By Javier Valdes
Editor-in-Chief
Local startup corporation Empower With Code is looking to change gender disparities in the field of computer science in Kern County by providing local girls with the opportunities to explore the world of computer science through coding.
The startup initiated its first summer program session at CSU Bakersfield on June 18, bringing children and youth between the ages of 7 to 14 together for a 4-week course dedicated to motivate local youth in efforts to expose them to the computer science field.
Empower With Code founder Rebeca Morfin-Manibo first realized that she wanted to start a project that she was passionate for and when she noticed the lack of women pursuing careers in computer science. From there she was inspired to lay the foundation in hopes of helping bridge the gap in gender disparity within the field.
“My main focus is empowering girls with code, that is my main mission,” said Morfin-Manibo. “We make up 18 percent of computer science and technology in the U.S., that is a disturbing fact to me. We are trying to bridge that gap to create a little bit more parity.”
The 4-week summer program is being sponsored by the school of Business and Public Administration. Students are using Google’s CS First programs to complete their summer learning.
The program was in such popular demand that they had to open up a second session to provide more students with the opportunity to experience the computer science field.
“It really shows that there’s a need in our community for this, and people are hungry for something like this,” said Morfin-Manibo. “I am really excited about being able to provide that opportunity for the kids and for the parents to see that leaders in the community want to do some change here.”
Morfin-Manibo has volunteer student interns that help teach the course and provide hands-on training for the youth.
On top of the summer youth program, Morfin-Manibo is currently looking at launching her girls club with Apple. This program is geared to focus on girls between the ages of 14-18. They will have their first meeting at the local Apple store on July 5.
Morfin-Manibo is looking for girls to inspire, motivate and help them in finding a path into a new field.
“Give me…the challenging kids…I want those kids, I believe in those kids and I think it’s because of those things that girl’s get lost,” said Morfin-Manibo. “I want to be able to help them find a path to success.”
Although gender disparity in the computer science field has become a national issue, we can also see the low number of women that show interest in the field here locally.
CSUB student data from 2004-2013 showed the gender disparity within the computer science major on campus.
In 2004 there were 149 male students and 31 female students in the computer science major at CSUB. The number of female students has not surpassed those 31 as of 2013.
According to statistics from National Girls Collaborative project women made up 18.2 percent of those receiving a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2011.
Morfin-Manibo’s goal is to change these numbers and eventually help in increasing the amount of women that pursue careers in computer science.
“Traditionally women don’t seem to be encouraged to pursue careers in coding and science. But once the given the opportunity, many of them become outstanding professionals in the field of science and technology,” said Morfin-Manibo in a press release.
