RaduTyrsina
News Team
Apple has always been an advocate for more diversity in the tech industry. And in a recent interview with Fortune, Denise Young Smith (in the above picture), VP of Worldwide Human Resources at Apple, revealed that the company has committed $50 million over the next several years to the cause.
Speaking to Michal Lev-Ram, she said the following:
"We wanted to create opportunities for minority candidates to get their first job at Apple. There is tremendous upside to that and we are dogged about the fact that we can’t innovate without being diverse and inclusive.”
According to her, Apple is committing over $40 million to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, a non-profit that supports students enrolled in public, historically black colleges and universities. Johnny Taylor, the president and CEO of the fund, said the following:
"Historically, other organizations have provided scholarship dollars or focused on whatever area matters most to them. What differentiates this partnership with Apple is that it hits on everything that we do—it is the most comprehensive program ever offered to an HBCU organization.”
The money will be used to create a database of computer science majors at HBCUs, and also to train both students and faculty and offer scholarships. A paid internship program for particularly promising students will be created, as well.
Source: Fortune
