Apple will spend $ 100 million to combat racism in the US

Apple announced on a number of new major projects under the initiative “Racial equality and justice”(REJI), worth $ 100 million, is designed to help remove systemic barriers to opportunity and combat the injustices faced by communities of color.

This will include a dedicated innovation and learning center for African American colleges and universities, Apple’s Developer Academy to support student programming and technical education, and venture funding for black entrepreneurs.

We all have a responsibility to work urgently to build a fairer, more equitable world – and these new projects are a clear signal of Apple’s continued commitment.

We are launching the latest REJI initiatives with partners from a wide variety of industries, from students to teachers, from developers to entrepreneurs, from community organizers to advocates of justice. Working together, we will empower communities that bear the brunt of racism and discrimination. We are honored to help bring this vision to life and align our words and actions with the values ​​of fairness and inclusion that we have always valued at Apple.

– Tim Cook

This is how the innovation center will look like:

The first Apple Developer Academy in the United States will open in downtown Detroit. Cupertinians expect their 10-12 month program to reach about 1,000 students each year in programming, design, marketing and other professional skills.

In addition, the company is investing $ 25 million in the Sibert Williams Shank Clear Vision Impact Fund, which provides capital to small and medium-sized businesses with a focus on low-share companies. The fund seeks to support companies that operate in underserved markets.