Apple CEO Tim Cook today announced his company’s $100 million commitment to Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice initiative.
The unfinished work of racial justice and equality call us all to account. Things must change, and Apple’s committed to being a force for that change. Today, I’m proud to announce Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, with a $100 million commitment.
The effort will be led by Apple’s vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives, Lisa Jackson.
Lisa has revolutionized our environmental work by looking across the company, bringing existing teams and projects together under one umbrella, dramatically expanding those efforts and compounding and magnifying their results. We want to bring that same holistic focus and companywide scale to racial justice and breaking down barriers to opportunity across our society.
Cook says the initiative will significantly broaden the scope and impact of Apple’s existing work in the racial justice space and will use a model already in place for Apple’s environmental efforts.
Apple’s effort will build upon its work with historically black colleges, community colleges, STEM education, and underserved students and teachers. It will also create new partnerships with black-owned businesses.
Cook says that there is more “we can and must do to hire, develop, and support those from underrepresented groups.”
Our commitment is to meet this challenge. Listening, learning, and acting collaboratively. Apple has never shied away from tough conversations about tough topics. In fact, they’re the only way we make progress and that is still true today. We will do our part, and I want to send our gratitude to everyone who is pushing needed changes forward in their communities. Thank you.