For over a decade — and ten years as CEO — Mimi Fox Melton has led Code2040 with clarity, care, and conviction. Through rapid shifts in tech, a global pandemic, and increasing attacks on equity work, she helped guide this organization with a steady commitment to justice.

Last year at Summer Summit '25, we gathered in a room full of brilliance, care, and possibility—fellows, alumni, staff, and community building. As we move through this season of transition, we’re holding tight to what we've created here. And that doesn’t end here.

After fourteen years of building community, cultivating leadership, and advancing racial equity in tech, Code2040 is bringing our community together one final time. Date: Mar 26 Time: 4–5pm PT / 7–8pm ET bit.ly/code2040-closingevent

Read the full letter from our CEO Mimi Fox Melton on our website: code2040.org/blog

Thank you for walking alongside us. In the coming days, we’ll be sharing reflections and an invitation to a community closing gathering. We hope you’ll join us one more time to look back, celebrate the community we’ve built together, and hear from Code2040 CEOs past and present.

The work of building a just technological future remains not only present, but urgent. We are so proud of what this community has built together and for what comes next.

“As we face growing techno-fascism, we recognize that there is an intentional effort to eliminate organizations like Code2040.” writes Code2040 CEO Mimi Fox Melton. “We have decided to close, but to do so with dignity and care.”

Today we share some difficult news: after fourteen years of organizing, community building, and fighting for racial equity in tech, Code2040 will be sunsetting our operations.

🚨 Today’s the day! 🚨 TONIGHT. Join us for the closing ceremony of Code2040’s Tech for Resistance Hackathon. 🗓 Feb 10 ⏰ 7pm ET / 4pm PT 🔗 bit.ly/hack-to-resist26 Come celebrate our Fellows and the futures they’re imagining and building through tech for resistance.

We’re excited to introduce our judges for our upcoming Tech for Resistance Hackathon vol. 2! 🗓 Feb 10 ⏰ 7pm ET / 4pm PT 🔗 bit.ly/hack-to-resist26 They’ll be evaluating our Fellows hacks with an eye for innovation, impact, and equity.

Join us for Tech for Resistance Hackathon vol. 2! 🗓 Feb 10 ⏰ 7pm ET / 4pm PT 🔗 bit.ly/hack-to-resist26 Witness what happens when Black & Latinx technologists imagine and build toward a just technological future!

✨ Celebrating our 2025–2026 Fellow, Grace Pimentel! ✨ Grace is Dominican and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. She’s majoring in Web & Mobile Computing with a minor in Creative Writing at Rochester Institute of Technology. Read more about Grace on our blog: code2040.org/blog

Tech has been used to surveil, police, and extract from our communities. Our Fellows are building something different. Come celebrate our Fellows, the creativity, and the futures they’re imagining and building collectively.

Join us for the closing ceremony of our second Tech for Resistance Hackathon to witness what happens when Black and Latinx technologists imagine and build toward a just technological future! 🗓 Feb 10 ⏰ 7pm ET / 4pm PT 🔗 bit.ly/hack-to-resist26

Our first hackathon was so good, we had to bring it back! We’re excited to announce Code2040’s second Tech for Resistance Hackathon, a culminating moment of our 2026 Fellows Program. Stay tuned as we share more about the event and how you can get involved!

Meet Vardaan Kapoor, 2024-25 Fellow! He finds joy in “ah-ha moments” & solving complex problems. He’s building intelligent DB systems & believes racial equity is key to tech’s future: “Opportunities, resources & respect should be mutually shared.” READ: code2040.org/blog

His advice to future Fellows: “Find your people. Take it one step at a time. Never let anyone limit or define your path.” Read Elikem’s full story on our blog: code2040.org/blog

Elikem envisions a future in international development, leveraging technology to improve digital infrastructure, sustainability, and global connections — and even dreams of working with the UN.

Growing up in Ghana with limited computer access, Elikem’s persistence fueled his journey into tech. From traveling kilometers to school and the library to founding a ColorStack Chapter at Grambling, he’s committed to creating opportunities for himself and others.

Meet 2024–2025 Fellow Elikem Hamenoo — a first-year CS student at Grambling State University, NVIDIA software engineering intern, and a passionate builder of community. READ: code2040.org/blog