Apple CEO Tim Cook announces Propel Center; Plans for its Racial Equity & Justice Initiative
Apple CEO Tim Cook appeared on CBS This Morning early Wednesday to announce a new set of plans for its $100 million-dollar pledge to its…
Apple CEO Tim Cook appeared on CBS This Morning early Wednesday to announce a new set of plans for its $100 million-dollar pledge to its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, announced last June in the wake of the George Floyd protests.
Apple now has solidified the plans for this contribution, pledging $25 million towards the creation of the Propel Center. Contributions also include an Apple App Developer Academy in Detroit, providing technical education for students. The company also plans to give venture capital funding to more Black and Brown entrepreneurs to support their business startups.
Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, Lisa Jackson, is spearheading this initiative. “For too long, communities of color have faced gross injustices and institutional barriers to their pursuit of the American dream,” said Jackson in a statement. “We are proud to lend our voices and resources to build new engines of opportunity that empower, inspire, and create meaningful change.”
The flagship to this initiative is the Propel Center (pictured above), which Apple’s Newsroom described as “a first-of-its-kind global innovation and learning hub” that will cater to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Center will offer online programs, a flagship physical campus at the Atlanta University Center, and satellite campuses at partner institutions.
The Propel Center will serve as a complete educational hub, providing on-campus housing, lecture halls, and hands-on learning labs. Apple has confirmed that company leaders will influence the curriculum, mentorship, and internship opportunities.
The first of its kind Apple Developer Academy is slated to open later this year in Detroit. The Academy is designed to empower and support young Black creators. In partnership with Michigan State University, the Apple Developer Academy will be available to all Detroit students regardless of coding experience.
The academy will offer two programs: a 1 month program for young students considering a career in development and an intensive 10–12 month program providing the skills needed to succeed in the app development space.
Additionally, Apple recognizes the “systemic barriers to access and funding faced by Black and Brown entrepreneurs,” and plans to invest in minority-based venture capital firms.
The company will commit $10 million to the New York based firm Harlem Capital, which will offer “guidance and mentorship to students at the Detroit Developer Academy and participants in Apple’s Entrepreneur Camp for Black Founders and Developers.” Another $25 million will be invested in Siebert Williams Shank’s Clear Vision Impact Fund with a focus on minority-owned companies.
These contributions are just the start of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, which will support minority communities. The company hopes that its contributions towards these communities will “empower and expand opportunity for the next generation.”