Introducing the Newest Team Members of Black Girls CODE!

Meet Yusni, LeNard, Cleo, and Mauricio

We are excited to welcome four new team members to the BGC family!

If our brand is the motherboard that defines Black Girls CODE’s identity and purpose, then our culture is the source code that drives our unique way of working together.

We take our culture here at Black Girls CODE seriously and strive to cultivate the same environment of empathy and empowerment internally, that we hope to encourage in the ecosystem our tech divas will both live and thrive in. We consistently seek out unique and talented individuals to join this very special and driven community; to work, play, and grow together. Our goal is to create a collective of impact and mission-aligned partners dedicated to creating the pathways to a greater future for our girls.

We are excited to welcome four new team members to the BGC family! Our new team members join us from a variety of industries with an exceptional array of talents and skills; but most importantly they each bring with them a passion for our work and are each ready to equip our tech divas and future tech bosses with confidence for today, skills for tomorrow, and purpose for a lifetime. You’ll be hearing more from them along the way!

Yusni Bakar

West Coast Regional Program Director

Yusni has more than a decade of professional project management experience and extensive program support skills working with communities from diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Prior to joining BGC, Yusni was the Programs Director at Our Family Coalition. She brings her enthusiastic personality, vision, and passion, along with flawless precision to help strengthen and enhance the success of BGC programs and the organization’s commitment to excellence. Yusni enjoys reading, inventing new recipes, and playing Tetris while remaining dedicated to her son’s school and several local community organizations.

LeNard Pitts

East Coast Program Manager

LeNard has joined Black Girls Code as the Program Manager for the East Coast. Previously, he worked at Urban Arts Partnership, and as a teacher in digital media in Baltimore City and Washington D.C. LeNard is passionate about being a resource for young people. He is a graduate of Morgan State University with a Masters of Science in Telecommunications Media Management. Originally from Cleveland Ohio, LeNard enjoys photography and reminiscing on the 2016 Cavaliers NBA Championship.

Cleopatra LaMothe

East Coast Program Coordinator

Cleo LaMothe is an experienced event producer, educator, and entrepreneur. She has experience working with New York City and New Orleans public schools; non-profit organizations; corporate social responsibility partners; and brands such as Facebook, AOL, Coach, NARS Cosmetics, West Elm, VICE, Grey Advertising, Anomaly, and more. Her previous role was as the National Manager of Learning and Development at Step Up Women’s Network. She is also the founder of BLK PALATE, a food and wellness nonprofit, and the chef-owner of Wichy, a global-inspired pop-up sandwich shop.

Mauricio Amaral-Vazquez

Volunteer Coordinator

Mauricio hails from Compton, California where his immigrant parents taught him the value of education and hard work. Mauricio is an alumnus of Cal State Dominguez Hills where he received his Bachelors, and from Loyola Marymount University where he received his Masters in Urban Education. He has been working with students for 10+ years in various roles; such as tutor, teacher’s aide, counselor, IEP teacher, after-school coordinator, dance teacher, and most recently as a 6th-grade teacher in Oakland. Growing up in a low-income area and identifying as a first generation Latinx Queer Male, has made him understand that education is the key that our students need to break barriers.

Black Girls CODE is a community of movers and makers, changing the face of technology. With our growing team, we see that the future — changing the face of technology — is near. We are incredibly hyped to have Yusni, LeNard, Cleo, and Mauricio join the BGC family and help us train the next generation of tech leaders!