Apple amplifies its Community Education Initiative, boosting educational chances in over 600 locations
In a bold move towards equity and education, Apple's Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, Lisa Jackson, has emphasised the power of education as a force for promoting equity. This statement comes as Apple announces new partnerships aimed at providing educational opportunities to underrepresented communities, including Native American youth living on tribal reservations in Oklahoma.
One of these partnerships involves Oklahoma City University (OCU), the Cherokee Nation, the Choctaw Nation, and the Chickasaw Nation. The partnership's goals are threefold: preserving tribal languages and cultures, enabling employment pathways for young people, and allowing them to pursue their future while living in their tribal communities.
Apple's Community Education Initiative (CEI), launched in 2019, has been at the forefront of these efforts. CEI aims to bring coding, creativity, and career opportunities to learners of all ages, particularly those in under-resourced communities. Since its inception, CEI has expanded to reach learners across 99 countries and regions, and all 50 states.
The CEI works with a variety of educational partners, including K-12 schools, out-of-school programming organisations, and minority-serving institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions. The initiative aligns with Apple's Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, ensuring that it serves communities that have historically been under-resourced.
CEI partners provide Apple hardware, scholarships, financial support, educator resources, and access to teams of Apple experts. A key component of the initiative is the teacher academy, which aims to support the integration of creativity and coding concepts in the classroom.
The partnership between OCU and the tribal nations will kick off later this month with a teacher academy for educators working in schools within the reservations of the Cherokee Nation, Choctaw Nation, and Chickasaw Nation. Other new partners include Arizona State University, Arts New Orleans, the Center for Black Educator Development in Philadelphia, and many others.
Apple now works with over 150 educational partners globally to provide access to coding, creativity, and workforce opportunities. The CEI's expansion continues, with a focus on providing world-class learning opportunities to students of all ages, regardless of their location.
In Los Angeles, California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) has been a key partner in this initiative. CSUDH has brought new STEAM experiences to nearly 2,000 students and teachers across greater Los Angeles. This year, CSUDH expects to reach another 4,000 learners across 40 schools with programming.
Despite the lack of publicly available detailed lists from Apple naming specific schools or educational institutions partnered with the Community Education Initiative in the last three years or specifying the U.S. states in which these partners are active, it is clear that Apple's commitment to education and equity is unwavering. Kenneth Evans, OCU's president, expressed his excitement about the impact of the partnership on tribal nation partners.
In conclusion, Apple's Community Education Initiative is making significant strides in providing educational opportunities to underrepresented communities, including Native American youth living on tribal reservations. The initiative's expansion is a testament to Apple's commitment to equity and education, and its partnerships with educational institutions worldwide are paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.
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