A partnership between AT&T, Human IT and the Education Foundation of Alachua County is providing 200 refurbished laptops for Alachua County students. The first 80 went to students in the Willie Mae Stokes Community Center’s Celebrate Success afterschool program, with about 20 more going to other Micanopy students.
“I’m thankful to be a part of a community that… is investing in our families and our future and seeing the importance of being able to really come together,” Micanopy Mayor Jiana Williams said. “I think that’s really where it starts, and if we can build on that inwardly then it will make all the change on a more larger scale.”
About 8,500 students grades K-12 in Alachua County do not have home access to “digital basics” such as internet access, computers and online skills, according to a press release. As part of its ongoing Connected Learning Program, AT&T plans to provide a million people in need with digital resources, including 26,000 refurbished laptops.
On Thursday, AT&T and the Education Foundation will bring another 100 laptops to students in Hawthorne, and in a few weeks 200 more will go to Cross City.
Technology requirements for students have risen dramatically in recent years, according to Jayne Moraski, executive director of the Education Foundation. She said without access to the right resources, students will struggle. Though the Education Foundation normally provides aid through scholarships, mentoring and teacher grants, Moraski said the laptop giveaway fits perfectly within the foundation’s mission.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for kids to succeed in school and that’s what we do,” Moraski said.
Bishop Chris Stokes, the community center’s executive director, said he was glad to see the donation made to a rural community, where many families do not have computers or connectivity. The community center has free wi-fi, so Stokes said students often show up to do online homework from the center’s steps.
“This is big for us,” Stokes said. “This is big for our community.”
Kevin Craig, AT&T’s regional director for corporate external and legislative affairs, said the company chose where to give out laptops based on the community’s need. He said closing the digital divide requires devices, affordability and connectivity, and that “help is on the way” for Micanopy’s internet access.
AT&T received a state grant earlier this year and is in the early stages of contracting for a fiber project that should bring high speed connectivity to Micanopy, Archer and Hawthorne in the next few years.
“Devices are great, hotspots are great, but we’re really focused on the future here in south Alachua,” Craig said.
