Cecilia Fischer-Benitez

Program Specialist, Code for America

Chicago

Cecilia Fischer-Benitez was born and raised in Santa Cruz De Villagómez, Michoacan, Mexico and moved to West Chicago, IL in the late 90s, where she completed middle school and high school. She graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Spanish Language and Literature. She began her career at Public Allies Chicago, an Americorp program focused on non-profit leadership development, and eventually transitioned to Education as a Director of Recruitment and Retention at ACE Technical Charter High School. Her activism in getting young girls interested in Tech through mentorship revitalized her long-time interest, leaving her inspired and empowered her to transition to the Tech industry.

As Cecilia transitioned to Technology, she quickly became aware of the lack of representation of women and people of color, driving her to co-found the Chicago chapter of Latinas in Tech: a non-profit organization with the aim to connect, support, and empower Latina women working in tech. Cecilia also volunteers with AnitaB.org’s local Chicago chapter, an organization that connects, inspires, and strives for greater equality for women technologists in business, academia, and government. When she is not volunteering, Cecilia is producing and hosting the Chicago Techies Podcast, a podcast focused on highlighting the voices of Chicago techies and their experiences, with the purpose to move tech professionals from digital connections to offline meaningful relationships.

Her passion for equity and inclusion earned her an invite to serve on Cook County Council on Digital Equity to advise Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle as Cook County takes action to address digital inequities. Cecilia is now a Program Specialist at Code for America, a non-profit organization that works with government agencies to expand digital tools that governments use to deliver benefits to residents and building tools that aid criminal justice reform.

When she is not helping build communities, Cecilia enjoys spending time with her wife, traveling, hiking, and playing Animal Crossing.