Commissioner Barrett Launches Digital Equity Initiative in Partnership with Inspiredu and Comcast

^{Pictured above is Richard Hicks, CEO & President at Inspiredu with Lisa Walker-Holloway, Senior Manager, External Affairs at Comcast.}

Connect the Dots for Digital Equity is the first in a series of annual initiatives designed to bring together public and private resources to better serve the citizens of Fulton County.

Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett is launching her Connect the Dots for Digital Equity initiative on January 20 at the Fulton County Central Library.  The initiative, a partnership between Fulton County, Inspiredu and Comcast, is designed to improve educational outcomes and access to opportunity by providing hardware, software, training and free or low-cost internet services to qualifying families and children in lower socio-economic neighborhoods.

This year, Connect the Dots for Digital Equity will include eight digital literacy workshops that will take place at select branches of the Fulton County Library System; four workshops for children and their families, and four designed for adult learners. Inspiredu will provide each registered student with a free laptop preloaded with software, three hours of training, and a year of tech support. Comcast Digital Navigators will also be on-hand at the trainings to provide information and assistance in getting signed up for free or low-cost internet services.

“Connect the Dots is about organizations that are already doing great work combining forces to exponentially increase their impact,” said Commissioner Barrett. “Starting with Digital Equity was important to me because if you don’t have digital skills, hardware, software, and internet access, you will get left behind. I see Digital Equity as the cornerstone for equity in everything from, education, to health, to employment, so I’m thrilled that we are able to work together to bring these programs to Fulton County.”

Comcast’s partnership in the initiative is part of Project UP, the company’s 10-year, $1 billion commitment to help make digital equity a reality in communities it serves in Atlanta and elsewhere across its footprint.

“The Connect the Dots initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration as we join forces to empower individuals to reach their goals and ensure no one gets left behind in the digital age,” said Mike McArdle, Comcast South Region Vice President. “The digital literacy workshops are sure to open doors to educational opportunities and unlock the potential for a brighter future. Comcast is proud to continue building upon our commitment to bridge the digital divide by supporting the communities we serve through programs like Connect the Dots.”

“It’s an honor to partner with Fulton County Government on the Connect the Dots initiative. Digital equity is an important issue within the community, and we appreciate Fulton County’s support as we work to bridge the digital divide,” said Richard Hicks, CEO of Inspiredu.