Students gathered at the Selma-Dallas County Public Library on Saturday morning to kick off a six-week coding class.

Every Saturday from 9 a.m. – noon, students will learn the basics of coding.

“We’re trying to establish a technological base in Selma,” said Wayne Green, CEO of Black Belt Technologies. “Most Internet users, especially teenagers, understand how to use technology, but they don’t understand that there’s a whole lot of things that happen in the background. The goal of the project is to teach young men and young ladies technological proficiency.”

Green began the class by having each student address a snail mail envelope with a return address, stamp spot and destination address.

Green told the students the purpose of this exercise was to explain that coding was the same thing with email as instructions to filling out snail mail.

“Coding is everywhere,” he said.

Selma Mayor Darrio Melton said he was excited for the class to begin.

He spoke to the class on Saturday morning adding that he was excited for the students’ future and that he was appreciative of the work Green was doing with the students.