Walmart and award-winning writer/producer Issa Rae have announced an amazing new partnership that will serve several up-and-coming, Black creatives with an opportunity of a lifetime. Along with Rae’s HOORAE Media, the companies launched the Black & Unlimited Digital Development Program, giving the next generation of Black creators the tools and guidance to succeed in an industry that often overlooks their talent. Participants will receive an unparalleled level of support needed to amplify their voices and tell authentic stories of Black intersectional identities.

The inaugural class includes nine talented Black creatives from across the country: Alex Hill, Amanda S. Wicks, Archie Jay, Brelynn Hunt, Cam Sullivan-Brown, Destiny Aaiyana, Mariah Jae, Chef Shaiheem and Tyris Winter. The group will participate in mentorship opportunities with top industry professionals and were invited to a special kick-off weekend of panels, content production and curated events in Los Angeles, CA. The program will continue throughout this month with four key “creator courses,” presented by some of the most notable personalities from various social platforms, including Brittney Janae, Erin On Demand, La’Ron Hines, Freddie Ransom, and Dzifa Yador.

The group of nine will focus on building their careers on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, and will all be featured on Walmart’s YouTube channel and other social properties as part of the larger “Black & Unlimited” initiative. Before presenting their final content pieces, creators will learn the necessary steps to establish their voice and brand with the course, Honing and Owning Your Voice and also how to “maximize your content capture game with an industry-standard approach to camera, lighting, and space” with a course called Fill the Frame.

The creator class will have the opportunity to gain further insight into equipment handling with Listen Up! Podcasting, Mics, & More. Students will also learn how to create “visually dynamic social content” with Cut the Clip: Editing Techniques and Approaches for Social-First Content.

Walmart and HOORAE understand how financial hardships can significantly impact an artist’s ability to make their dreams a reality and that’s why all participants will receive creator kits with state-of-the-art equipment and a $10,000 stipend “to offset pay inequities traditionally experienced by Black creators and help them focus on limitless discovery and creation,” according to the program’s website.

Other incentives include a custom library of music created by Raedio to use in future projects and productions, which is available to the public in addition to the instructional videos. The content creator incubator program serves as part of Walmart’s continued promise to empower the Black community in the pursuit of creating more equitable opportunities.

“There’s so much more to being a creator than developing content and sharing it with the world,” D.J. Vaughn, director of Multicultural Media Partnerships at Walmart, explained. “We are excited to collaborate with HOORAE for the first time to provide Black creators with the tools, resources, and education they need to be successful through this innovative program.”

In an official statement, the creator and star of HBO’s critically acclaimed series, Insecure expressed how proud she is to have HOORAE partner with Walmart “to support Black creators as they share their content with new audiences.” She continued, “With the support of the Black & Unlimited Digital Development initiative, the selected creators will expand their brands and develop their voices in our underrepresented industry.”

For more on the Black & Unlimited Digital Development Program and this exciting opportunity, click here.