Delgado to Launch 3 Centers for Innovation and Technological Exploration Locations with Support from Apple

December 10, 2025

Delgado Community College, with support from Apple, is deploying educational programs, resources, and tools throughout New Orleans to amplify voices of creatives and make a lasting impact on the workforce trajectory through innovative, tech-forward learning experiences.

Through this trailblazing partnership, Delgado is launching three Centers for Innovation and Technological Exploration (CITE) locations in New Orleans. Each CITE will be fully equipped with Apple devices (i.e., iPad, Apple Pencil, iMac, and Apple TVs) that will be used to facilitate training in coding, podcasting, storytelling and moviemaking. The CITEs will also offer space to create digital media projects and explore innovative programming in robotics, design, and 3D printing.

The overarching goal of the initiative is to expand educational programming to thousands of learners across the city through a tiered approach that includes: launching the CITEs, establishing the Delgado Community College Mobile lab to offer more accessible learning opportunities, deploying donated technology and resources, and providing immersive programs and experiential activations for youth, adults, educators and program administrators.

This new initiative builds on the community education and creativity efforts Apple has supported in New Orleans since 2019 through its Community Education Initiative.

“We believe education is a powerful force for access and opportunity, giving students the tools to dream, create, and achieve great things,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “We’ve been working with community partners across New Orleans since 2019, and it’s incredible to see the way young people here are creating art, music, and social impact with Apple technology. We’re proud to continue building on this work alongside Delgado Community College and so many other local organizations who share our commitment to the youth of New Orleans.”

Dr. Larissa Littleton Steib, Chancellor at Delgado said, “Apple continues to prove its commitment to Delgado and New Orleans by investing its technology and resources in ways that strengthen and empower our workforce. Delgado appreciates the partnership and ability to be a conduit of learning for those who want to learn forward-thinking technology.”

The community organizations that will benefit from the initiative through training and access to hardware are Junior Achievement, St. Augustine High School, Elan Academy, Boystown. Community partners and Apple Community Education grantees who are a part of the ONE NOLA initiative will also benefit from the grant. The ONE NOLA Initiative, which includes Delgado Community College, the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, Arts New Orleans, and others, is a collaborative effort that brings together many community partners in support of providing opportunities for New Orleans youth through Apple technology.

Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, said: “We believe education is a powerful force for access and opportunity, giving students the tools to dream, create, and achieve great things. We’ve been working with community partners across New Orleans since 2019, and it’s incredible to see the way young people here are creating art, music, and social impact with Apple technology. We’re proud to continue building on this work alongside Delgado Community College and so many other local organizations who share our commitment to the youth of New Orleans.”

Larry Washington, President at Junior Achievement, said: “We’re excited to team up with Delgado Community College to bring incredible opportunities to students across New Orleans. Thanks to Apple’s donation of devices, creative tools and training for educators, our JA BizTown storefront will give fifth graders the chance to make their own commercials and experience technology in a fun, hands-on way.”