Washington, DC -- The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) and Infosys Foundation USA will host their 2nd groundbreaking LOFT (Latinos On Fast Track) Coder Summit (LCS) for 350 (confirmed) Latino programmers – students, entrepreneurs and professionals. The free, one-day summit will take place on Saturday, May 14th at Stanford University, 475 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA, from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (see below for full agenda). The LCS will feature workshops, discussions, and networking as well as opportunities to explore career development. For more details and to register, visit www.lcsrsvp.com. Past Surveys of LCS participants said the top reason to attend was “to be around other Latino programmers.” LCS enables Latinos with an interest in coding to engage and learn from others like them. To follow the LOFT Coder Summit live, use the hashtag #LatinoCoders.
“The thought that the tech industry can’t find Latino programmers leads to the notion that there aren’t any Latino programmers and the next thought will be that Latinos aren’t capable, which is absolutely not true – and we want to prove it,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “Seeing a Latino programmer shouldn’t be akin to seeing a unicorn…We want to continue to shatter stereotypes and redefine the landscape of computer technology in Silicon Valley and across America while building a stronger community of innovators to move forward with greater unity, purpose and vision.
“In an increasingly digital future, CS skills will be evermore critical to the success of tomorrow’s workforce,” said Vandana Sikka, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation USA. “Infosys Foundation USA is committed to bringing high quality computer science education to all students and especially focused on underrepresented communities. We are proud to partner with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to expand access to core coding skills and help strengthen the Latino programming community here in America.”
Agenda:
8:30 AM - 9:10 AM: Registration and Welcome
9:10 AM - 9:20 AM: Keynote Speech – Vandana Sikka, Chairperson of Infosys Foundation USA
9:20 AM - 10:50 AM: Workshop Session #1 (Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality)
10:50 AM - 11:05 AM: Networking Break
11:05 AM - 11:15 AM: Featured Speaker – Raquel Romano, Senior Software Engineer at Google
11:15 AM - 12:45 PM: Workshop Session #2 (Career Management via Social Media)
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM: Lunch
1:45 PM - 3:25 PM: Start-Up Pitch
3:25 PM - 3:40 PM: Networking Break
3:40 PM - 4:00 PM: Featured Speaker – Jacqueline Huerta, Senior Java Developer at Apple
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Closing Discussion and Networking
The Summit is part of HHF’s LOFT Code as a Second Language (CSL) initiative, where the HHF mobilizes its developer network to introduce computer programming to students across the country. Grade, middle and high school students in more than 20 markets are being taught how to code this year through jam sessions, boot camps and eight-session courses, which includes certifications and engages private sector volunteers. To learn more about CSL, become a sponsor or to request CSL come to your school or community, visit www.loftcsl.org.
Although there will be over 2 million vacant jobs in the tech fields over the next five years, 90 percent of schools don’t teach coding - CSL is designed to fill that gap. A CSL effort focused in San Jose last summer actually introduced coding to immigrants at Mexican consulates through a partnership between HHF, The Mexican Consulate and Saber es Poder. “We want to equip the Latino community with a value proposition for America in the tech workforce because there is no other option for growth given the sheer numbers,” added Tijerino. “The CSL belief is that to thrive in America’s workforce, Latinos need to learn yet another language - code.” LOFT is a leadership and workforce development program is divided into priorities or Tracks including Technology and STEM fields, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Education, Public Service, Sales & Marketing, and Media & Entertainment, and Latinas. LOFT has been recognized by The White House, Congress, the Government of Mexico, Fortune 500 companies and other nonprofits.
