Apple’s first US development academy opened in Detroit Downtown
Later this year, Apple will open an Apple Developer Academy in Detroit – the first of its kind in the US. According to U.S. census data, Detroit has a vibrant black entrepreneurial and developer community, with more than 50,000 black-owned businesses. The academy is designed to empower young black entrepreneurs, creators, and coders, helping them develop the skills needed to work in the fast-growing iOS app economy. Apple Developer Academy courses, launched in partnership with Michigan State University, will be open to all learners in Detroit, regardless of their academic background and whether they have any prior coding experience.
The Apple Developer Academy offers two programs in Detroit. A 30-day introductory program designed for learners who are considering careers in app economics and want to better understand what it means to be a developer. The full academy program is an intensive 10 to 12 month program that will help prospective developers build the skills needed to participate in the iOS app economy, and even start their own businesses. Apple expects the academy to reach nearly 1,000 students annually with a curriculum that covers coding, design, marketing and professional skills.
And next month, Apple will host the first group of its Entrepreneur Camp for Black Founders and Developers for a virtual experience, offering one-on-one code-level guidance from Apple experts and engineers, as well as mentorship, inspiration and insights from top Apple leaders.
Empowering entrepreneurs through new funding partnerships
Apple today announces two new investments in venture capital and banking, with both projects designed to provide capital to minority businesses, to address systemic barriers to entry and financing facing Black and Brown entrepreneurs. The company will invest $ 10 million with Harlem Capital – an early stage venture capital firm in New York – to support its investments in 1,000 companies with diverse founders over the next 20 years. In addition to providing capital to color entrepreneurs, Harlem Capital will also provide expertise in Apple’s broader efforts to promote access to economic opportunities. The firm provides guidance and mentorship to students at the Detroit Developer Academy and participants in Apple’s Entrepreneur Camp for Black Founders and Developers. Apple will also support Harlem Capital’s internship program, which aims to open doors for prospective women and minority investors.
The company will also invest $ 25 million in the Clear Vision Impact Fund of Siebert Williams Shank, which provides capital to small and medium-sized businesses, with an emphasis on companies in minorities. The fund wants to support businesses operating in underserved markets and include growth initiatives.
The upliftment of community organizations
As part of its REJI work, Apple builds on its contributions to community colleges, advocates for nonprofits, and local organizations that provide the opportunity to empower and expand the next generation.
Apple makes a contribution to The King Center, a living memorial to the legacy of dr. Martin Luther King jr. To share his teachings and inspire new generations to continue his unfinished work. Next week, Dr. King’s daughter and CEO of The King Center, dr. Bernice A. King, calls for action that encourages young people to give back to their communities as part of Apple’s “Challenge for Change” series – a series of discussion guides and learning-based challenges on issues related to race and inequality .
Apple’s contribution to The King Center is in line with the company’s previous donations to non-profit organizations that promote equality and justice, including the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama.