automotive

Chevy, Nissan, Toyota Support HBCU, AAPI

Automakers including General Motors, Nissan and Toyota are stepping up their efforts to support diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. 

General Motors' Chevrolet brand and the National Newspaper Publishers Association have expanded the Discover the Unexpected fellowship, offering more students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities internships to explore a variety of roles.

The program, which is in its fifth year, will now provide 10 students from HBCUs a 10-week virtual summer internship from June 7 to Aug. 14.

The NNPA will place five students with prestigious news organizations across broadcast, film and journalism disciplines to focus on digital and social content creation. 

For the first time, Chevrolet will offer five additional students the opportunity to work within the company, contributing to brand building and marketing. Each fellow will have access to a 2022 Bolt EV to learn more about Chevrolet and General Motors’ vision for an all-electric future and create engaging content showcasing how the vehicle fits into their lives.

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Chevrolet will award each fellow a $10,000 scholarship and a $5,000 stipend. The program has awarded nearly $500,000 in scholarships and stipends since 2016.

In addition to the NNPA, Chevrolet works with Carol H. Williams Advertising, the brand’s African American agency of record, on the "Discover the Unexpected" fellowship. The fellows also will participate in a weekly lecture, featuring executives from Chevy’s agency and sponsorship partners in the entertainment and sports sectors.

Meanwhile, Nissan is again making a donation to Mississippi’s seven HBCUs to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics programming at each school.

With this contribution, Nissan has invested nearly $1.5 million in Mississippi’s HBCUs since opening its Canton, Mississippi vehicle assembly plant in 2003.

The seven HBCUs receiving a donation from Nissan are Alcorn State University, Coahoma Community College, Hinds Community College - Utica Campus, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Rust College and Tougaloo College.

Finally, Toyota is building upon its longstanding support of the Asian American Pacific Islander community, increasing funding by $1 million to 11 national and local AAPI organization

The automaker is focusing on six priority areas with AAPI partners, including programming that fosters deepened cultural awareness, and small business support to address Asian-owned businesses that have been hardest hit during the pandemic.

In addition to the company-sponsored funding, Toyota’s more than 36,000 U.S. employees are invited to participate in a double-match campaign for four select AAPI organizations through Toyota4Good, the employee volunteer and giving platform. Employees are also using Toyota4Good to raise awareness and funds for the COVID-19 crisis in India.

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