I would like to invite you to watch an inspiring video about “Computers 4 Kids,” a program just launched by Connected Tennessee.   You will hear the story of Lotez Holloway, a foster care child who has been in six homes in five years, but retains his enthusiasm and drive for educational excellence. “At school these days, basically you need a computer to get along,” Holloway says. “It’s like your pencil now.”

Through the Computers 4 Kids program, Connected Tennessee and its partners are placing 1,000 computers in the homes of underprivileged children each year for the next three years.   Why are we doing this?   Simple.   Students need a computer at home in order to succeed at school.  

Click Here to Read More

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Connected Nation, Inc., today announced the launch of Connect!, a new campaign to promote the critical need for expanding broadband to all communities throughout the Nation.   A key element of the campaign is a series of public dialogues. Brian and I also briefed reporters on the economic impact of accelerating broadband deployment in various states and the broadband mapping bills that Congress is now considering.

We’re hoping to build on the success of initiatives like ConnectKentucky, a public-private partnership that helped boost broadband availability in the state to 95 percent of Kentucky households last year, from only 60 percent in 2004.

Click Here to Read More and See Coverage of the Announcement

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NextGenWeb recently spent a day visiting the San Francisco One Economy center. At the heart of the organization’s work is the development and growth of the San Francisco Beehive and the youth leadership program, Digital Connectors.

The Digital Connectors are youth leaders who serve as technology ambassadors in low-income neighborhoods in cities throughout the US. They are trained by One Economy so that they may educate their friends, families and neighbors to connect to the Internet and use its resources to find new jobs, learn new skills and help educate their children.

In San Francisco, One Economy also partnered with the city to build and launch new digital inclusion programs to help families obtain affordable computers and Internet access. Working with the Mayor’s Office of Community Development, One Economy built digital communities at low-income housing centers throughout the city. These digital communities have helped hundreds of families become first time computer owners and receive critical computer and Internet training.

Click below to watch our v-cast interviews with Leonardo Sosa, Program Director of One Economy and other program representatives and associates who discuss the impact broadband access has on the low-income communities of San Francisco.

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By Ernestine Walls Benedict
Director, Online Communications — Reading Is Fundamental

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), America’s oldest and largest children’s literacy non-profit, is betting on broadband to help expand the reach and impact of its mission. RIF motivates children to embrace reading as a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. Through a national, grassroots network of thousands of volunteers at 20,000 RIF program sites, 4.6 million children are provided with 16 million free books annually. While these numbers are impressive, there are countless children in underserved communities that we aim to reach.

As broadband continues to penetrate learning environments across the country, particularly in low-income urban and rural communities, RIF is able to cost-effectively extend its reach to children, teachers, parents, and volunteers by providing meaningful and immersive literacy experiences online. RIF is leveraging this richer experience across a greater number of initiatives to take full advantage of the power of broadband.

To Read More and

Watch the Reading Is Fundamental For Our Children & Our Future Video

Click Here

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