Are you ready to become the next big music producer? Do you want to remix beats from Pharrell? Would you like to use your voice to inspire change and have the opportunity to win $5000? How about an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil?
Here’s your chance! Register below as student or volunteer.
Pharrell Williams, Amazon, TakingITGlobal, and BridgeTO Youth invite you to participate in BridgeTO Hacks: Your Voice Is Power full-day learning experience and coding competition! Engage in an inspiring new learning experience that explores the ways music, computer science, and entrepreneurship can be tools to advance racial equity.
No previous coding experience is required!
ABOUT
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Register for the event, BridgeTO Hacks: Your Voice is Power and you will have the opportunity to remix beats from Pharrell and other top recording artists to create your own unique song. However, you won’t be creating this remix in the recording studio or in your school’s band room. Instead, you’ll be composing on the computer using code.
Wait, Code? Yes, code… the music industry is infused with computer programmers, from sound engineers to streaming site developers. Combining music and computer science is the next step in recording innovation and creativity.
On May 29th, you are going to analyze the music of a famous musical artist, Pharrell Williams, to explore how music, entrepreneurship, and computer science can be used as pathways to promote racial equity. At the end of the day, you will code and remix Pharrell’s music to create your own 30-second song that will be judged on the quality of your code, music, and social justice themes.
You’ll be able to submit your song into a final competition to have the chance to win a $5000 USD scholarship or grant to start a business. And the winning team of the BridgeTO Hacks event will walk away with an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil!
What you are waiting for? Register today!
PRIZES
Win 1 of 2 iPad Pros with an Apple Pencil AND a case to protect it!
With over 125 gift cards available, win 1 of 25 $50 Amazon Gift Cards and 1 of 100 $10 Gift Cards
Receive exciting goodies from Amazon Prime for every participant!
Join us for the opportunity to win $5000 through Amazon’s Future Engineer competition
EVENT DAY
Make Beats;
Learn Code;
Promote Equity;
On Saturday, May 29th, you will learn how computer science, music and entrepreneurship can advance racial equity and social justice. You will have the opportunity to remix Pharrell's new song "Entrepreneur", to be judged on the quality of music, code, and messaging by a panel of industry professionals.
You will also hear from amazing speakers, walk away with an exciting gift from Amazon, and have a chance to win loads of gift cards and awesome prizes!
Sign up as one of the 100 youth participants to take part in something special - make beats, learn code and promote equity!
JUDGES
As the head of Amazon Future Engineer Canada, Susan Ibach works with non-profits and educational organizations across Canada to provide equitable access to computer science education to underserved and historically underrepresented communities. Susan’s passion for helping others discover the power of coding has been a heavy influence on her career.
deejay t-jr. (pronounced “tee-junior”) is a 1x International and 2x National DJ Battle Finalist, Audio Engineer and Music Instructor from Toronto, Canada. She is a frequent competitor in a number of high profile DJ competitions including the 2019 Goldie Awards and the 2018 Red Bull 3Style DJ Competition where she placed 3rd - making her the first female in the country to do so. deejay t-jr.’s mastery and talent has seen her tapped in to showcase her talents as Guest DJ on SiriusXM Radio, where she played live from New York City on Shade 45’s famous Sway In The Morning Radio Show and performing alongside Masta Ace & Marco Polo, Kid Capri, Greg Nice, Rob Swift and Jaël at the 2019 Skratch Bastid BBQ in Toronto.
Mike Lawless is the Head of Music, Canada for Amazon Music, based in Toronto. Mike started at Amazon’s Seattle Headquarters in January of 2018, holding roles leading Music Programming and Label Relations for Canada through the CA launch of Amazon Music Unlimited in September of 2018. Prior to his time at Amazon, Mike spent a decade working for Sony Music Canada, most recently as Director of Digital Business Development and Sales. Before he entered the Canadian music industry, Mike followed the logical career path of working in advertising, post-secondary education, and as the piano man aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean Sea.
Widely considered one of Toronto’s Hip Hop legends, Solitair’s many contributions have made an indelible impact on the Canadian urban music landscape, and the music industry as a whole. Throughout his more than 20 year career, Solitair has amassed an impressive legacy showing his strengths as an introspective and fearless mc with thought-provoking rhymes and uplifting messages, as well as a talented producer and engineer with a keen ear for crafting musical masterpieces. As a producer, Solitair has collaborated on projects with many of Canada’s elite artists, as well as artists from around the world.
SPEAKERS
Jackson Aimiuwu did not get his first computer until he was 19. Today, he is an award-winning Technology Solutions Architects Leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Canada. Jackson leads a team that helps companies solve their business challenges and achieve their objectives, with state-of-the-art cloud technologies. He is a mentor for Young Black Professionals and an ally for Women in STEM. Outside of his professional commitments, Jackson is a member of the Board of Directors who run a 40 bed not-for-profit hospital in Nigeria. Even though he didn’t have a lot, he did a lot. Jackson is passionate about inspiring the younger generation to strive to achieve their goals.
Greg Fergus has been the Member of Parliament for Hull–Aylmer since October 2015, and is the founder and chair of the Canadian Caucus of Black Parliamentarians, and also serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Digital Government, and is vice-chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association. Greg is very involved in his community. He encourages people to invest themselves in causes that are important to them, and to work together to fight isolation and create a sense of community. It’s why he organizes café croissant meetings, public forums and other public events in the Hull–Aylmer riding.
Joëlle Bertrand is currently Senior Music Curator at Amazon Music Canada. As the lead programmer for Canada, she spearheads the programming strategy of the platform and works closely with artists and their team to deliver their vision. She was previously Director of A&R at Universal Music Canada. During her tenure, her roster included pop singing sensation Johnny Orlando and francophone popstar Eli Rose. Prior to joining UMC, she was a Senior Talent Buyer at evenko. She produced more than 1,000 events across the province of Quebec and in the Maritimes. Working alongside The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Ellie Goulding, Drake, J.Cole, Death Cab for Cutie, Of Monsters and Men, James Bay to name a few. Additionally, she programmed evenko’s portfolio of festivals including Osheaga, Heavy Montreal and îlesoniq. On top of being a talent buyer, she oversaw the launch and operations of the Corona Theater. She started her career as an intern at The Agency Group.
WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN AS A STUDENT?
As a Youth Participant on Saturday, May 29th, you will learn how to use cutting-edge technology to remix Pharrell William’s new hit song “Entrepreneur”. You’ll also receive a box of goodies via Amazon Prime at your door, get a hot lunch, have a chance to win gift cards ranging from $10 to $50, and two students will win iPad Pros with an Apple Pencil. You will also get an opportunity to submit your remixes to Amazon's future engineer competition ending on June 4th, where one student will have the chance to win a $5000 scholarship or grant to start a business. Sign up here!
WHY SHOULD YOU VOLUNTEER?
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This is an exclusive opportunity for you to volunteer for Amazon and BridgeTO Youth!
Inspire and educate youth from underrepresented and underserved communities
Provide exposure to the field and build bridges for students to have more resources to their best futures
Whether these students pursue computer science as a career someday or not, you will be an integral part of their journey!
Be part of a community of changemakers with the opportunity to network with Amazon professionals
Plus invaluable experience to add to your resume!
Volunteers will receive training on the Amazon’s Your Voice is Power curriculum, and will then have the opportunity to teach this content to participating students. You’ll play a major role in helping them develop new skills, learn about new career paths and push for social justice.
Volunteers are required to be available all day Saturday, May 29th and for a training session (Date TBD). Lunch will be provided and other Amazon Prime goodies will be sent out as well!
If you would like to get involved as a speaker or judge? Please email Sammer at sammer.haq@bridgetoyouth.com
Your Voice is Power is a competition organized by Amazon Future Engineer, an Amazon program whose mission is to provide equitable access to computer science education.
