Esports and Workforce
Youth Esports League Across Atlanta Community Centers
Launch Date: October 9, 2023
Purpose: As part of Atlanta's Year of the Youth, a mayoral initiative designed to make Atlanta the best city to raise a child, the ATL Tech Hub has collaborated with the Department of Parks and Recreation, Microsoft, Google, CXMMUNITY, TECHSGIVING, A2D, and SOLE PLAY, to launch an Esports and workforce development program for kids aged 14-24 in Atlanta's Parks and Recreation Centers.
Our Esports programming will create a league that competes across Atlanta's community centers. Cxmmunity, the organizer of the HBCU Esports League, is in charge of overseeing the league which will be playing NBA 2K and Rocket League. The participants will receive instruction and mentorship from NASEF-certified coaches who will introduce gamers to careers in the gaming and esports industries, host guest speakers, and facilitate field trips. The league will provide a place for APS eSports players to compete in the offseason. Gamers may also be able to participate in the LEVEL UP: MINECRAFT STUDENT BUILD CHALLENGE.
The workforce programming will provide relevant technical certifications and training. 100 participants will also receive free access to Google certifications in Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing & E-commerce, IT Support, Project Management and UX Design. The training will be facilitated by Techgiving.
To support these programs we are upgrading the computer labs with new PCs, Xboxes, and high-speed internet connectivity. The upgrades and program are scheduled to be piloted at 4 centers before they expand to additional locations. The program began at the Thomasville Center on October 16th and further upgrades will follow at Martin Luther King and then at Bessie Branham.