Originally published on May 14, 2024 on blog.google.com 

Atlanta has become a bustling tech hub, with several corporate innovation centers, tech incubators and accelerators, and hundreds of startups. The metro area also has some of the best computer science and information technology programs in the country, including at Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and others. Since we opened our first office here more than 20 years ago, we’ve invested in, supported and built connections with the local community — all to support Atlanta’s continued growth.

Today we’re announcing new support initiatives in Atlanta focused on equitable tech education, including a new technology annex at Morehouse College and funding for local initiatives.

A new tech space at Morehouse College

Today we’re opening the Google Annex on Morehouse College’s campus. We worked closely with the computer science, chemistry, and the Office of Institutional Advancement departments at Morehouse to create a space that’s equipped with smartboards, HD projectors, desktop and laptop computers, and other helpful technology for both instruction and collaboration. We can't wait for educators and students to start using the Google Annex space this spring.

Support for equitable tech education

Since 2022, we’ve made investments and charitable contributions in Atlanta totalling $10 million to support equity in the tech industry. That includes a handful of new local projects we’re working on with academic and nonprofit organizations. We’re collaborating with:

• Atlanta University Center (AUC) to develop and launch a Computer Science (CS) education course for teachers in training, allowing CS and STEM majors at the AUC to apply what they learn in real-world settings. This builds on our work with the AUC to offer educators professional development on CS First, Applied Digital Skills and AI productivity tools.
• Learn4Life to design and implement a regional strategy to provide career exposure opportunities in high-demand industries for metro area youth.
• The AI4GA research team to help them train middle school teachers on their new AI curriculum.
• ACM to sponsor their ninth annual Conference for Research on Equitable and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT) this week at Georgia Institute of Technology, which will highlight reciprocal influences of research and policy on CS education.

Read the full article at blog.google.com