Bold Idea

Who We Are.

Bold Idea exists to close the computer science opportunity gap for Dallas students. 

Dallas is a technology-driven economy, yet access to the education, relationships, and experiences that prepare students for that future is far from equal. We partner with Dallas ISD schools and community centers in under-resourced communities to change that.

Our ideaSpark Coding Clubs bring together three things that can change a student's trajectory: hands-on computer science, professional mentorship, and trusted educators. Across 28 sessions and 56 hours each school year, students work alongside technology professionals and Teacher Liaisons to build real projects while developing computer science, digital literacy, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills. Since 2016, more than 1,400 students have experienced Bold Idea through nearly 19,000 hours of mentorship. Today, our alumni attend institutions including Brown University, Brigham Young University, the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Dallas, Texas State University, and Southern Methodist University, with many of them now working in the technology sector.

Zion Started Here. 

When Zion was 10 years old, she joined Bold Idea. She learned to code. She built projects. And, with the support of mentors who believed in her, she began to see something bigger: technology wasn't a world reserved for other people. She belonged in it. Eight years later, Zion was studying Computer Science at SMU, and most recently started an internship with Credera as a Technology Solutions Consultant.

That's what access can do.

Zion's story isn't simply about learning to code. It's about what happens when a young person has access, mentorship, and someone who helps them believe they belong. At Bold Idea, students will not navigate the journey alone. Each coding club is supported by Teacher Liaisons who help connect Bold Idea to the community within schools, reinforce student engagement, and help ensure students have the support they need to thrive. Alongside them, professional mentors bring technology to life through relationships, guidance, and real-world exposure. 

The result is more than a coding class. It's a network of people investing in student potential. 88% of students report a positive relationship with their mentor, and 60% report increased confidence in their ability to succeed in computer science. 

This North Texas Giving Day, Bold Idea is raising $75,000 to give 330 Dallas County students the same opportunity to discover what they're capable of. Through our ideaSpark Coding Clubs, students don't simply sit in front of a computer and learn to code. They build. They create. They solve problems alongside mentors who work in technology. Our students turn screen time into skill time. And, perhaps most importantly, they begin to see themselves as people who belong in the future they're preparing for. Zion started here, and so can the next generation of coders.