WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Tony Cárdenas, a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, will host “Code on the Hill” with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) to introduce fellow members of Congress to coding (#CodeOnTheHill), on today, October 27, 5 p.m. Eastern, in the Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building (the event is open to the press). 

Young Latino programmers from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s Latinos On Fast Track (LOFT) program will serve as instructors to the Members of Congress to help them better understand not only what “coding” is, but how critical it is in preparing youth for the next generation of American jobs.  Local students will also learn how to code along with the Reps. Code on the Hill is part of HHF’s Code as a Second Language (CSL) initiative which is teaching computer coding in up to 50 middle and high schools in 15 markets across the US to fill the diversity gap in the tech industry and America’s workforce. CSL is supported by Time Warner Cable, a long-time champion of elevating underrepresented youth in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and careers, as demonstrated by their work through their Connect a Million Minds (CAMM) initiative.

“We want to equip the Latino community with a value proposition for America’s workforce which is desperate for tech workers,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of HHF.  “I applaud the leadership of Rep. Tony Cardenas for understanding the urgency of filling this gap with the most dynamic segment of the population.  The overall concept of CSL is that in order to thrive we need to learn yet another language in addition to English, code.” 

About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Leaders On Fast Track
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s award-winning LOFT (Latinos On Fast Track) program inspires, prepares, positions and connects minority leaders in the classroom, community and workforce to meet America’s priorities.  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 has offices in Los Angeles, Miami, New York and the LOFT Institute is housed at Michigan State University (Visit www.HispanicHeritage.org.)