No single group of institutions is more responsible for the economic, cultural and legal progress of our nation’s Black families than historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Their history of contributing, of over-delivering while being systematically under-resourced, of making remarkable progress to advance equity while they, themselves, had to confront real inequities is astounding. And a legacy of which we can all be proud.
They collectively have been able to deliver these miraculous outcomes because of—not in spite of—their ability to offer students safe spaces for Black joy and expression, taking special care to honor our rituals and traditions while celebrating and redefining Blackness. 
Edward Smith-Lewis
Now, as HBCUs look ahead, it’s time for them to prepare to be as transformative for future generations as they have been for past generations. But we cannot—we must not—revert this exceptional experience to the typical for the sake of online convenience.
We at the Institute for Capacity Building are honored to be playing a part in this discussion about what the future of HBCUs can look like, and specifically, how technology can play a role in delivering a true HBCU experience virtually and remotely.
It’s an initiative we call “HBCUv,” and, put most simply, it is a vision for creating not just a shared e-learning platform for Black colleges and universities, but a true connected community for learning.
The charge of HBCUv is to embrace emerging technologies in ways that advance our core values and the core value we offer our students and our communities. To translate Black pedagogy into virtual spaces. To continue honoring the full breadth of our racial identities and histories. To elevate and support our exceptional educators and researchers, and their critically important critical lenses.
