TECH CORPS is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion by empowering students through digital inclusivity. According to the 2022 Latin Tech Update published by the Kapor Center, the percentage of Hispanic individuals in the American workforce has been steadily climbing over the past several decades. In 1998, Hispanics accounted for just 10% of the workforce; by 2019, this number had grown to 18%. Experts believe this upward trend will continue, projecting that Hispanics will represent 21% of the workforce by 2028. Census data shows that Hispanic individuals account for 19% of the total population and contributed to more than half (51%) of U.S. population growth between 2010 and 2020.
While this growth is substantial, Hispanic professionals remain underrepresented in the tech industry, comprising only 7% of tech occupations. TECH CORPS is committed to addressing this disparity. TECH CORPS believes that with ongoing support and resources, we can enhance diversity and inclusivity in this rapidly growing sector.
In 2022, 15% of TECH CORPS students were Hispanic. Through intentional outreach, we are bridging the gap for underrepresented students and raising awareness of technology education opportunities in the Hispanic community. We’re achieving this by developing Spanish-language videos for our programs.
We are thrilled to introduce you to Courtney Hernandez Paz, an alum of TECH CORPS. Courtney completed our Computing Career Corps program while attending Whitehall Yearling High School. Following her 2019 high school graduation, she is on target to earn a degree in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University in 2024.
In the summer of 2023, Courtney joined the TECH CORPS summer staff as a Site Coordinator for the IT On Ramp+ program at Franklin Heights High School. We had the opportunity to witness Courtney’s passion for bringing computer science education to all students. When we approached Courtney to be part of developing our Spanish-language videos, she was more than enthusiastic.
“I wanted to help with this project because it reminded me of when I introduced TECH CORPS programs to my parents,” Courtney recalled. “During that time, my school passed out flyers about the Computing Career Corps program in English, and I had to translate them for my parents.”
Even though Courtney’s parents had difficulty fully understanding what the program was about, they realized it was an important opportunity for their children. Courtney shared, “This project would help bring awareness of the computer science opportunities TECH CORPS provides to the Spanish-speaking community.”
Courtney thinks that the Spanish-language videos will be helpful for parents to comprehend the significance of TECH CORPS programs for their kids. She stated, “STEM fields are rapidly growing and increasingly competitive, and I want Hispanic students to have an advantage by gaining early experience in STEM-related activities.”
We are grateful to Courtney for her vision and dedication to this project. Courtney is excited about the video translations, explaining, “These videos will help overcome the language barrier issue and clarify what TECH CORPS can provide to Hispanic communities.”
Not only did Courtney translate the program video content, but she also provided voice-over talent for each video. We would like to have a Spanish-language video for every TECH CORPS program when the project is complete. In the meantime, you can watch the Spanish-language videos by clicking on the photos on the left. Please look for more Spanish Videos on our YouTube Channel Playlist.