Apple donating $1 million to San Jose equity and education initiative

Given that the 2021 WWDC will be virtual, Apple is donating $1 million to SJ Aspires to show support for the local economy.

WWDC 2021 will be another entirely online event shared over the course of a week in June. Normally, developers from around the world flood San Jose for the conference and boost the local economy, but the pandemic isn't over yet.

Apple will make a $1 million donation to San Jose's equity and education initiative as a part of its $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REIJ). The San Jose initiative is called SJ Aspires and focuses on enabling youth in underserved neighborhoods to set goals and chart a path toward receiving a college education.

The program offers a performance-based scholarship program that educates students about college and career choices as well as individual mentorship. Apple is also involved with the San Jose Public Library Foundation in support of technology programming.

Apple started the Racial Equity and Justice Initiative on February 1, 2021 with a $100 million initial funding. The company hopes the initiative will help combat systemic racism and provide opportunities to communities of color.

The first project funded by the REIJ is an education facility called the Propel Center. Apple describes it as "a first-of-its-kind global innovation and learning hub for Historically Black Colleges and Universities." It will be built in the Atlanta University Center.