The historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) innovation hub PROPEL Center has brought together a cohort of 50 students from 19 HBCUs for two weeks of immersive learning activities, a recent announcement said.
According to a news release, the events are part of PROPEL’s Arts & Entertainment Industry Accelerator, a year-long experience launched in collaboration with the tech giant Apple exclusively for HBCU students that’s designed to bolster diversity in the arts and entertainment industry. The announcement said the accelerator culminates with an immersive summer experience, which kicked off at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 10, and will conclude at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia, the week of June 16.
The announcement said that through the course of the academic year, students involved in the program have earned micro-credentials via the PROPEL Learn app, gaining skills in narrative development and storytelling, as well as resume building and career development, among other skills. As part of the summer experience, students are encouraged to team up to create albums around the theme of “Propelling Preservation” — focused on telling stories about the HBCU community and amplifying voices from within it. Participants will use Apple technology and tools to create music, design album art and tell their stories through digital marketing, the announcement said.
Through the summer program, students will also participate in career conversations and resume-building workshops, and spend time with industry experts at the Apple Music offices and Apple Retail location in Nashville. The program concludes with a showcase in which teams will present their projects to a panel of industry judges, get constructive feedback to support their career development and network with professional recording artists.
“Harnessing the undeniable power of creativity and collaboration has enabled PROPEL Center and Apple to establish a nurturing and inspiring environment to cultivate the many talents of our HBCU students,” PROPEL Center President Lisa Herring said in a public statement. “This year’s accelerator marks a continued commitment from Apple and our industry partners to help address equity and diversity gaps in the arts and entertainment industry and other critical business sectors.”
According to the news release, Apple’s support for the PROPEL Center and the 2024 Arts & Entertainment Industry Accelerator is part of the company’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, a company-wide effort to expand career development and education opportunities for Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Indigenous communities around the world.
“Creativity is central to everything we do at Apple, and we’re thrilled to help create more pathways into the arts and entertainment industries for HBCU students,” Alisha Johnson Wilder, Director of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, said in a statement. “Through PROPEL Center’s programming, we’re helping expand opportunities for emerging creators from diverse backgrounds by ensuring these talented students have access to the technology, resources, and expertise they need to become leaders in the creative arts.”
