Pharrell Williams and Verizon announced the creation of a partnership to launch a tech-infused music curriculum in nationwide Verizon Innovative Learning schools.
According to Billboard, the Verizon Foundation’s education program works to provide free technology, internet access, and technology-focused curriculum to lower income and under-resourced middle schools.
The partnership will include the building of a Verizon Innovative Learning Lab located in Pharrell’s hometown of Virginia Beach. The lab will feature cutting edge technology such as virtual reality, augmented reality, robotics, and machine learning.
“I want all children to have access to that kind of creative growth, access, and support. All kids, not just my own,” the producer recently told Billboard, speaking on how art can impact lives.
“There’s a lot of variables in a situation as to why something falls apart, but there’s only one scenario where it holds together, and that’s when all the variables are there. The environment, the family, the school, the system — there’s so many things. We just want to do what we can to balance the odds so that as many kids as we can afford, or help and assist in whatever ways, get this access and support.”
