We are so excited to announce Billimarie Lubiano Robinson as our new Web Development Director! Having previously worked as a Front-End Developer at Message Agency, developing websites for nonprofits, and as an instructor with the nonprofit Coded By Kids, Billimarie is a great fit for us! Her goal for our Web Department is to develop and grow it, both in size and in capability, so more youth can become Web Interns and learn more advanced design and coding skills that will prepare them for great careers.
Billimarie grew up in California and attended California State University, Northridge, for Creative Writing and Poetry, Cinema/Television Arts, and Web Design. After graduating, she travelled to the East Coast performing free typewriter poetry in many different cities and landed at Message Agency and Coded by Kids in Philadelphia. Billmarie learned coding when she was just a child; she says, “I taught myself how to code when I was about 12. I begged my mom to buy me books about coding.”
After a couple of weeks on staff, Billimarie was asked what surprised her about Hopeworks. She replied, “A lot of organizations and companies speak about openness and honesty, but not many truly practice what they preach...the collective dedication and commitment to the trauma informed mission at Hopeworks was surprising, and so good to see a nonprofit organization actually living out their mission.”