The digital divide is more apparent than ever, especially in low-income communities. In fact, according to Pew Research, 59% of parents with lower incomes who had children in schools that were remote due to the pandemic, said their children would likely face at least one of three digital obstacles to their schooling. Obstacles include a lack of reliable internet at home, no computer at home or needing to use a smartphone to complete schoolwork. This means that in those households, students were not likely to be able to keep up with their peers.
To help bridge the divide, the Gold Crown Foundation Edgewater Clubhouse has become a Comcast Lift Zone. This provides our youth with free, high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity and access to hundreds of hours of educational and digital skills content. With it, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of students were able to log on to their online classes and interact with learning coaches who were able to help with any questions.
Now, the Lift Zone is helping us reverse the cycle of poverty by connecting community members to our enrichment programs, including those who haven’t been able to return to in-person activities. Our C2C Pathways to Success program, for 16-21 year olds, provides resources to attend college or explore and find a career. It provides the opportunity to interact with guest speakers who hold workshops, offer career advice and lead interview practice sessions. And, with the high-speed internet, students can connect with remote guess speakers, too.
The high-speed internet is also a key part of the other programs that we offer, including science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) camps, robotics opportunities and homework help. The fast download speeds and a high bandwidth allows students to leverage the software needed to learn and succeed.
Lift Zones are providing an opportunity for Gold Crown Foundation to fill voids in our community and effectively serve those who need our help. For more information on Lift Zones, visit corporate.comcast.com/impact/digital-equity/lift-zones.
