In collaboration with Apple through its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, the PROPEL Center Arts & Entertainment Industry Accelerator aims to increase diversity within the industry.
This yearlong program focuses on empowering students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by fostering empathy, storytelling, motivational leadership, and strategic thinking. Participants engage in the “What’s Your Superpower?” course to discover and embrace their authentic selves.
Liza Montgomery, a 2024 mass communications graduate from Xavier University of Louisiana, exemplifies the spirit of empathy and leadership. “I think the empathy comes from me being a first child. I’ve always looked out for my younger siblings and cousins and wanted to make sure that they are good,” Montgomery shares. She is among more than 100 HBCU students selected for the PROPEL creative arts accelerator.
Since February, these students have been enhancing their skills through micro-credential courses on the PROPEL Learn app, virtual career panels with Apple professionals, and résumé-writing workshops. This summer, 50 participants, including Montgomery, attended a 10-day immersive experience at Tennessee State University in Nashville and Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta. Here, they received mentorship from HBCU faculty and industry professionals and collaborated with experts at the Apple Music Nashville office.
(photos and video courtesy of Apple Music)
The accelerator, part of Apple’s $25 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, aims to dismantle systemic barriers and create new pathways for HBCU students into competitive industries. Dr. Lisa Herring, PROPEL Center’s president, highlights the importance of expert mentorship: “There’s nothing more powerful than for a student to be able to interface with someone who is the expert as they seek to become one.”
The PROPEL Center provides educational programming across disciplines such as AI, social justice, entertainment, and more, with ongoing mentorship and internships facilitated by Apple. Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, emphasizes the mission to advance equity and access for under-resourced communities.
In Nashville, students engaged in enriching experiences, including a fireside chat with Ebro Darden, Apple Music’s global editorial head of Hip Hop and R&B, and hands-on sessions at Universal Music Group’s East Iris Studios. They collaborated on projects under the theme “Propelling Preservation,” showcasing how Black creatives contribute to social movements and sustain HBCU culture.
Montgomery, who designed her group’s marketing plan and cover art, used the Procreate app on her iPad Pro, praising its versatility. Emmanuel Strickland, a Tennessee State University student and emerging R&B singer, contributed by recording lyrics and melodies on his iPhone 13 Pro Max, and producing tracks at home using Pro Tools.
Participants collaborated with artist Fresh Ayr and the audio engineering team at UMG East Iris Studios to produce a song in Logic Pro. Strickland reflects on the experience: “The accelerator is enlightening, showing how to do a tour, or this is what’s going on behind the scenes.”
Montgomery adds, “The PROPEL program does a great job of giving HBCU students a platform to truly show who we are. We can express ourselves artistically, build invaluable relationships, and have authentic conversations with industry professionals.”
The accelerator’s comprehensive approach provides students with a holistic understanding of the industry, preparing them for future careers. Sylvester Polk, a music engineering mentor, emphasizes the program’s impact: “The accelerator has been great for providing the students with a holistic understanding of what the industry is and how it works.”
Strickland concludes, “This program allows us to be in the room, be heard, and connect with industry professionals. There are going to be real-life connections that people can foster, nurture, and potentially make something significant with.”