An Exciting New Partnership
Pathway Community Foundation and South Carolina Institutes of Innovation and Information Partner for HBCU Smart Cities Program Expansion
PCF and SCIII Advance Innovation and Technology Education for College Students Through Strategic Collaboration
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Pathway Community Foundation (PCF) will bring the HBCU Smart Cities Program to South Carolina in partnership with the South Carolina Institutes of Innovation and Information (SCIII) in the fall of 2025. The collaboration will provide hands-on opportunities for students at seven South Carolina colleges and universities to work with municipal entities and offer practical solutions to improve local communities.
Through this collaboration, SCIII and PCF will advance the HBCU Smart Cities Program by expanding its reach to South Carolina stakeholders and Historically Black College and University (HBCU) campuses. The program aims to foster valuable partnerships and collaboration that align with the Pathway Community Foundation’s dedication to innovation and community empowerment.
“Together with Pathway Community Foundation, South Carolina Institutes of Innovation and Information is thrilled to expand offerings to students at SCIII’s institute campuses through a unique experience to work alongside departments that are shaping life in communities across our state,” said Dr. Gwynth R. Nelson, Executive Director of SCIII. “This partnership will unlock new opportunities for students and institutions that advance our mission to enhance the capabilities and contributions of South Carolina’s HBCUs that benefit citizens throughout the state.”
The collaboration begins as the North Carolina HBCU Smart Cities Program, in partnership with Mastercard, embarks on its third year of programming. The fellowship provides students hailing from cities across the U.S. with emerging technology workshops, guidance from smart city coaches, and in-person site visits to the program’s partnering cities. Students also receive hands-on, real-world experience with developing solutions for emerging problems in participating municipalities. The program inspires the next generation of innovators to elevate their communities with smart city technology-based solutions and empower them with the tools they need to make a difference in their communities.
Ayinde Simon, President and Director of Partnerships for Pathway Community Foundation, expressed his enthusiasm for the expansion and partnership: “We are proud to welcome SCIII as a partner in expanding our Smart Cities Program to South Carolina. This collaboration reaffirms PCF’s commitment to empowering HBCU students, fostering innovation, and shaping the future of smart cities and sustainable communities for all.”
The South Carolina program will officially launch in April 2025, with applications opening to all South Carolina HBCU students interested in advancing smart city innovations. Selected fellows will commence their journey in the Fall 2025 fellowship. The 2025 NC HBCU Smart Cities Program is already in full swing, with the highly anticipated Pitch Competition scheduled for April 25, 2025, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
For more information or partnership inquiries, please contact Sydney Taylor (sydney@pathwayoz.com) or Ayana Hernandez (ahernandez@che.sc.gov).
About Pathway Community Foundation
Pathway Community Foundation is a dynamic collaborative effort that is committed to innovation and community empowerment. Our mission is to unite aspiring students, dedicated educators, and forward-thinking city officials in shaping the cities of tomorrow.
At the heart of our vision is the belief that diversity, creativity, and collaboration can address
complex urban challenges. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and fostering inclusive,
innovative thinking, we empower students to become catalysts of positive change in their
communities
About South Carolina Institutes of Information and Innovation
The South Carolina Institutes of Innovation and Information, a program under the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, leverages the resources of the state’s seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities through campus institutes that partner with South Carolina businesses and industries to expand scholarship, increase the state’s workforce, empower local communities and enrich South Carolina’s economy. SCIII serves and complements the institutions’ mission and growing student populations while delivering the community’s needs through partnerships with local, regional and national businesses, corporations and nonprofit organizations. Visit www.sciii.net for more information or call 803-516-4629.
