Morehouse, Spelman, and other HBCUs announced a partnership to create the Propel Center, a first-of-its-kind hub for all 100+ HBCUs to connect students and faculty from across the community. The goal is to provide HBCU students with the knowledge, skills, tools, and resources necessary to transform the nation’s talent pipeline and workforce. Curriculum options will include artificial intelligence and machine learning, agricultural technologies, social justice, entertainment arts, app development, augmented reality, design and creativity, career preparation and entrepreneurship tracks.
Jared Bailey, Morehouse Bonner Scholar ‘21
The announcement of this initiative made by Apple highlighted their $25 million gift towards the initiative as part of their $100 Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) to help dismantle systemic barriers to opportunity and combat injustices faced by communities of color.
Apple’s announcement featured Jared Bailey, Morehouse Bonner Scholar in the Class of 2021, noting that he “has integrated Apple’s coding and creativity curricula into his public health and community service work as part of the school’s partnership with Apple, a collaboration that is expanding further with the launch of the Propel Center.”
Students from participating schools will be able to access online digital learning platforms and the 50,000 square-foot Propel Center. Headquartered in Atlanta, the center will be equipped with state-of-the-art lecture halls, learning labs and on-site living for a scholars-in-residence program.
“Propel Center will serve as a catalytic epicenter of learning that provides HBCU students with the knowledge, skills, tools and resources necessary to transform our nation’s talent pipeline and workforce. Our vision is to build generations of black leaders who advance equity and justice through technology, entrepreneurship, education and social impact.”
Propel Center will provide students with access to an accelerator program with course offerings focused on entrepreneurship, app development, the business of entertainment, community-driven problem solving and more. Propel Center will deliver in-person and remote coaching from industry professionals ranging from global scholars and startup founders, to policy leaders and renowned entertainers.”
Spelman President Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D. “Spelman has long been the number one producer of Black women who complete Ph.D.s in STEM fields. We welcome these new resources as we continue to fulfill our educational mission.”
“We are delighted to build upon our partnership as an Apple C2 Regional Hub and join with these transformational leaders as part of this unprecedented and far-reaching initiative,” said Morehouse president, David Thomas. “It effectually advances our mission to prepare students as global leaders and position them in the forefront of technological innovation and community empowerment.”
On the Propel Center website, goals related to justice and impact are highlighted:
