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Detroit's Apple Dev Academy: Success or Struggle?
24 Dec
Summary
- Apple's $200M response to BLM protests launched an academy in Detroit.
- Graduates cite insufficient stipends and limited job prospects.
- Program aims to diversify tech but faces challenges in student success.
Launched as part of Apple's $200 million commitment following the Black Lives Matter protests, the Apple Developer Academy in Detroit aimed to create tech opportunities for people of color. The program, which has enrolled over 1,700 students since 2021, offers a 10-month course in partnership with Michigan State University.
Despite exposing students to new possibilities and receiving positive feedback on mentorship and inclusive app development, challenges persist. Some graduates reported inadequate cost-of-living stipends, leading to financial hardship, and found the curriculum insufficient for securing coding jobs without prior experience or a portfolio.
The academy's broad accessibility, catering to students of various ages and backgrounds, complicates instruction and outcome measurement. While some researchers praise its free, high-quality instruction compared to debt-inducing bootcamps, its ultimate impact on diverse community uplift remains a subject of ongoing evaluation.
