EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — La Nube STEAM Discovery Center, a science and children’s museum, is launching “Hour of AI” to inspire kids to get involved in technology.

According to La Nube, the community initiative aims to introduce El Paso students, educators, and families to artificial intelligence and coding with the launch of a workshop series.

The workshop series, “Minecraft Hour of Code: Generation AI,” encourages kids to design AI-powered inventions within the Minecraft universe.

The initiative is a collaboration with Microsoft TechSpark and the El Paso Independent School District.

Gina Martinez, CEO of La Nube, emphasized the program’s potential impact, stating, “We are in the age of AI where it’s all around us. It’s in our phones, on our computers, and we’re using it every day. However, many of us don’t know how it works, and so one of the things is that this is going to be able to teach people the fundamental ways of how to ethically use it.”

She added, “Hour of AI gives every child, parent, and teacher in El Paso the chance to experiment, question, imagine, and build with these tools. When our community learns how to use AI with curiosity and responsibility, we unlock a future where technology becomes a force for opportunity, equity, and possibility.”

The initiative kicked off with a marquee workshop and a special check presentation on Tuesday, where students from Coach Archie Duran Elementary were able to test out their skills.

“This effort is about giving every student a chance to see themselves as a creator in a digital world,” JJ Childress, Microsoft’s Director of Public Affairs in El Paso, said. “Through Minecraft Education, young people and families in El Paso can strengthen their computational thinking, explore AI, and imagine how technology can shape their neighborhoods and their future careers.”

Starting in 2026, La Nube will host these monthly workshops every third Saturday at 1 p.m., inviting families to explore Minecraft worlds as participants will engage in problem-solving, creativity, and computational thinking, working with MakeCode Blocks or Python, and exploring responsible AI concepts.

Alysha Swann, Director of Community Outreach and Special Projects at La Nube, said the initiative will help students practice their skills.

“Minecraft Hour of Code gives kids a safe space to try, fail, try again, and see the impact of their code right away. They are not just playing a game. They are practicing skills that connect to math, science, language arts, and future careers, all while showing their parents what they can do,” Swann said.

RECOMMENDED: La Nube unveils ‘Winter Wonderland’ with family fun and Santa in El Paso

Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.