Today we’d like to introduce you to Army Armstead.
Hi Army, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I joined Emergent Works, formerly Code Cooperative, in the fall of 2019. Found by Alex Qin, AQ understood a need to provide tech literacy to traditionally marginalized communities and those impacted by the criminal legal system. I joined the program amid battling depression because I needed a distraction from my circumstances, and I thought learning to build websites could help me bring in some funds. I quickly realized the class wasn’t only about supporting individuals learning new skills but supporting their journey as people. I applied for 195 jobs at the time, and fortunately, I was rejected from all. The 196th job I applied for was the operations manager role for Code Cooperative, and on January 6, 2020, I became the first employee of the program. Joining the tech industry changed my life but also brought a set of new challenges. Battling imposter syndrome and, like the rest of the world, trying to work through a national pandemic started to weigh on me. Coming from a background of music and ministry, the one thing I knew to do in life was never giving up. I had the honor of creating the Emergent Works 1:1 virtual mentorship program, which pairs formerly incarcerated individuals with industry professional software engineers for 16 weeks. Mentees learn digital literacy, HTML, CSS, and Javascript in preparation for our graduation showcase, where pairs present passion projects. Being able to support the community that I come from during a turbulent time is truly a blessing.
Unfortunately, the pandemic also affected the team, leaving me the only employee for quite some time. I heard God tell me to stay and continue to serve the community and trust him, although there was no more money for programs or payroll. I became Executive Director of EW in January 2021, and in one month, we received a $1million grant from Jack Dorsey’s StartSmall fund. Since then, we’ve added different modules to our 1:1 virtual mentorship program curriculum, including Product Design and Data Visualization. We’ve also partnered with the NYC Department of Probation to launch our technology and music program T.RAP (Technology rhythm and passion). We envision a world where tech literacy, education, and skills are available to all people despite their history of incarceration & justice involvement. Lastly, we’ve partnered with Chan Zuckerburg Initiative and the Criminal Justice Exchange to take ownership of the Bail Fund App and its continued development. This app provides efficient and equitable access to bail funds for individuals incarcerated during pretrial detention. All of these wins for our community were accomplished in under one year. Ew went from $12 of funding to multi-millions.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Dealing with imposter syndrome has been an enormous challenge that I’m still healing through. Also, there’s not a lot of support for black leaders with lived experience, so finding the proper village has been vital for me as well.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been touring performing music since 16 years old. I’ve toured Australia, England, Singapore, New Zealand, Hungary, Belgium, and more. Bringing a message of hope through music has brought me into spaces I never could’ve managed. What sets me apart is that I’m unapologetically me. In every room, you get the same person. My heart is to serve, which is evident everywhere I go. I teach therapeutic songwriting practices in detention centers and prisons as well. After battling depression for many years, I need to support others going through similar circumstances. Healing isn’t linear, it’s a life-long process, and I use music to express that.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Being in a position to take care of myself and my family. Having the freedom of time and finance to invest in my mental health and future.
Contact Info:
- Email: army@emergentworks.org
- Website: www.emergentworks.org
- Instagram: @emergentworks_
- Twitter: @emergentworks_
- Youtube: Emergent Works
