WASHINGTON, DC – Infosys Foundation USA and Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) have kicked off Computer Science Education Week (December 7-13) by introducing and teaching computer coding to thousands of Latino students in eight regions including Washington, DC.  The one-day, intensive, CSL (Code as a Second Language) Boot Camp will be taught by young programmers in HHF’s network at Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) Career Academy, 3047 15th St, NW, Washington, DC, 4th Floor, Thursday, December 10, 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  The CSL Coding Boot Camps are coordinated with schools and educators and feature Infosys volunteers in San Jose, Chicago, Washington, DC, Dallas, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.   

CSL is a national initiative to introduce, teach and connect Latino youth to computer programming in their communities by leveraging young programmers in the HHF network to serve as instructors while engaging Infosys and other corporate volunteers.

“Computer science can help youth build the skills necessary for success in school, workforce and in life,” said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.  “Beyond preparing Latino youth for jobs in the tech industry, which America desperately needs, we also want to promote creativity, innovative thinking, problem-solving, and how to work with others to solve issues. We applaud Infosys Foundation USA’s leadership and shared vision in this space and are proud to partner on this important effort.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer programming jobs are growing at two times the national average and by 2020 approximately 2 million tech jobs will need to be filled yet 90 percent of schools don’t teach computer coding.  According to the College Board, which is responsible for administering the Advanced Placement (AP) program, less than five percent of high schools currently offer AP computer science and a recent report found that about 7.5 percent of bachelor’s degrees awarded in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields were actually in computer science.

Infosys Foundation USA, as part of Computer Science Education Week, is announcing new partnerships and events across the United States to support youth in developing coding, computer science and computational thinking skills including more than a dozen activities and programs with HHF in the Latino community. 

“We are very excited to be working with Hispanic Heritage Foundation” said Vandana Sikka, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation USA. “As we celebrate CS Education Week, we want to reiterate our commitment to making Computer Science and coding education widely and easily accessible to all. Our education system creates the makers and inventors of tomorrow’s workforce. It is critical to make CS education a part of every student's core curriculum so that no student is denied the opportunities that our digital world brings.”

About Infosys Foundation USA

Infosys Foundation USA is focused on bridging the digital divide in America by supporting high quality computer science education and coding skills with a particular focus on under-represented communities. It aims to give children and young adults the skills they need to become creators, not just consumers, of technology.  In pursuit of this mission, in 2015 alone, the Foundation committed $10 million and has partnered with many internationally acclaimed non-profits and institutions like Code.org, New York Academy of Sciences, DonorsChoose.org, GirlsWhoCode and the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University. In addition, Infosys Foundation USA recently committed a million dollars to the Infy Maker Awards to inspire makers across the U.S. to demonstrate creative excellence in making projects with genuine impact.

About HHF

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is a national nonprofit which inspires, prepares, positions and connects minority leaders in the classroom, community and workforce to meet America’s priorities. Through HHF’s Code as a Second Language initiative, thousands of Latino students across the nation, K-12, are introduce and taught to code.  Participating students are then funneled into and tracked by HHF’s award-winning LOFT (Latinos On Fast Track) workforce development program for further development, connectivity and placement into the workforce (Visit www.HispanicHeritage.org.)