Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) Club members are enjoying the new AT&T Connected Learning Center (CLC) at BGC Herbert Hoover Club, 2901 N. Grand Blvd.
The new center expands a partnership with AT&T and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis to provide access to high-speed Internet, Dell Technologies computers, and digital learning resources. In addition, AT&T contributed $50,000 to BGCSTL for programming support.
“Thank you, AT&T, for your commitment to providing youth with the tools needed to enable them to realize their full potential in the digital space,” said BGCSTL President Flint Fowler.
“We hope this is not the last Connected Learning Center to open at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.”
In St. Louis, it is estimated that nearly half of city households are affected by the digital divide. On a national scale, one in five households lack connection to the internet, and 35% of Americans do not have the digital literacy skills needed to navigate the online world.
“Club members were delighted to receive free laptops distributed by AT&T at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Teen Center of Excellence in Ferguson last year,” Fowler said.
“At Boys and Girls Clubs, we know that when we equip our youth with the tools they need to succeed, they can build great futures.”
Community leaders, AT&T representatives, volunteers, and local and state lawmakers were on hand to celebrate the unveiling of the new CLC. Included were state Sens. Karla May and Steve Roberts, and state Rep. LaKeySha Bosley (District 79), a former BGC Herbert Hoover Club kid.
BGC Herbert Hoover Club member Jessie Jones, who spoke during the ceremony, said, “It’s exciting to see the new room; everything was so old. Now everything is new & nice.”
“This new AT&T Connected Learning Center is just one element of our nationwide effort to get more Americans – and more Missourians – connected and make an impact in the communities we serve,” said AT&T Missouri President Craig Unruh.
This is the second Connected Learning Center in the St. Louis area. The first was unveiled in October at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis regional headquarters in the former Victor Roberts Building at 1408 North Kingshighway.
“The Urban League understands the importance of empowering communities with resources that create pathways to economic self-reliance,” said Jacqueline Carter, the Urban League center director at the October opening.
“Access to technology, connectivity, and digital education are essential components for educating communities, producing quality workers, and improving life outcomes. Whether someone needs basic computer skills, Microsoft Office applications training, or a professional development course, we help make success possible.”
Earlier in the week, AT&T teamed up with the Urban League to distribute 300 laptops to area families and students, including students enrolled in an entrepreneurship program at Harris-Stowe State University.
The latest distribution was done in collaboration with Compudopt. And, on April 10, AT&T teamed up with NPower to open a technology help desk for individuals in the St. Louis area.
Last year, AT&T also distributed laptops to families at the Urban League facility in North St. Louis; the Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis Teen Center of Excellence in Ferguson; and the Gene Slay Boys and Girls Club.
The resources at the center provide students with content and activities to support learning outside the classroom and help parents and caregivers build skills and confidence using technology.
Included is The Achievery, a free digital learning platform created by AT&T, as well as free digital literacy courses and workshops created with the Public Library Association.
AT&T employees and community leaders also provide tutoring and mentoring.
“The AT&T Connected Learning Center initiative allows Dell and AT&T to bring our core competencies to bear, creating opportunities for communities to access technology, connectivity, and learning resources that are not readily available otherwise,” said Maia Wagner, Dell Technologies director of giving and impact.
“We are thrilled our collaboration can extend to St. Louis and increase adoption and success in today’s digital economy.”
There are now 38 centers in the U.S, and AT&T plans to offer more than 50 locations by mid-2024. In 2021, the company launched its three-year, $2 billion commitment to help narrow the digital divide.
