A child who asks “Could I make my own game?” is asking a much bigger question: could I become someone who creates technology, instead of only using what someone else built?
JWilliams & Associates is opening a door to that experience through Youth Workshop — A CEO’s Workshop for the Next Generation. Registration for the waiting list is open now. Participation is free, the program is scheduled to launch January 1, 2027, and families can begin exploring what their children might build.
Join the free Youth Workshop waiting list or visit jwausa.com, choose Youth Workshop in the top navigation, and select Learn More.
Move from “What does this button do?” to “How could I build this?”
Being comfortable with a phone or a game does not automatically mean understanding how software works. Youth Workshop is designed to help close that gap through guided exploration: asking a question, explaining an idea, building a first version, and discovering what needs to improve.
A first project might be a trivia game, a flashcard tool, or a simple organizer. Those examples are starting points, not a fixed assignment for every child. The more important lesson is the process: define a problem, describe what success looks like, try something, test it, and make it better.
When a project fails, there is an opportunity to investigate. When an AI answer sounds convincing, there is an opportunity to check it. When an application works, there is an opportunity to explain why. That is the kind of confidence the program aims to build.
Real AI learning, with human judgment at the center
The planned activities introduce what AI does, how instructions affect its responses, and why a polished answer can still be wrong. Students will practice asking clearer questions and examining results rather than treating generated output as an unquestionable authority.
For eligible learners around age ten and older, activities may include setting up a small local AI model with parental guidance, using tools such as Ollama and a compatible Qwen model. Participants can explore a conversational model on their own computer and use guided AI assistance to develop small applications.
Equipment and readiness matter. A local model that runs well on one computer may not suit another. Registration asks about the family’s operating system and available hardware so preparation can reflect the equipment participants actually have.
Free, remote, and designed for families to learn together
The program is designed primarily for ages 7–15, with interested learners of other ages welcome. No previous programming experience is required. Activities are intended to suit different ages and experience levels, rather than assuming every participant starts in the same place.
Workshop activities take place remotely in English. Most use on-screen written instructions and illustrations, with some video-led instruction or live presentations. Families need access to a computer; they do not need to arrive with all the technical answers.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to participate alongside their children. You can help interpret instructions, supervise installations, ask questions, and celebrate a working project. Learning together is part of the experience.
How to register
- Open the program page. Use this direct Youth Workshop link. You can also visit jwausa.com and select Youth Workshop → Learn More from the top navigation.
- Select “Register for the Workshop.” A parent or guardian should complete the form for participating children.
- Tell us about your family and computer. Provide the requested parent contact information, the number of participating children, their ages and computer experience, and the equipment available. Optional hardware fields can be left blank when you do not know the specifications.
- Review the notice and submit. Confirm the parent or guardian acknowledgment and choose any workshop or news announcements you want to receive.
- Keep your registration reference. The six-character reference supports the parent or guardian verbal-consent call and is included in the welcome email.
Registration places your family on the waiting list; it does not guarantee a confirmed workshop place. Participation is limited. The team will contact families as workshop details and next steps become available.
A first project can open a much larger conversation
The initiative reflects the experience of Jeffery Williams, CEO and Principal Architect of JWilliams & Associates, and a belief that practical technology knowledge should be shared with the next generation.
Every child does not need to become a programmer. But learning to question an answer, communicate an idea, and work through a difficult problem can matter in almost any future they choose.
For one child, the result may be a small game. For another, it may be the realization that technology is something they can understand and shape.
Give that curiosity somewhere to go. Join the free Youth Workshop waiting list, explore the program and planned activities, or choose Youth Workshop at the top of jwausa.com.