Dear BGC Communty,
Code is more than algorithms and applications—it’s language that powers dreams and dissolves barriers. In my first 100 days, my role was to explore and build, navigating all the ways Black girls can participate in and lead tech.
We’ve been relentless.
The collaborative event with Hasbro was a wonder—over 150 attendees, including girls and their families. Each completed task, each “paycheck” in the form of a gift bag, represented more than a reward—it symbolized a future where these girls see themselves as creators and innovators.
My inaugural staff retreat was a testament to the strength of unity. We converged from across the nation, shared visions, refined our mission, and bolstered our values to serve our community better.
Our partnerships with industry giants— IBM, L’Oreal, Nextera, Verizon, and more—are leading us to a thriving ecosystem of innovation and learning. With product design courses led by Nike, workshops crafted with Epic Games, and the Build a Beat Challenge alongside Infosys and GoldieBlox, that drove one billion (yes, with a “b”) impressions, we’re proving that the horizon for our girls is infinite.
Yet, as I envision the future, the questions that propel us beckon: Who’s the next ally to join us? Which new communities will we kindle a spark in? How do we expand the platforms and programs that have garnered the affection and enthusiasm of our participants?
At BGC, STEM has always been our core, and now, with the inclusion of Art, we’re transforming STEM into STEAM. Our Build A Beat Challenge and Code Your Own Superhero initiatives exemplify tech as vibrant and expressive as a work on canvas or a song melody. Al and explorations into fashion and cartoons this spring await us. Further collaborations with ServiceNow, Udemy, and the NBA Foundation promise to deepen our impact.
Our eyes are ever-set on this: launching one million Black girls into tech by 2040. To get there, we’re expanding into new cities, rolling out “always on” programming, and expanding our focus to include a new generation of leaders.
Rooted in our core values of belonging, innovation, justice, impact, and joy, we step into each day with gratitude for people like you, dear donors, who embrace our mission and energize our vision.
Together, we’re coding a bright, equitable, and groundbreaking future. Thank you for standing alongside us.
Warm regards,
Cristina
PRESS RELEASE
14 NOVEMBER 2023 By admin in BGCNEWS
Black Girls Code Announces “Build a Beat Challenge with Ciara” Inspiring Young Coders Nationwide
Contest to Feature GRAMMY Award winning singer/songwriter Ciara and Celebrity Guest Judges MC Lyte, Craig King, TikTok Sensation The BoykinZ, Bosko Kante, James Cuthbert, and More.
New York, NY - November 14, 2023 - Today, Black Girls Code, a nonprofit dedicated to CS education for Black girls and gender nonconforming youth, announced the launch of a nationwide contest, “Build a Beat Challenge with Ciara,” set to spark a musical coding revolution. Sponsored by Infosys Foundation USA, the “Build a Beat Challenge with Ciara” empowers students ages 13-18 to code their own song for the chance to meet global superstar Ciara via a video call, as well as to win tech prizes that will help inspire and further their dreams.
Watch Ciara’s announcement video HERE and sign up for the contest HERE.
“I am proud to be supporting this initiative and empowering young people to take their passion for music and use it to develop technology skills that can give them a leg up in life,” said Ciara.
Running from November 14 through December 31, 2023, “Build a Beat Challenge with Ciara” invites young coders to join Infosys Foundation USA's Pathfinders Online Institute to access engaging video tutorials, designed and developed by Black Girls Code, to guide students on their coding journey. Using these newly acquired skills, participants will craft their unique songs and remixes, blending their creativity with sounds from artists like Ciara, Alicia Keys, Common, Pharrell, and more.
Sign up for the “Build a Beat Challenge with Ciara” for free at wearebgc.org/buildabeatchallenge.
See full press release HERE.
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SPONSOR:
Infosys Foundation USA: Infosys Foundation USA is dedicated to expanding access to computer science and maker education for K-12 students and educators across the USA, while working to digitally upskill all learners for 21st century technology-enabled opportunities. The Foundation aims to inspire everyone to be creators, not just consumers, of technology.
MEDIA CONTACTS:Black Girls Code — Debbie Veney / debbie@crosswalkcreatives.com
“Build a Beat Challenge with Ciara” Contest — Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis / BlackGirlsCodePR@ssmandl.com Infosys Foundation USA — Mary Shen / mary.shen02@infosys.com
PRESS RELEASE
24 October 2023 by admin in BGC NEWS
Cristina Jones Takes the Helm as New CEO of Black Girls Code, Pledging to Expand the Organization’s Mission of Launching Black Girls in STEAM
Black Girls Code is thrilled to introduce Cristina Jones as their new CEO. Jones brings decades of executive and leadership experience at the intersection of technology, marketing, and media. She is passionate about creating pathways for women of color to be in the rooms where tech is being innovated, and approaches this work with urgency.
Jones will ignite and expand Black Girls Code’s vision, broadening the curriculum and increasing the age limit to reflect a renewed emphasis on workforce development. She will also focus on cultivating partnerships across industries that create the conditions for girls of color to access career opportunities and grow into leaders whose imagination, verve, and creativity will materialize the regenerative future we need.
“We met with tens of stellar, extraordinary candidates for this position," said former Board Chair Heather Hiles. "Cristina is the perfect blend of an accomplished executive in tech with a creative, visionary, entrepreneurial spirit. She is the perfect fit for the new CEO of Black Girls Code.”
“I’m elated to join this global community at this pivotal moment,” said Cristina Jones. “An entire demographic has been missing from tech, and it’s time to advantage and embolden these future leaders to enter and thrive wherever this innovation is happening. We’re accelerating our mission to place one million girls of color in tech by 2040.”
Most recently, Cristina served as Chief Engagement Officer and Chief Marketing Officer for Salesforce.org, where she worked to humanize tech and elevate the mission and impact through authentic storytelling.
About Black Girls Code
Since 2011, Black Girls Code has been dedicated to placing one million girls of color in tech by 2040. The organization ignites interest, activates potential, and nurtures careers in tech for girls and women of color ages 7-25. They partner with schools, local organizations, and dedicated volunteers to get participants the resources they need to thrive. For more than a decade, Black Girls Code has provided Black girls, girls of color, and gender nonconforming youth with computer programming education to nurture their careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics fields.
Please contact Debbie Veney at 202.491.8833 and debbie@crosswalkcreatives.com for interview requests, additional information, or media inquiries related to Black Girls Code and Cristina Jones.
Biography
Cristina Jones is an intentional storyteller with a focus on action, impact, and culture.
Throughout her career, Cristina has used new media and tech to unlock and elevate C-Suite and brand voices. She has worked at the intersection of marketing, technology, and media, most recently as Chief Engagement Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at Salesforce.org. Before Salesforce.org, Cristina was Senior Vice President of Salesforce Studios, where she led a team that included Customer Marketing, Brand, Media, & C-Suite Partnerships, Content Production, Video Distribution & Programming, and Sponsorships. Her talent for storytelling inspired millions during the COVID-19 pandemic through initiatives like “Leading Through Change.” Prior to Salesforce, Cristina was at 20th Century Fox, where she held senior roles in marketing, technology, and franchise development.
Cristina amplifies under-recognized voices, earning recognition in the Ebony Power 100 as well as the World Woman Foundation’s #ShesMyHero campaign. As CEO of Black Girls Code, she champions equity and innovation, steering the organization toward a future where Black girls are not just coders but imaginative creators shaping our world.
