Ladies Learning Code

Introduction to HTML/CSS: The Mentors!

We are thrilled to be participating in Net Change Week this year and bringing together 120 learners and 30 mentors for a glorious day of learning HTML and CSS. Thanks a million to all our fabulous mentors and to Uken Games for sponsoring this workshop.

Lead Instructor: Mark Reale (@markreale | http://markreale.net)
Chief Culture Officer at BNOTIONS / Founder of Yorkville Media Centre / Professor at Seneca College

What are you passionate about?  “My passion for communication and story-telling are what led me to the tech industry. Technology is providing new ways to communicate, and it is a blast to have an opportunity to be on the front-lines as things get pushed forward. Equally, I have a passion for helping people empower themselves through making learning resources as open and available as possible. The Internet is making information easier to find than ever, but it still helps to build a community and resources where people can learn to navigate through all of this information.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code?  “Everything about Ladies Learning Code resonates with the goals of all our Yorkville Media Centre initiatives. Introduce ambitious, curious people to new technologies, and help equip them with tools to build and explore. I love the presence of Ladies Learning Code in the city, and we are more than happy to do whatever we can to help the group flourish.”

Co-Lead Instructor: Aaron Ritchie (@vsmantise )
Senior Developer at BNOTIONS / Instructor at Yorkville Media Centre / President of Harth Records

What are you passionate about?  “My passions are fourfold. #1: I have a passion for building cool things, be it a website, application API, or even an interface. Though my role at BNOTIONS is as a back-end programmer, I do consider myself a front-end programmer as well. I love working with CSS and making things look pretty. #2: I have a passion for music. I love playing, composing, and producing a wide range of styles. #3: I have a passion for languages. I’m not talking about PHP, Objective-C, etc., but rather international languages. I have been studying Japanese for the past eleven years, and I have recently begun studying Korean. #4: I have a passion for working with others who share my passions.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code?  “I’ve been an instructor at the Yorkville Media Centre since it’s inception several years ago. I felt that bringing what I have to offer at the YMC to a new environment such as Ladies Learning Code will give me the opportunity to work and share knowledge with new people that I would not have had the chance to otherwise.”

Abigail Cabunoc (@abbycabs | http://www.abigailcabunoc.com)
WormBase.org web developer at Ontario Institute for Cancer Research – I use the web to help scientists do science.

What are you passionate about?  “Learning. Creating. Loving.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “When I was a teenager, I never considered becoming a developer – that was just for boys and gamers! But when I fell into it accidentally, I realized that this is what I want to do. I want to help make this field more accessible to everyone, including ladies.”

Tegan Mierle (@teganmierle | www.pilotinteractive.ca)
Creative Director / Co-founder at Pilot Interactive. I oversee all of the designers and lead the creative side of projects. I also am responsible for many of the business aspects of running a company.

What are you passionate about?  “Graphic design, user experience design, front end programming, dancing.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “I think it’s great if I can share my skills with others, and the fact that I’ll be helping other girls/women will be a bonus! I think it’s amazing that LLC is making learning to code accessible and fun for everyone.”

Sofia Eydelman (@sofka_e | http://betacyanin.com)

What are you passionate about?  “Design, user experience, web development, food, nutrition.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “I think it’s a great idea to help ladies discover this male-dominated world of coding. I’m looking forward to helping out!”

James Costa (@jamescosta | http://www.jamescosta.ca)
Creative Director at The Phuse – I lead a team of designers and front end developers, and work on awesome client projects!

What are you passionate about?  “Working with awesome people, and making sure the next generation is the strongest generation yet in everything they do!”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code?  “Awesome cause – there aren’t enough women in our industry, and the ones that are are incredible. We need more good people!”

Inbae Ahn (@InbaeAhn | http://www.hubba.com/a>)
CTO at Hubba. Build things. Love people.

What are you passionate about?  “Finding a way back to my home planet.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code?  “LLC’s mission is perfectly aligned with my personal philosophy, that we are born to help each other by empowering one another. The ability to wield technology just happens to be a great super-power to endow on someone.”

Alfred Ayache (@notrswebmaster | http://www.notoriouswebmaster.com)
Independent Web Application Architect/Developer

What are you passionate about?  “Technology serving society.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code?  “Helping people learn technology.”

Elaine Wong (@elthenerd)
Digital Newsgathering Support at CBC

What are you passionate about?  “Telling stories and getting computers to do my bidding.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code?  “I’ve heard great things about LLC’s workshops from past participants and thought I’ll join in the fun. Also, there’s nothing more exciting than seeing someone realize how much fun coding is!”

Greg Sullivan (http://swivelbase.com)
Principal at Swivel Base

What are you passionate about?  “Web design and development, one-page recipes and productivity books I don’t have time to read.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code?  “Women are underrepresented in the development community, and events like these help to demystify a field that should be accessible to everyone.”

Gavin Lobo (http://www.rabidgeek.net)
University of Ontario Institute of Technology, grad student, research assistant, tutorial instructor

What are you passionate about?  “Teaching, Science, Mathematics and Programming”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code?  “Coding is so much fun! More women should get involved!”

Linn Øyen Farley (@Linndelicate | http://drollic.net)
Freelance Web Designer – Building websites from scratch for a variety of fellow freelancers, small businesses and arts workers.

What are you passionate about?  “Hand-writing code and convincing self-professed “non-technical” people that they can get their hands dirty with code, too.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “I’ve been fortunate to have mentors and friends along the way that encouraged me to get into a technical career, and I’m grateful to have the chance to pay it forward via such an awesome group of ladies! Plus, mentoring is just a lot of fun – this will be my 8th LLC workshop as a mentor, so obviously LLC knows how to keep us comin’ back.”

Harsha Mohan (@HarshaMohanTO | http://www.harshamohan.com)
Employed & Founder at Public Leaf – Worked on various enterprise level IT applications and currently experimenting with a mobile startup at Public Leaf

What are you passionate about?  “Technology, Mobile, Community Services and a passion for teaching.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “I have a passion to teach and what better way to contribute what I have learned from my personal experience and from the IT industry then teaching other people. Ladies Learning Code is a great initiative!. It fosters the development of community based learning groups, where people help people. I personally started coding when I used HTML to build IT web pages, which drove me to learn few more computer languages. I believe it is important to train and develop learning groups such as these to build opportunities for people who are willing to learn.”

Andy McIlwain (@andymci | http://www.andymci.com)
WordPress Developer at Jugnoo, a social web product/service startup in Toronto – I work on web projects (front-end coding, web analytics, and admin-type stuff) with our Sales, Marketing, and Services divisions.

What are you passionate about?  “Making technology accessible for small and medium-sized businesses.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “1.) Creating something from the ground up is a rewarding experience. 2.) Users walk away with a better understanding of how apps/websites work. 3.) An LLC workshop can be the first step to a second career with a bright future. 4.) I get to nerd out for a day, and lunch is provided!”

Tiffany Shand (@TASDesigns | http://www.tasdesigns.ca)
Freelance Web Designer – Designing websites, widgets, and apps for independent clients.

What are you passionate about?  ““Tablet” friendly sites and websites that scroll left-to-right.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “It’s great to come together with other ladies who also enjoy coding and designing.”

Kat Goodale (@katgoodale | http://www.katgoodale.com)
The Linden School – I teach computer studies, grades 7-12, and manage the school’s IT.

What are you passionate about?  “Getting girls passionate about technology!”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “Seems like a good fit, based on my skills and views.”

Kathryn Barrett (@kathryn_barrett | http://kathrynbarrett.ca)
User Experience Web Designer at Bora New Ventures

What are you passionate about?  “I am extremely passionate about simplistic interface design and overall user experience within web, mobile and physical environments. The future of technology and experience has always been about taking risks and bouncing ideas off people until something wonderful is created and I think now is the perfect time for more people to get involved and become creators. We live in such a fascinating world with such fascinating tools!”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “Ladies Learning Code proves that you don’t need to learn from a textbook in order to become educated!”

Anusha Chohan (@anushac6)
Front end web developer, focusing on HTML/CSS and JavaScript.

What are you passionate about?  “Design and creating beautiful applications/sites.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “It’s a great cause and just want to help others with the skills I have.”

Soleil O (@outsidesphere | http://www.outsidesphere.com)
Web Developer at Grip Limited – Build websites, mobile sites, and Facebook applications. Make things look nice and add nice interactivity to static components.

What are you passionate about?  “Aside from programming? I like to climb mountains.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “Women are smart and productive. The web development field needs more women in it.”

Randy Chung (@URLology)
Product Manager at Varicent Software – Developing new ideas based on industry experience and contact with customers, prospects and consultants in the field.

What are you passionate about?  “Building on great ideas. I love great ideas that solve real or simple problems, and I love building out solutions that people really love to use.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “I love the idea of enabling more people to get involved with tech. We live in a time where technology surrounds us, but many people need a helping hand with learning how to build things with this technology.”

Kandirra Wilson (@kandirra | http://www.kandirra.com)
Program Coordinator at York University – Web design, project coordination, communications, multi-media production in support of professional development programs at the Centre for the Support of Teaching.

What are you passionate about?  “Creative means of communication. I’m an ideas person.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “I decided to get involved because of my love for making connections, networking, and creating community support that facilitates learning and knowledge sharing; something we are most in need of in an industry where women are under-represented.”

Rebecca Dreezer (http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~rdreezer/)
Graduate student in the Master of Science in Applied Computing program at the University of Toronto and current intern at Uken Games. – At Uken, I work on both the frontend and backend of cross-platform games. I am also working on a research project exploring the usability of the games.

What are you passionate about?  “I’m super passionate about research! I am very interested in HCI and usability and computer graphics, specifically sketch-based interfaces.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “Women are definitely underrepresented in the industry. I feel that it is important to encourage women to get excited about developing and coding!”

Hamsharan Mahalingam
I work on cross platform games using Html5 and RoR at Uken Games

What are you passionate about? ”Good and clean code.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “I want to encourage more ladies to code. Plus I like to mentor.”

Brendan Seabrook
Web Developer for TorStar Digital (Toronto Star / Rogers)

What are you passionate about?  “Teaching!”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code?  “I have female friends who want to start programming, but lack a proper support network. I also enjoy teaching.”

Paul Mennega
Consult/freelance to various companies including LinkedIn – Help companies use technology to enhance the user experience

PICTURE

What are you passionate about?  “Technology mashups, startups.”

I think it’s a great initiative, and the world needs more geeky ladies.”

Ryan Mudryk (@ry)
Freelance Designer & Developer

What are you passionate about?  “Herding unicorns, web standards and user experience. Mostly herding unicorns though.”

Why did you get involved with Ladies Learning Code? “The generous web community, whether directly or otherwise, is single-handedly responsible for the successes I’ve had thus far in my career. When presented with the opportunity to give something back via Ladies Learning Code, participating was a no-brainer.”