Dear BGC Family,
One year.
One year of being entrusted with the most purpose-driven work I have ever had the privilege of participating in.
One year filled with so much joy and opportunity.
One year as CEO of Black Girls Code.
As I reflect back on the past 365 days, I am filled with gratitude and excitement. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to this incredible community of young action leaders, parents, and caregivers, and our fantastic community partners. Your support and dedication have been invaluable, and I’m excited for all that’s to come. As I think about next year, I feel more energized than ever about reaching our goals and dreaming up new ones as we speak.
Our community—that’s you!—is the heart of everything we do. Your support has been invaluable: doubling our volunteer base, driving over a billion impressions on social media, and making our summer camps a huge success. You have demonstrated a collective and unshakeable commitment to elevating our youngest leaders. I’m thrilled to announce that we will soon expand into five new cities, making BGC programs more accessible than ever.
Since joining as CEO, we’ve added two new pillars to the BGC mission: Inspire and Launch. Education has always been our cornerstone, but in today’s climate, we know it can’t stand alone. We can’t be what we can’t see, and we can’t get to where we want to go by ourselves. This is why, as part of our revitalized Workforce Development Program, helmed by Evelyn Diaz, we’ll soon launch the world’s largest online community of future Black and Brown technologists. This year, we will register 1,000 young women aged 18 and up who will be able to access job postings, connect with peers, and participate in events through this dynamic platform.
We're also introducing a skills assessment tool designed by Black and Brown women developers to better support these women. This tool will guide them toward training tailored to the future of tech, with Python, AI engineering, machine learning, and data science programs.
Soon to be unveiled, BGC’s refreshed brand identity draws inspiration from the interconnectedness of a digital quilt, reinforcing that all of us—our histories and our futures—are interdependent. We need each other. As we continue to create those “code threads,” let us focus on how we can work towards fortifying those connection points.
The work is working.
I am deeply thankful for our dedicated team, whose passion and expertise make the work come alive. Each brings a unique perspective and invaluable expertise; these programs are only possible with their massive efforts and care.
Our commitment is as unwavering and unshakeable as ever. We are equipping our girls with the tools, networks, and encouragement to turn our collective vision of a more equitable future into a reality. There will be many exciting opportunities for your continued support and involvement with the BGC mission.
With gratitude and hope,
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.
# # #
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.
