FullConTech 2016‘s theme of how to grow, attract, and develop tech talent resonated deeply with the conference attendees from Green River College (a.k.a. TIME’s #1 Most Diversified College). It’s a topic the faculty, staff, and students love thinking and talking about, and with the launch of four-year degree programs in software development and network administration & security, we’re also walking the talk by helping expand the tech talent pipeline for companies right here in the Seattle-Tacoma region.

Drawing inspiration from FullConTech, we put together seven things we’re doing to address the tech talent gap . Below is  a page from our local playbook for growing, attracting, and retaining diverse students to one day fill high-demand jobs in software development.

1. We promote a growth mindset which helps software development students persist through adversity. Many students think intelligence is fixed; a gift. You either have it or you don’t. This kind of fixed mindset can derail students, especially those in computing pathways who face a difficult project or a negative stereotype that says, “you don’t belong.” At Green River, we break down fixed ways of thinking every chance we get by promoting a growth mindset. In the growth mindset, intellectual capacity isn’t a quality one is born with, but rather a muscle that increases with effort. When students believe that hard work trumps talent, they are more likely to persist through adversity. Hallway discussions, classroom lectures, email conversations, advising appointments — we aim to encourage a growth mindset during every student interaction.

2. We normalize and embrace the struggle of learning to code which keeps software development students engaged and encouraged. Ever tried learning a musical instrument? Or a sport? Or a programming language? It’s hard work, at times an uncomfortable, taxing struggle. But it’s a struggle we normalize and embrace. You don’t have to be the techiest of techies. You don’t have to have a year of calculus under the belt. You don’t have to be a 4.0 Ivy Leaguer. You don’t have to be a geeky white dude. You don’t have to be any of these things to be a successful software developer. You just have to work at it, to want it. At Green River, we tell students who are hitting a wall, “The fact that you find this hard is normal and right, but you can do it. Don’t fall into a fixed mindset by thinking this stuff just comes naturally.” Basically, we’re here for the Scrappers, not the Silver Spoons.

3. We don’t let computing stereotypes hold us down or define us.Computing is filled with stereotypes about what it is and who is fit to do it, which is part of the reason why tech is dealing with such a glaring lack of diversity. These negative stereotypes are deeply rooted in popular and academic culture, and oftentimes deter people from pursuing careers in tech, shrinking the talent pipeline. As for Green River? We make a concerted effort not to rehearse such stereotypes in the classroom, during advising, online or in our marketing materials. We also make a point to hire diverse instructors from a range of professional and cultural backgrounds, and even run a web and mobile developer meetup for newbies and experienced devs alike to broaden access to tech talks and career events. The approach is working, too. We enroll a higher percentage of women than traditional computer science programs and 50% of devs in our program identify as non-white. Community colleges are magnets for diversity, after all.

4. We routinely talk about the advantages and rewards of careers in software development to keep students motivated. Doing so improves attracting students (look at all of the great reasons to consider a career in software!) as well as retention (you’ve chosen to pursue a career in software development, now hang in there and keep up the great work because amazing opportunities await!) — and oh man, do we love our pie charts and bar graphs showing just how many jobs are out there. Software careers are in high-demand, pay great wages, and they frequently lead to high levels of job satisfaction. Additionally, almost every major challenge our world faces today is turning to software for a solution, from conquering disease and eliminating hunger, to improving education and protecting the environment. There are, in other words, very clear whys around every corner for how software can make the world a better place.

5. We do a LOT of project-based learning. Hands-on learning is our secret sauce to student success. From building websites for local non-profits, web apps for local teachers, tools to help people find technical internships, or mobile apps for use on campus, software development students at Green River build and deliver working software to real-world clients throughout their degree program. This not only gives students practical experience working in teams and negotiating the dynamics of client relationships; it also yields a robust portfolio of work students can show to prospective employers after graduation. Giving students the opportunity to write software that solves a real-world problem reinforces the why, builds confidence, and helps students begin developing a professional identity in their field before they enter the job market.

6. We build collaboration into the curriculum and into the classroom. We avoid putting students to work in isolation of one another, and instead have them build software in small teams across years three and four of their degree program. Team projects enable transference of logic and problem-solving (i.e. students learn from, and sharpen, each other). They also furnish students with opportunities to improve empathy and communication skills (something employers constantly tell us they are looking for in new hires). From weekly stand-ups, sprint retrospectives, and public product demos at the end of each academic quarter, to monthly meetups and interactive ScrumMaster trainings, student collaboration and community is key.

7. We celebrate student success. Melissa’s joining LEAP in Redmond. Brandon’s at BECU. Chris excelled in a summer technical internship at REI. Kandis is working as a software developer at Expeditors. Corey participated in the WTIA’s Draft Day and as a result was a offered a job as a support engineer at BoldIQ. The stories go on and on. Bottom line: we believe in publicly and intentionally sharing student success stories with our community friends and campus partners. At Green River, and across community and technical colleges in Washington State, it’s not just about earning a college degree. It’s about helping students develop 21st century skills to live happy, fulfilling, productive lives in a fast-paced, tech savvy world. Telling stories reminds students, yes, with enough hard work, you can do this too.