Recent News // News Release: Connected Tennessee Awards Foster Youth in Southwest Region with New Laptops
Monday, July 29, 2013
Southwest Region’s Celebration of Excellence provides recent high school graduates with new laptops from the Department of Children’s Services and Connected Tennessee’s Computer 4 Kids program
Nashville, TN – On Thursday, July 25, Connected Tennessee, the Computers 4 Kids program, and Tennessee’s Department of Children Services presented foster children from the Southwest region who have either graduated from high school this spring or are on track to graduate and have exhibited positive behavior throughout the school year with new laptops as a way to recognize and celebrate their achievements.
As part of the Computers 4 Kids: Preparing Tennessee’s Next Generation for Success project, the C4K program deploys computers, academic support programs, and workforce training to two disparate, but especially at-risk, populations: those in the state's foster care system who are "aging out" as they turn 18, and youth who are active in the state’s 76 Boys & Girls Clubs. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded program will impact the lives of nearly 60,000 youth across the state throughout the life of the grant – providing a helping hand to youth who are working hard to attain a better life for themselves.
Thursday’s event was held at Mother Liberty Church in Jackson and included the presence of Connected Tennessee West State Operations Manager Deanna Ward, Jackson City Councilman Johnny Dodd, Jackson City Councilman Scott Conger, the Reverend Carrie Booker, State Representative Johnny Shaw, State Representative Jimmy Eldridge, DCS Deputy Regional Administrator Clay Crook, and guest speaker Corey Currie. These special guests offered words of encouragement and congratulations to the foster youth in attendance.
“The computers given to these youth today will serve as a catalyst for academic and personal growth,” said Shaw. “Each computer represents the ability to learn something new everyday and they will provide daily access to the digital world, helping these youth stay connected.”
“It is such a pleasure to see the efforts of these young men and women being recognized,” said Eldridge. “Not only will the computers provide an opportunity for continued educations, but also it will be invaluable as a tool to communicate and keep pace with today’s technology-based society. Thank you to Connected Tennessee and the Department of Children’s Services for giving these youth such a significant opportunity. “
In five years, the Computers 4 Kids program has:
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Awarded more than 4,300 computers to youth in need across the state
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Supported all 76 of the state’s Boys & Girls Clubs
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Provided computers to more than 3,250 foster youth aging out of the Department of Children’s Services program
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Helped the Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee youth to complete over 90,000 hours of computer training
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Impacted all 95 counties in Tennessee
The “Preparing Tennessee’s Next Generation for Success” project is a result of a $2.3 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant awarded to the C4K program in August 2010 by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). BTOP provides grants to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure, enhance and expand public computer centers, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service.
For more information, please visit our website at www.connectedtn.org.
Photo: From left, the Reverend Carrie Booker, State Representative Johnny Shaw, DCS Deputy RA Clay Crook, Jackson City Councilman Johnny Dodd, State Representative Jimmy Eldridge, Jackson City Councilman Scott Conger, Connected Tennessee West State Operations Manager Deanna Ward, Corey Currie, and DCS IL Program Specialist Kimberley Smith.
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About Connected Tennessee: As a public-private partnership, Connected Tennessee partners with technology-minded businesses, government entities and universities to accelerate technology in the state. For more information about what Connected Tennessee is doing to accelerate technology in Tennessee’s communities, visit www.connectedtn.org.
About Computers 4 Kids: Preparing Tennessee’s Next Generation for Success: Connected Tennessee’s Computers 4 Kids program is helping to prepare Tennessee’s most vulnerable youth for success by providing them with connectivity. The program promotes economic, career, and educational development through the provision of computers and broadband Internet, online technology training, career training, and community awareness that highlights the benefits of technology adoption.