dream Code, and it started with her own winding path from pre-pharmacy to computer science—and the stubborn belief that belonging should not be a lottery.We talk about the moments that shaped her: arriving in Minnesota from Ghana, navigating majors without a roadmap, and finding that first programming class that balanced logic with creativity. Victoria explains how a lack of mentors and representation became her fuel to found a nonprofit that serves girls of color and low-income communities ages 10 to 24. Her blueprint is simple and powerful: small, safe cohorts; culturally responsive teaching; and real projects that translate into internships at major tech companies. Along the way, we unpack why representation matters, how culturally aware curricula beat imposter syndrome, and what it takes to move students from curiosity to career.This conversation also gets practical about scale. Victoria shares a five-year vision to strengthen Minnesota’s tech pipeline—from first interest to education, from bootcamps and college to employer partnerships—and why consistent funding unlocks more cohorts, instructors, and outcomes. If you care about equity in STEM, women in tech, and creating real access for girls of color, you’ll find tangible steps to help: share the mission, connect hiring partners, and donate to sustain quality instruction that changes lives.Join us for a story that blends resilience, technical grit, and community care. Then help us widen the doorway so more girls can step into rooms filled with code, confidence, and creativity. Subscribe, leave a review to boost visibility, and share this episode with someone who believes every girl deserves a seat at the table.Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments.Support the Cake Therapy Foundation:1.   Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org)  2.  Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com)3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life   https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0 4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts