PROPEL ANNOUNCES $3 MILLION IN FIRST-ROUND IMPACT GRANT FUNDING TO 15 HBCUs
Impact Grants Made Possible As Part of Apple’s Nationwide Investment In Racial Equity and Justice and Its Support of the Propel Center, An Innovation and Learning HBCU Collaboration
(Atlanta, Georgia – Thursday, December 17, 2021) – The Propel Center, committed to advancing equity in education by serving as a global leadership and innovation hub for HBCUs, announced today the 15 institutions selected to receive $3 million collectively for their stellar Impact grant submissions centered around Agri-tech and Arts & Entertainment initiatives.
Upon careful consideration of the 44 impressive proposals submitted, the Propel Center named the University of the District of Columbia, Morehouse School of Medicine, Delaware State University Foundation, Alabama State University and Southern University Agricultural Research & Extension Center and the Southern University Law Center as the five finalists to be awarded Agri-tech grants. Likewise, Jackson State University, Prairie View A & M University, Wiley College, Bishop State Community College, Miles College, Bethune Cookman University, Benedict College, Simmons College of Kentucky, Edward Waters University and HBCUvc were chosen for funding focused on the Arts.
“We were blown away by the innovation in the projects these institutions presented, and we are super excited about the tremendous expansion and exposure the students at these institutions will gain from their involvement in these groundbreaking initiatives,” revealed Dr. Cortney Harris, Vice President of Impact and Engagement at Propel. Dr. Harris embraces Propel’s mission to prepare generations of black leaders who will leverage technology, creativity and dynamic problem solving to accelerate educational equity.
“We believe all students should have access to the tools, resources, and opportunities to change the world,” said Lisa Jackson, Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives at Apple. “The HBCU community is full of creativity and vision, and we’re proud to support new programming and pathways to drive meaningful change through the Propel Impact Grants.
”Dr. Tony Allen, President of Delaware State University, agrees. “The promise of Apple and Propel is to empower underserved communities and the institutions that represent them to rise up; to build anew with contemporary investments and tools that don’t just level the playing field, but literally change it,” he said. “…The support we are receiving from [them] today is a clear and compelling commitment, and we look forward to developing this work over time.”
Echoing Dr. Allen’s sentiments is Wiley College President Dr. Herman J. Felton Jr. who added, “What Apple and The Propel Center have set out to accomplish is both bold and audacious. This partnership will give our students the ability to create a digital and film based experience that explores freedom through student-centered productions… allows students to develop their skills as filmmakers and to participate in a collaborative experience that documents Wiley College’s freedom story featuring the mother of the Juneteenth Holiday, and Wiley College Alumna Ms. Opal Lee.”
Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President & CEO of Benedict College, also appreciates the opportunity to share her institution’s story and credits the Impact grant award for allowing Benedict to build the capacity of its culturally inclusive College community. “We look forward to amplifying Propel’s Arts and Entertainment mission to diversify the entertainment industry by creating a pipeline for Black and other underrepresented students into its ranks, she affirmed. “…We sincerely thank [Propel] for supporting our mission of developing superior cultural and professional competencies for our diverse student body.”
The Arts and Agri-Tech Grant disbursements will begin in January 2022. The second round of Impact grants, focused on health, social justice and entrepreneurship, will be released in February 2022. HBCUs interested in applying are encouraged to visit www.propelcenter.org.
Imagined in January 2021 by founding partners Apple and Southern Company, the Propel Center is a first-of-its-kind innovation and learning hub for the entire HBCU community that leverages technology to advance education equity and transform the nation’s talent pipeline and workforce. Through a robust virtual learning platform, on-campus activations at partner institutions and a physical campus to be located in Georgia’s Atlanta University Center, Propel represents education now, designed for the future. The state-of-the-art edifice, featuring floating classrooms, ideation labs and common areas promoting interactive collaboration is slated for completion in the Spring of 2023. To learn more, visit propelcenter.org
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