SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Apple on Wednesday announced a set of major new projects as part of its 100 million U.S. dollars Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) to help dismantle systemic barriers to opportunity and combat injustices faced by communities of color.

These efforts include the Propel Center, a global innovation and learning hub for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); an Apple Developer Academy to support coding and tech education for students in Detroit; and venture capital funding for Black and Brown entrepreneurs, the announcement said.

Apple's REJI commitments aim to expand opportunities for communities of color across the country and to help build the next generation of diverse leaders, according to the company.

"We are all accountable to the urgent work of building a more just, more equitable world - and these new projects send a clear signal of Apple's enduring commitment," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We're launching REJI's latest initiatives with partners across a broad range of industries and backgrounds - from students to teachers, developers to entrepreneurs, and community organizers to justice advocates - working together to empower communities that have borne the brunt of racism and discrimination for far too long."

Last June, Apple announced REJI in the wake of protests around the world following the killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd.

The initiative builds on Apple's work to advance racial equity in education, the economy, and the criminal justice system and is led by Apple's vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, Lisa Jackson.

"For too long, communities of color have faced gross injustices and institutional barriers to their pursuit of the American dream, and we are proud to lend our voices and resources to build new engines of opportunity that empower, inspire, and create meaningful change," said Jackson. Enditem

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