The C3 Initiative, Inc.

If selected as a winner of the Elevate Prize funding and support, The C3 Initiative will utilize the funds to further increase and enhance the development and implementation of our programming to unlock the potential of young black minds to solve the problems of tomorrow. C3 will do accomplish this goal through implementation of its industry recognized curriculum aimed at developing C3's students skill sets in industry recognized occupations. 

At C3, we believe your mind is the solution for every mission. Our annual C3 Expo places youth in comic book-themed scenarios where they leverage their growing coding skills to complete various missions. Each child has the opportunity to be a part of the “C3 Secret Government Organization” to solve real-time programming challenges. With the help of mentors and our team of volunteers, every participant can unlock their inner hero!

The C3 Expo was developed to promote the disciplines of coding to minority youth between the ages of 8-18. Children will learn:

• Software engineering

• Hardware engineering

• Robotics

• Design

C3 coding camps provide scenario based learning environments that stimulate the children's critical thinking to develop solutions to these scenario based environments.

The C3 Initiative, Inc.’s mission to prepare 1 million minority youth coders, makers and designers for the tech jobs of today and the future. 

Our vision is to improve the employment rate of black, and other minorities, in the tech industry. Our goal is to develop the worlds largest pipeline by using scenario-based learning techniques that develop coding and technology skill sets.

What if the worlds’ most advanced life-saving technology is trapped inside the mind of a child that has no access to education or resources? The C3 Initiative develops programs that build and improve programming skills in minority youth aged 8-18.

C3 hosts annual Discovery Tech Labs in strategic markets where youth participate in a variety of hands-on coding exercises. The tech labs offer summer programs where children improve coding and leadership skills, prepararing them for mentorship roles at our C3 Expo. In our summer camp, youth coders also have the opportunity to tour various tech companies and get a firsthand look at tech development in action.

The C3 Initiative addresses the issue of under representation of minorities, specifically black in occupations like programming and coding. Additionally, existing educational networks in this region do not adequately address this complex issue. There are systematic challenges in addition to societal issues that contribute to the lack of black participation in this arena. Additionally, this historical issue has contributed to the wealth gap that exists between the black community and other demographic segments within this country. We address this in a multitude of ways but we directly address this through intentional efforts to target black youth and immerse them into these areas that they have historically not been a part of. 

The C3 expo and C3 coding camps provide curriculum based educational programming and scenario based training that develops the skill sets of the participants to that of industry standards while exposing them to industry recognized tools and resources that will aide their development and progression. Targeting the K-12 segment will provide the scale necessary and impact to change the perception of tech occupations within the community while also exposing them to the opportunities as a career path. 

We utilize scenario based learning to develop the students skill sets. Woven into the curriculum is the actual technical skills that are being utilized in the industry today. The curriculum prepares the students for the certification process as our curriculum is based on industry recognized certification process and tools utilized by industry experts. We have to teach the students how to think like developers, and teach them how to utilize industry recognized tools.

Our competitors do not provide scenario based programming for their participants and is often lacking the engagement necessary to maximize the potential of the student participants which is why our scenario based learning model provides a higher level of development for the participants. 

Society progresses when we all contribute, the level at which progress at a society and pace and a distance between our progression is dependent upon everyone's input being included and in the context of technology, everyone has not had an opportunity to contribute. In the case of young blacks in technology, there is a huge gap that exists and needs to be addressed. There is a culture of innovation within the black community that exists but has been dimmed through systematic processes that have limited the development, education and exposure of blacks in these industries like tech. 

Create access for them in technology areas,put the skill sets in the hand of our children so that we can all contribute. also that they can contribute to the success of our society.