Esports organization Gen.G, non-profit Cxmmunity and McDonald’s announced a gaming and esports conference tailored to HBCU students on Thursday.
We’re teaming up with #McDonaldsDMV to bring HBCUs in the Eastern Shore and Baltimore/DC Area to provide a series of gaming/esports panels and tournaments!
Make sure to catch the conference 11/12 – 11/13 starting at 11 AM PST! pic.twitter.com/KkTTYjYAud
— Gen.G Esports (@GenG) November 11, 2021
“We’re teaming up with #McDonaldsDMV to bring HBCUs in the Eastern Shore and Baltimore/DC Area to provide a series of gaming/esports panels and tournaments,” Gen.G posted on Twitter.
Event organizers
Cxmmunity is an organization with the goal of increasing the participation of minorities in esports. With equipment from Gen.G, the organization is creating a program for selected students who are aspiring content creators.
Meanwhile, the McDonald’s of Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and Eastern Shore will support Gen.G and Cxmmunity through tournament execution, event programming and fostering connections among HBCU students. The partnership will aim to bridge opportunity gaps within the gaming and esports industry.
Where to watch and what to expect
The HBCU NetWORK event will be livestreamed starting at 11 a.m. PST on Nov. 12 and 13 on Gen.G’s official Twitch channel. In addition to featuring African-American leaders within the esports and gaming community, the conference will entail workshops, tournaments and educational panels.
Topics and panels will include “Unsung Heroes: Lesser Known Careers in Gaming” and “Craft Your Story” in order to help attendees with personal branding. The “Hero Stories” panel will involve guest speakers who will share their career journeys, industry knowledge and advice on how to improve in gaming and content creation.
Top players from HBCU clubs in the area will get to compete in tournaments involving cash prizes. Additionally, the event will feature a virtual cosplay contest and giveaways.
Gen.G partnerships and a future of diverse voices
“We want to support the next generation of leaders in our community by offering them ways to engage with industries that excite them and match their passions and talents,” local McDonald’s Owner and Operator Raoul Alvarez said.
Alvarez added that McDonald’s is committed to indicating its belief in the future of students. He said he couldn’t be more excited to partner with Gen.G in terms of the HBCU NetWORK conference.
“We are excited to once again partner with McDonald’s, this time to focus on the development and growth of diversity and representation in the esports and gaming space,” Gen.G Director of Strategic Initiatives Kahlil Keys said, referring to the expansion of the Crew League and All Stars competition from earlier this year.
Keys added that working with Cxmmunity has been instrumental in developing the future of talented and diverse voices.
