Feverish Pops and The LAB Miami have teamed to offer Code Fever @ The Lab, a free day-long workshop on Saturday, June 22, to teach high school students — and their parents — how to transition from being just consumers of technology to creators.
The day-long interactive event aims to introduce students to
basic programming and web development as well as provide an overview of career
opportunities in technology, says Felecia Hatcher, co-owner of Feverish Pops
and organizer of Code Fever. There will also be a track for more advanced students. “We want to get more kids of color into
technology,” said Hatcher (pictured), explaining that many parents don’t fully understand
the entrepreneurial opportunities in technology. “There are a lot of new
resources coming into the city and this will help prepare students for those,”
she said.
While students are learning to code, parents can participate in a career panel led by entrepreneurs, corporate representatives and educational leaders in the industry. Panelist include Kiesha Moodie, director of alumni affairs with Teach for America; Wifredo Fernandez, co-founder of LAB Miami; Brian Brackeen, founder of tech startup Kairos; and Holly Delgado, national account executive and social media for Dell; Kerline Jules, senior business analyst for Burger King Corp., and Derick Pearson, co-owner of Feverish Pops
The panel is designed to help parents navigate the waters of
raising future coders and programmers by providing career insight, advice on
continuing education, and information on various community programs and
internships that can support children from the elementary through the
collegiate level.
Code Fever @ The LAB Miami, at 400 NW 26th St. in Wynwood, is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and lunch will be served (as well as complimentary Feverish Pops, of course). Register at www.codefever.eventbrite.com. For more information, call 305-482-1832 or email Felecia@blacktechmiami.com
Hatcher and Leigh Toney of Miami Dade College are working on bringing Black Girls Code to Miami later this summer for a series of programming. The workshops will be taking place in multiple cities around the country, said Hatcher, who participated in and sponsored students to attend last year's program in Atlanta. Stay tuned for details. Girls Who Code, a New York program that has been expanding nationally, is coming to Miami next summer.