As part of the Propel Center’s arts and entertainment industry accelerator, Apple is hosting 50 students from 19 historically Black colleges and universities for a two-week immersive program.
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Launched in 2011 as a hub to assist and improve the work of HBCUs, Propel Center was founded by Southern Company and Apple. The organization’s year-long 2024 Arts & Entertainment Industry Accelerator program was made available only to students from historically black colleges. Its goal is to increase diversity in the arts and entertainment sector.
The arts and entertainment accelerator program of the Propel Center begins on June 10 at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee, and ends the week of June 16 at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta. Additionally, students will be able to spend time with industry professionals at Apple Music headquarters and Apple retail store location in Nashville, as well as take part in resume-building seminars and job chats. According to the release from Propel Center, participants will “tell their stories through digital marketing,” make music, and design album art using Apple technology and tools.
During a showcase at the end of the program, teams will have the chance to pitch their projects to a panel of judges from the industry, receive career-development input, and connect with executives and recording artists.
As part of its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, Apple is supporting the Propel Center and the 2024 Arts & Entertainment Industry Accelerator. This initiative aims to increase opportunities for Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Indigenous communities globally by means of education, economic empowerment, and criminal justice reform.
“We are excited to help create more pathways into the arts and entertainment industries for HBCU students,” said Alisha Johnson Wilder, head of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, in a statement. “Creativity is central to everything we do at Apple.” Propel Center’s programming aims to provide bright students with access to technology, resources, and experience necessary to become leaders in the creative arts. By doing so, it helps increase opportunities for budding innovators from different backgrounds.
Every year, Propel Center brings together HBCU students from all over the country for a variety of virtual and in-person learning experiences. These include industry-specific panels, online courses accessible through the Propel Learn app, and additional opportunities for interaction with business executives. Apart from the Arts & Entertainment Industry Accelerator, Propel Center has initiated analogous initiatives centering on cybersecurity, agri-tech, and health.
