The World Games 2022 and Microsoft are joining together in a partnership to promote Alabama’s outstanding Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Historically Black Community Colleges (HBCCs).
Leaders from The World Games 2022, Microsoft, and HBCUs and HBCCs from across the state gathered at Miles College in Birmingham today to announce The World Games 2022 HBCU Experience presented by Microsoft. The initiative will encourage students’ professional growth, facilitate collaboration between the HBCUs, HBCCs and Microsoft, and inspire students to pursue careers and business opportunities in technology.
“From the start, we’ve wanted The World Games 2022 to be not only a once-in-a-life sports experience, but also a tremendous opportunity to bring lasting, positive changes to Birmingham and to the entire state of Alabama,” said Jonathan Porter, Chairman of the Board for The World Games 2022. “Our partnership with Microsoft provides an excellent platform to work alongside Alabama’s HBCUs and HBCCs and ensure a diversified technology workforce that is well-prepared to lead our state and our world toward the future.”
The partnership with TWG 2022 helps Microsoft fulfill its mission “to empower every person and every organization to achieve more,” said Michael Ford, Corporative Vice President, Global Workplace Services for Microsoft and an Alabama A&M University graduate.
“Our partnership with The World Games 2022 enables Microsoft to help close opportunity gaps and deepen engagement with HBCUs and HBCCs,” said Ford. “Building diverse talent pipelines ensures we can create a diversified workforce to the benefit of our customers and society.”
The World Games 2022 HBCU Experience presented by Microsoft will bring the World to the Yard and the Yard to the World, connecting HBCU students with pathways to economic opportunity and exposing The World Games 2022 fans to the culture and innovation thriving on HBCU campuses. The partnership includes: a series of virtual events for HBCU/HBCC students, a Minecraft Challenge for HBCU/HBCC students to explore game development, an HBCU Experience at The World Games 2022 Plaza, and a scholarship fund for Alabama HBCUs and HBCCs to help ensure The World Games 2022 creates lasting, positive change for HBCU/HBCC students across the state.
HBCU and HBCC presidents are expressing tremendous excitement for the partnership.
“Alabama has the largest number of HBCUs and HBCCs in the country"
said Miles College President Bobbie Knight. “HBCUs graduate an impressively disproportionate number of Black students, accounting for 20 percent of the country’s Black graduates, and 25 percent of African American graduates with STEM degrees attended HBCUs. It makes perfect sense for The World Games to use its global platform to showcase the talent coming from HBCUs across the state.”
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association, organised with the support of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and over 100 countries will take part in The World Games.
