We launched Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) to address systemic racism and expand opportunities for communities of color in three key areas: education, economic empowerment, and criminal justice reform.
“We’re committed to continuing to develop and strengthen strategies aimed at addressing racial inequity and injustice in the U.S.”
Alisha Johnson
Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives (EPSI) and Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI)
One way we’ve expanded opportunities is by bringing the Apple Developer Academy to downtown Detroit — its first U.S. location — through a partnership with Michigan State University (MSU). The academy reaches nearly 750 participants from the Detroit metropolitan area every year, with both short-term and long-term programs that teach the fundamentals of coding, design, project management, marketing, and iOS app development. The Developer Academy is also committed to helping public high school seniors continue their education by providing them with stipends to attend the academy.
REJI has since expanded its work beyond the United States, including initiatives in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Mexico.
“While our efforts in the U.S. remain a priority, we must also support solutions that combat systemic issues for Black and Brown people and communities around the globe,” says Johnson.
In Australia, REJI has funded initiatives and community nonprofits serving Indigenous communities. One example is First Australians Capital, a national Indigenous-led organization that gives Indigenous businesses the financial knowledge and capital support needed to thrive. Another is Original Power, an Indigenous-led organization that has launched community-led renewable energy projects in the Northern Territory and beyond to help provide Indigenous communities with lower-cost, clean energy.
And in the United Kingdom, a partnership with the Southbank Centre — the U.K.’s largest multi-arts center — supports emerging Black talent. The partnership program, Reframe, provides 80 creatives from London, Manchester, and Birmingham the opportunity and resources to showcase their work and positions them for long-lasting careers in the arts. “Through partnerships, we’re using our platform to amplify the work of local organizations and communities globally, and help drive meaningful change,” says Johnson.
In Mexico, Apple has been working closely with universities across the country to help set up and launch iOS Development Labs — bringing coding with Apple’s programming language, Swift, to students and preparing them for careers in Mexico’s thriving iOS app economy. With 12 iOS Development Labs across the country, these students get hands-on experience to learn Swift — ultimately creating, designing, and coding their own apps to make a difference in their communities.
Learn more about REJI