Washington, DC [CapitalWirePR] September 28, 2017 – The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), Verizon Foundation, Montgomery County Council Member Nancy Navarro, Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools Dr. Jack R. Smith, and Supervisor of Montgomery County Student

Foundations Office Steve Boden will launch the Code as a Second Language (CSL) Bootcamp September 28, 9-11:30 a.m. (press avail at 9:00 a.m.) at Albert Einstein High School at 11135 Newport Mill Rd, Kensington, MD.  High school students will be introduced to and taught computer coding in coordination with the school while being exposed to tech professionals to serve as role models and mentors.

The CSL initiative – including Jam Sessions, Bootcamps, Academies and Coder Summits – are being implemented in nearly 30 regions across the United States making an impact on thousands of Latino and other underrepresented youth who will be exposed to career paths in the tech industry.  

“Driving the CSL effort is the belief that all youth deserve access to technology-based programs and have an opportunity to enter the workforce in a stronger position which will help America move forward,” said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of HHF . “Verizon, Council Member Nancy Navarro, Superintendent Dr. Jack R. Smith, share that vision and we are grateful for their leadership preparing our youth to be innovators.”

“Today’s youth are this country’s workforce pipeline. In Montgomery County, we are making investments in the retention and creation of jobs through the adoption of Master and Sector Plans to position us as a global technology destination. I’m am thankful to the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, Verizon, and Montgomery County Public Schools for engaging in initiatives like Coding as a Second Language, which will train our students, especially those from communities that are underrepresented in STEM fields, to become part of the workforce pipeline,” said Council Member Nancy Navarro.

Although there will be a need to fill nearly two million tech jobs by the next five years, 90 percent of schools in the U.S. do not teach coding,  By 2020, 1-1.4 million tech jobs will need to be filled – currently, 500,000 jobs in tech are unfilled.  Approximately 7 out of 10 new jobs over the next decade will be filled by a Latino, but a very low percentage will be in STEM fields where jobs are most needed. IT jobs will grow 22% through 2020. Approximately 7 percent of computer science grads in America are Latino and overall there are only 400,000 computer science students.  According to the advocacy report by “Change the Equation,” Latinos are less likely to pursue careers in engineering or computer science today than they were at the beginning of this millennium. The CSL initiative is designed to fill that gap.

Mario Acosta-Velez, Verizon’s Director of State Government Affairs said, “Verizon is proud to partner with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to implement the Code as a Second Language program in Montgomery, MD. Our goal is to help build the students’ coding skills and increase their interest and engagement in STEM-related fields and careers.   We want to help prepare our future leaders for the 21st century by fostering collaboration among students, enhance their problem-solving skills and provide a solid introduction to STEM.”

About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, which was originally established by the White House in 1987, inspires, prepares, positions and connects Latino leaders in the classroom, community and workforce to meet America’s priorities including in tech. HHF also promotes cultural pride, accomplishment, and the great promise of the community through public awareness campaigns seen by millions. HHF is headquartered in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles with satellite offices in Miami, New York, Silicon Valley, and now Mexico City. Learn more at www.HispanicHeritage.org.