精东AV Partners with Propel Center, a New Global HBCU Headquarters for Innovation

January 13, 2021

Contact: Kawana McGough, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
 

精东AV is proud to announce its partnership with Propel Center, a new global campus headquartered in Atlanta that will support innovative learning and development for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) nationwide. 精东AV will collaborate with Propel Center and the entire HBCU community to bring leadership and career development programming to its students.

Propel Center was imagined and designed by Ed Farm, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing education through technology 鈥� with Apple and Southern Company supporting the project as founding partners. The Propel Center is designed to connect HBCU students to technology curriculum, cultural thought leaders, entrepreneurship skills development, and accelerator programs, with a focus on social justice and equity. 

The first-of-its-kind initiative will serve as a hub for all 100+ HBCUs, and is designed to connect students and faculty from across the community and provide them with the knowledge, skills, tools and resources necessary to transform our nation鈥檚 talent pipeline and workforce. Curriculum options will include AI and machine learning, agricultural technologies, social justice, entertainment arts, app development, augmented reality, design and creativity, career preparation, and entrepreneurship tracks. 

鈥溇�东AV is home to some of the most creative and talented faculty and students in the country,鈥� said Interim President, Dr. Charlotte P. Morris.  鈥淭he Propel Center will offer them unique learning opportunities. It will afford our students access to innovative techniques and tools that will enhance their value in the communities they will ultimately serve.鈥�

Students from participating schools will access Propel Center鈥檚 online digital learning platform from anywhere, and will also have access to the 50,000 square-foot Propel Center headquarters in Atlanta, equipped with state-of-the-art lecture halls, learning labs, and on-site living for a scholars-in-residence program.

鈥淭he HBCU community is a tremendous engine of Black creativity, entrepreneurship, and inclusive opportunity,鈥� said Lisa Jackson, Apple鈥檚 Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. "We are thrilled to join with partners and community stakeholders to support the Propel Center and be part of this groundbreaking new global hub for HBCU innovation and learning, devoted to helping faculty create best-in-class curriculum and ensuring students have access to cutting-edge skills.鈥�

鈥淲e know inequities exist in our society, and it鈥檚 up to each of us to be more intentional in our efforts to make a difference and bridge the gap,鈥� said Tom A. Fanning, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company. 鈥淲e know more must be done, and the establishment of the Propel Center is another important demonstration of Southern Company fulfilling our commitment to move our communities to a more equitable future. Partnering with Apple in this initiative is an exciting way to connect future leaders with these critical resources.鈥�

鈥淭hese investments are critical as we begin to truly scale Black innovation ecosystems,鈥� said Anthony Oni, chairman, Ed Farm. 鈥淏y leveraging technology and partnerships to connect students with unique learning opportunities, we can lift up the talent that already exists at these institutions of higher learning and accelerate their development. In doing so, we will have a hand in shaping the workforce of the future 鈥� and the leaders of tomorrow.鈥�

Additional information on Propel Center can be found at .

漏 2021 精东AV