Comcast announced today it will host ‘Little Zone Digital Equity Day: A Commitment to Connectivity and Bridging the Digital Divide’. The event will be held Monday, August 29th, 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Penick Boys and Girls Club. The facility is located at 1201 Leisure Place in Little Rock.
“Comcast’s investment in digital inclusion will have an incredible impact on the Penick Boys and Girls Club,” said Central Arkansas Boys and Girls Clubs CEO Cindy Doramus. “I’d like to thank Comcast for advancing future workforce readiness by supporting this club, which provides a safe place for our students to learn and thrive.”
The event will highlight Comcast’s $40,000 digital equity investment, which includes a technology makeover of the Penick Boys and Girls Club Lift Zone and a grant to support access to technology, digital exploration, and digital skills for workforce training. The event will also feature the Internet Essentials ‘Ready for Anything’ Essay Awards presentation, a tour of the upgraded Lift Zone and other surprise presentations.
“Digital equity is a priority of my administration, and I applaud Comcast for its efforts to bridge the digital divide in Little Rock,” said Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. “Today’s announcement is another milestone toward ensuring our local youth have the resources they need to be successful in a digital world.”
Event participants include Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., Central Arkansas Boys and Girls Clubs CEO Cindy Doramus, and several Penick Boys and Girls Club Youth Ambassadors. The event will be hosted by Comcast Senior Manager of External Affairs Evangeline Parker-Guest.
Lift Zones provide internet connectivity at community centers and other public facilities, allowing students to get online, participate in distance learning and do their homework. The sites also benefit adults, connecting them to online education, job searches, healthcare information and public assistance.
Internet Essentials is Comcast’s low-cost broadband adoption program for low-income households with grammar, high school, and college students; seniors; veterans; people with disabilities; and residents enrolled in public assistance and housing assistance programs. Since its launch in 2011, Internet Essentials has connected a cumulative total of 10 million Americans to the Internet at home.
Today’s announcement by Comcast is part of Project UP, a comprehensive initiative aimed at advancing digital equity in Little Rock and across the nation.
