Jul 19, 2023

Children participate in United Community's SPARKS Summer Camp, which is benefiting from a $25,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation. (Credit: AT&T/United Community)
Children participate in United Community’s SPARKS Summer Camp, which is benefiting from a $25,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation. (Credit: AT&T/United Community)

Two nonprofits around the Richmond Highway Corridor recently received grants aimed at improving the digital literacy of children and adults.

According to a July 17 press release, the AT&T Foundation awarded a $24,000 grant to Good Shepherd Housing (GSH) for its Career Power Program, which aims to enable low-income youth and young adults living in GSH properties to establish careers to support themselves and their families. Specifically, the program provides technology and digital skills training in basic skills like email drafting, word processing, resume building, job searching and videoconferencing to enhance employment opportunities.

AT&T also provided a $25,000 grant to United Community for a digital literacy program employing a free online learning platform from AT&T called “The Achievery.” The platform provides underserved elementary school students with lessons in internet safety and instruction modules for math and reading comprehension.

This is United Community’s first year using the platform as part of their eight-week SPARKS Summer Camp, the nonprofit’s Chief Development Officer Margaret Cartier told On the MoVe. Around 40 kids are enrolled in the camp at Sacramento Neighborhood Center and 25 kids at Creekside Community Center, she said.

Both grants are part of AT&T’s Connected Learning initiative, which evolved from the company’s $2 billion commitment from 2021 to 2023 to address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption.

State Delegate Paul Krizek thanked AT&T for its commitment to the Richmond Highway Corridor. “I have personally seen how United Community and Good Shepherd Housing have helped bridge gaps in education, workforce development and resources in my district,” he said. “AT&T’s grant to support these organizations furthers their ability to impact those who might not otherwise have access to technology and digital resources.”

Reprinted from MV On The MoVe. For more information, see the original.