Apple Partnering With HBCs To Bring Coding And Creativity Opportunities To Black Communities

Apple announced this morning that it is teaming up with an additional 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to introduce coding, creativity, as well as workforce development opportunities to learners of all ages

”Apple is committed to working alongside communities of color to advance educational equity,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “We see this expansion of our Community Education Initiative and partnership with HBCUs as another step toward helping Black students realize their dreams and solve the problems of tomorrow.”

Launched last year, Apple's Community Education Program currently encompasses 24 sites across the U.S.—12 of which are HBCUs and 21 of which serve primarily Black and Brown students. Throughout the country, these partnerships have already initiated thousands of students and adult learners to coding and app design, using Apple's Every Can Code and the Every Can Create Curriculum.

Apple says that each hub is built to generate a multiplier impact, building HBCU capacity that stretches beyond the campus through alliances with local K-12 schools, community partners, local governments, and other community stakeholders.

The ten new HBCUs, which will now become hubs to promote coding in their broader communities: Arkansas Baptist College, Central State University, Claflin University, Dillard University, Fisk University, Lawson State Community College, Morehouse College, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University at Shreveport, and Tougaloo College.