The secret agent new recruit trainees of WhizGirls Academy from a local Long Beach Middle School
will learn the concepts of coding, UI/IX, wireframing, entrepreneurship, storymapping with ESRI and ArcGIS and create new innovative tech concepts while eating healthy, meditating, and working out during the day. Long Beach Mayor Garcia will kick off the event with a few special guests.

Hosted by:

Shirin Laor-Raz Salemnia is the Founder and CEO of PlayWerks, an interactive media company that creates high quality multi-platform immersive games and experiences that engage children and adults. She is also the Founder of WhizGirls Academy, where students engage in exciting projects that help them acquire coding skills while building confidence and growing as members of their communities. She previously worked at MGA Entertainment on Bratz and at Mattel on Barbie, where she performed ongoing research and analysis of industry trends, consumer motivations and competitor activity. At MGA, she was responsible for designing the Play Lab, where children would gather for in-house research while she was the Brand Manager for the billion-dollar Bratz brand.

Shirin is actively involved in the organization Women in Gaming, as well as serving as an advisor for multiple institutions including The White House Council of Women and Girls, Los Angeles Film School, The Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, Woodbury University, the Bixel Exchange, and Girls in Tech. In 2013, she hosted the first Hackathon for Women and Girls with The White House Council of Women and Girls. In May 2014, she hosted the Kids Hack for LA in collaboration with Mayor Eric Garcetti, the White House, and will.i.am's i.am.angel Foundation. She is teaching Tech for Social Impact/Entrepreneurship at USC School of Engineering/ Viterbi. In 2014, Shirin gave her Ted Talk “Are You a Gamer or a Gardener?” at the TedxYouth conference in Los Angeles, CA.

In March, she was honored by LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin as 2015 LA City Pioneer Woman of the Year.

About WhizGirls Academy

WhizGirls Academy is designed for tweens and teens, and features an engaging curriculum centered around science, technology, engineering and math, and an exciting, project-driven program with a secret agent theme. Lessons are Briefings, hands-on projects are Missions, and each member is a confident, empowered Agent on the ultimate mission to build practical knowledge about coding, healthy balanced lifestyles (meditation/fitness/healthy eating), entrepreneurship and more.

Company Website

www.whizgirlsacademy.com

Go Metro to this event during LA Innovation Week! For your best route, use the Metro Trip Planner or call (323) Go Metro (323.466.3876)