Black Girls Code Unveils Nationwide “Build a Beat Challenge with Ciara” to Inspire Young Coders

By DaMarko Webster

Black Girls Code, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing computer science education for Black girls and gender nonconforming youth, has unveiled a nationwide competition called the “Build a Beat Challenge with Ciara.” This initiative, supported by Infosys Foundation USA, aims to ignite a coding revolution with a musical twist. The challenge invites participants aged 13-18 to code their own songs for a chance to meet global superstar Ciara through a video call and win exciting tech prizes to nurture and advance their aspirations. To participate, watch Ciara’s announcement video and register for the contest at this link.

Ciara expressed her pride in supporting the initiative, emphasizing the importance of empowering young individuals to leverage their passion for music to develop valuable technology skills. She is enthusiastic about partnering with Black Girls Code, as their mission aligns seamlessly with the charitable work undertaken by her foundation, Why Not You. This foundation focuses on lifting students out of poverty through education, inspiring them to adopt a “Why Not You” attitude. Ciara looks forward to reviewing the exceptional submissions and meeting the contest winner in February.

Running from November 14 to December 31, 2023, the “Build a Beat Challenge with Ciara” encourages young coders to join the Infosys Foundation USA’s Pathfinders Online Institute. This institute provides access to engaging video tutorials, crafted by Black Girls Code, to guide students on their coding journey. Participants will use these newly acquired skills to create unique songs and remixes, blending their creativity with sounds from artists such as Ciara, Alicia Keys, Common, Pharrell, and more.

Winners will be chosen by a panel of celebrity judges, including Hip Hop pioneer MC Lyte, music producer and entrepreneur Craig King, TikTok sensation The BoykinZ, GRAMMY Award-winning artist and producer Bosko Kante, and Rock the Bells President James Cuthbert, among others. Prizes include the opportunity to meet Ciara in a live video call and receive up to $10,000 in tech prizes.

The “Build a Beat Challenge with Ciara” is part of the CODE Along program, a collaboration between Black Girls Code and girl-power multimedia company GoldieBlox. This program, launched on the Black Girls Code YouTube channel in February 2023, has garnered significant success, amassing nearly 20,000 new subscribers and over 156 million impressions in less than a year. A third-party research study indicates that after watching the CODE Along series, Black girls and young women were twice as likely to believe they belong in the world of technology and computer science, and that learning to code is within their reach.

Cristina Jones, the newly-appointed CEO of Black Girls Code, sees the “Build a Beat Challenge with Ciara” as an opportunity for Black girls and gender nonconforming youth of color to connect with relatable role models while coding something original and impressive. Jones emphasizes the experience’s focus on enhancing learning and fostering a sense of belonging, which, she believes, will open up more opportunities in the tech industry for the girls Black Girls Code serves.

This challenge marks the second collaboration between Black Girls Code and Infosys Foundation USA, which is dedicated to expanding computer science access for K-12 students and educators. The Foundation’s Pathfinders Online Institute, offering free access to “Code a Song” tutorial videos developed by Black Girls Code and hosted by Spelman College Computer Science student Cadence Patrick, is a crucial resource for contest participants.

Kate Maloney, Executive Director of Infosys Foundation USA, expresses the foundation’s commitment to delivering equitable STEAM opportunities for the most underrepresented. The partnership with Black Girls Code and GoldieBlox aims to engage the next generation with a captivating and relatable contest, providing an avenue to experience computer science and develop digital skills. Maloney anticipates that the creations of these 13-18 year old students will be nothing short of chart-topping.

Participation in the “Build a Beat Challenge with Ciara” is free, and interested individuals can sign up via the link: wearebgc.org/buildabeatchallenge. Finalists will be notified by email around February 16, 2024, using the information provided during their entry. For more details, visit https://www.wearebgc.org/.