Recommit, reconnect, refresh: National HBCU C² Tour held at UDC

Workshop attendees and staff at one of the workshops during the Apple HBCU C² tour.

As part of their 2022-2023 tour, Tennessee State University (TSU) and Apple kicked off the National HBCU C² Tour hosted by UDC from March 22 to March 24. The event was part of Apple’s Community Education Initiative and TSU’s HBCU C² initiative, designed to bring coding and creativity experiences to HBCUs and their communities. Prior to UDC, events were held at Texas Southern University, Dillard University, Johnson C. Smith University, Clark Atlanta University and Edward Waters College.

According to TSU, the HBCU C² initiative promotes innovation and educational equity and addresses community challenges using app design and Apple’s Swift programming language. One of the goals is to diversify the tech workforce by removing barriers, innovating STEM education, and developing life-long learning pathways. The initiative delivers professional learning for professional development credits, degree credits and professional skills badging.

Dr. Robbie K. Melton is the acting interim vice president of Academic Affairs and associate vice president of the SMART Tech Center is the Chief Administrator and Principal Investigator for the Tennessee State University and Apple (HBCU C²) Partnership promoting ‘Everyone Can Code and Create.’

Dr. Melton stated, “Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are the number one producers of the most valuable assets in the world, our students. The human capital with the capacity to be creators, inventors and innovators is an added value of the commodity.”

“HBCUs are the greatest producers of Students of Color (Black and brown) who are forward-thinkers, developers and creatives. They are innovative minds deserving space for their genius, to offer solutions to world problems, to create intellectual property (IPs), and to make notable contributions. We must prepare and recognize them. They must be visible and have a voice to speak digital languages, too.”

The HBCU C² Grant provides a platform with resources, devices and tools to enhance professional development for the infusion of diverse cultures and ethnic groups into the digital technology market spaces and across the curriculum for interdisciplinary solutions and entrepreneurial opportunities.

The opening reception was held on March 22 at the Van Ness Campus Student Center Ballroom with a welcome from UDC Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning Dean Dr. Mashonda Smith. Chief Academic Officer Dr. Lawrence Potter provided the greeting, and President Ronald Mason Jr. the presidential greeting. Also participating in the program were Apple scholars Toluwalase Adetosoye, a freshman civil engineering major; Jermel Watson, a senior computer science major; Matthew Brown, a senior mechanical engineering major and Abdoulaye Barry, a second-year computer science doctoral student.

Dr. Beverly McDonald-Robinson, director of Community Engagement & Outreach HBCU C² at TSU, presented the HBCU C² program and cited several vital statistics regarding the lack of Black and brown people in the tech world.

“We have the opportunity starting today to transform our students. We have to make a difference,” she said. “The ideology is to create space for multicultural digital technology genius to flourish and thrive. The Grant has an Outreach Component to enrich the surrounding areas of the HBCUs. The

Community components provide supplemental learning opportunities for the engagement of the K-12 students and schools, and other organizations through summer programs and activities. The youth receive an early introduction to coding, creativity, and app development to promote the agency of digital devices, languages and tools with confidence in applications,” she concluded.

Apple and the HBCU C² team hosted several breakout sessions at UDC’s Old Campus Heights Campus. Faculty leaders learned about coding and app development using Apple’s comprehensive curriculum, which utilizes its easy-to-learn Swift programming language. Other benefits included professional development and networking, ongoing learning and coaching, and earning recognition as an Apple Teacher. The group also toured the Apple Store Carnegie Library on K Street NW in DC.

Of the 45 HBCUs in the HBCU C² Initiative, 19 Colleges and Universities participated in the University of the District of Columbia Tour. The institutions included Alabama State University, Bowie State University, Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Delaware State University, Dillard University, Fisk University, Hampton University, Huston-Tillotson University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Missouri, Miles College, Morehouse College, Norfolk State University, Saint Augustine’s University, Texas Southern University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Virginia State University, and Tennessee State University.