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Miami Dade College Inspires Women Programmers At Coding Event

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Miami Dade College is empowering women with a keyboard to become computer programmers in their first-ever Code Art Miami event.

On Saturday, the college held a digital art exhibition and speaker symposium at their Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex (MAGIC). It's a collaborative effort between local tech groups, Girls Who Code and CODeLLA, a non‐profit organization committed to teaching coding and tech skills to hispanic girls from underserved communities.

"With the ever‐changing dynamics of technology and the way gaming and coding has been evolving, it is becoming a major, major industry," said Mauricio Ferrazza, MAGIC chairperson. "We know entertainment software companies are growing as a source of employment across the country and locally. We applaud the initiative of the local Girls Who Code clubs and CODeLLA, and welcome them at MAGIC."

The event sponsored a competition for girls in grades 4-12 to submit their "art created through code" to show off at MAGIC's state-of-the-art facility.

"Women today represent only 18% of all computer science graduates and just 22% of gaming developers. My hope is that events like Code Art Miami will help increase those numbers," said Maria Mejia, Code Art Miami student founder. "Coding is the language of tomorrow, and I want all girls to feel like they can be a part of the future."

Prizes, a raffle and a silent auction were held at the event with proceeds going to funding scholarships for women enrolled in one of MDC's gaming or animation programs.

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