2023-06-14 12:56:48
A Apple announced today an investment of more $25 million for your Racial Justice and Equality Initiative (Racial Equity and Justice Initiativeor REJI), which now accumulates over $200 million in investments — more than double the originally planned allocation of US$100 million.
The initiative launched in June 2020, with a mission to “challenge systemic barriers” to opportunity that exist primarily for black people, with a special focus on issues such as education, economic equality and criminal justice reform.
Building a more just and equitable world is urgent work that requires collaboration, commitment and a common sense of purpose. We are proud to partner with many extraordinary organizations that are dedicated to addressing injustice and eliminating barriers to opportunity. We will continue to lead with our values as we expand our efforts to create opportunities, strengthen communities and help build a better future for all.
—Tim CookCEO from Apple
Initially implemented in the United States, REJI has since expanded to Australiao Mexico and the United Kingdom since its launch — and it’s coming to the New Zealand in partnership with the The Skillthe largest vocational educational center in the country.
Through REJI’s education grants, Apple has contributed more than 160 mil students, at the same time that it allocated more than $50 million to historically black colleges and universities (historically black colleges and universitiesor HBCUs) and Hispanic institutions (hispanic serving institutionsor HSIs) to support science, technology, engineering, the arts, and other opportunities.
More than that, REJI’s criminal justice reform grants have supported legal services, safe housing, identification services, access to health and social rehabilitation resources for more than 19 mil people adversely affected by justice.
Apple also unveiled meaningful new partnerships with organizations to achieve its goals. One of them is with My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (MBKA), an Obama Foundation program whose goal is to build safe and supportive communities for black adults and youth where they feel valued and have opportunity.
Apple’s continued support of the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance enables the foundation to develop and implement new initiatives that create opportunities for our youth. Together, we are building a more inclusive education system that nurtures creativity, fosters innovation and transforms the lives of black boys and youth across the country. We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to our continued collective efforts to ensure that all young people can reach their full potential.
—Valerie JarrettCEO of the Obama Foundation
Apple has also pledged $25 million to funds such as the Collab Capitalo Harlem Capital and the VamosVentureswho work with companies that are run by minorities.
In addition to showcasing these and many other projects your project supports, Apple also released its first REJI Impact Overview [PDF]a report on the impacts of the initiative in its areas of focus (education, economic empowerment and criminal justice reform).
Maçã also detailed some other partnerships with communities in order to “generate impact and achieve significant changes” in other social agendas; among them, the company added a representation of indigenous lands to its Mapswhich now showcase tribal, indigenous, Inuit, and Métis territories across the US and Canada.
Apple has also implemented in its Maps support for double language — including in indigenous language syllabaries — and redesigned the indigenous land cards to show more detail, working directly with communities to curate the content displayed.
Finally, the company highlighted other social endeavors, which include funding for US organizations in the places where its team members live and work, including grants to minority-led groups focused on equity and environmental justice; support for communities disproportionately affected by climate change; curricula for students of all ages to explore important issues in their communities and create innovative solutions to make a lasting impact; as well as collaborating with institutes to create products that represent communities and languages that may be underrepresented in technology.
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