Apple To Help Launch New Learning Center in Atlanta To Support HBCUs

Apple recently announced its contribution to the opening of the Propel Center in Atlanta, which will support HBCUs across the country.

Apple will be contributing $25 million to the opening of the Propel Center, a new learning hub in Atlanta that will serve Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It was announced last week as part of Apple’s new $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative. The news comes after MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, also recently donated millions to support several HBCUs.

Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative is taking three big steps. Supporting the Propel Center, a global innovation and learning hub for HBCUs. Our first Developer Academy in the US—in Detroit. And funding to accelerate minority-owned businesses. https://t.co/Z21ThemYe1

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) January 13, 2021

At 50,000 square feet, the Propel Center was designed by Ed Farm, an organization that supplies tools to educators and innovators to promote educational equity. It will provide a variety of resources to HBCU students to set them up for success.

This is about to change the game! @Apple is bringing an innovation lab via Propel Center to my Alma mater @CAU connecting students to tech curriculum, entrepreneurship, accelerators, etc. The future is coming! 🐾❤️ https://t.co/kWe1wRECjm

— D. Fines (@domoniquefines) January 13, 2021

The center will host virtual classes that will be available to any HBCU student in the world along with an on-site campus at the Atlanta University Center, or AUC, which houses Spelman College, Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University. The campus will also feature state-of-the-art labs equipped with Apple technology.

The Propel Center.

Apple’s new global innovation and learning hub for the entire community of historically black colleges and universities.

Thank you Tim Cook, Ed Farm, & the entire Apple Team for continuously supporting the Black Community, Racial Equality, & Racial Justice. pic.twitter.com/y2Jezz53Fz

— Anthony Viramontes (@thesaintofsinz) January 14, 2021

An accelerator program will also be included, providing courses led by professionals in entrepreneurship, app development, the entertainment business and more. On-site living with fully furnished suites will be available to those completing their residencies.

Apple spending $100 million dollars to open Propel Center in Detroit and giving opportunities to students is a win. Big win #Apple #propelcenter #HBCUs

— Raj (@rajanshandil) January 15, 2021

Another part of Apple’s initiative is an Apple Developer Academy in Detroit with education programs aimed at supporting young Black entrepreneurs looking to learn more about coding and tech. Apple also established two grants to support HBCU engineering programs along with other programs to help serve communities of color.

This is a game changer! Shout-out to @Apple, @SouthernCompany and @_EdFarm for seeing the value in investing in #HBCUs. And what better home for this center than the #AUC? I am excited about the impact the #PropelCenter will make on our communities! #supportHBCUs https://t.co/aoHDyFjzen

— Anastasia S. Douglas (@AnastasiaSemien) January 13, 2021

People are praising Apple after hearing news of their proposal and they hope more will be done to help Black students get the educational tools they need to succeed. Many are looking forward to seeing the new Propel Center once it’s finished, but there’s no word yet on when it’ll be open.