AT&T, Boys & Girls Clubs of America collaborate to bridge digital divide
At its 20th Connected Learning Center (CLC) opening at SER Metro in Detroit, AT&T announced plans to reach 50 total centres nationwide through the AT&T Connected Learning initiative, including at Boys & Girls Clubs.
This initiative, part of a companywide [$2 billion (€1.99 billion)] commitment made last year to help address the digital divide, aims to provide communities with the connectivity, computers, and digital skills needed for success in school and in life. CLCs in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Augusta, GA were unveiled last month. For a complete list of CLCs across the country, go to AT&T.
“We know this support is vital to closing the digital divide and that’s why we continue to prioritise our efforts in underserved communities around the country,” says John Stankey, chief executive officer at AT&T. “The resources available in these centres are crucial to connecting more Americans to greater possibilities and helping them achieve educational, economic and work success.”
Housed within local organisations supporting communities in need, AT&T Connected Learning Centers provide free access to a range of digital resources, including high-speed AT&T fibre internet and Wi-Fi, Dell Technologies computers, The Achievery, a free digital learning platform created by AT&T, and digital literacy resources available through AT&T ScreenReady. Students and families also have access to free virtual and in-person tutoring and mentoring opportunities with AT&T employees.
“Today, access and connectivity online is critical to ensure kids and teens can succeed academically,” says Jim Clark, president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “We are thrilled to collaborate once again with AT&T to enable even more youth across the nation to achieve a great future.”
The collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs will scale up the reach of CLCs and assist their mission to provide support for all young people, especially those in need. Like the other CLCs, the ones at Boys & Girls Club locations will give students a place to access free high-speed connectivity, essential digital resources, and take advantage of tutoring and other support opportunities, helping them reach their full potential.
The digital divide impacts millions without an internet connection. With connectivity fueling nearly everything we do, strong communities and equitable opportunities for all people depend on access to high-performance connectivity they can afford – and the digital literacy resources that promote its safe and effective use.
Bridging the digital divide requires businesses, nonprofits and government to come together to bring high-quality connectivity to millions of people that need it most. High-quality connectivity that is affordable, as well as the digital skills and resources, are crucial to thrive in our modern world.
These efforts, and more, are part of AT&T’s “Bridge to Possibility” campaign, focused on driving awareness of the challenges caused by the digital divide and the collective response needed to address it. Efforts included:
- Launching AT&T fibre in Vanderburgh county, Indiana, as part of a public-private partnership to deliver high-speed internet to more than 20,000 homes and businesses located in unincorporated parts of the county.
- AT&T employees participating in activities to help bridge the digital divide, including distributing more than 1,000 refurbished laptop computers and rolling up their sleeves to help beautify CLCs in several cities. These efforts built on our recently announced commitment of more than [$10 million (€9.94 million)] to support the distribution of more than 26,000 free computers to students and families in need.
- Free digital literacy workshops hosted by employees throughout October to help newly connected parents, caregivers and families gain the skills and confidence they need to use technology leveraging resources developed in collaboration with the Public Library Association.
AT&T Connected Learning Centers complement the company’s participation in low-cost service programs like access from AT&T and the federal Affordable Connectivity Program by giving qualifying households the skills and resources needed to experience the full benefits of connectivity.
As part of its ongoing commitment to championing digital inclusion for underserved communities, Dell Technologies donates Dell OptiPlex computers and Dell monitors which feature integrated audio and webcams to support virtual learning. At our currently open CLCs, Overland-Tandberg, a global technology and IT services company and a Black-owned company part of AT&T’s supplier diversity initiative, provided the onsite configuration of the computers.
Learn more at AT&T.
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