The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center serves as a beacon of hope and refuge for those in the Pittsburg community of Atlanta, providing warm meals, education classes, community resources and other services to meet the needs of Atlantans. Now, the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center is home to a new AT&T Connected Learning Center where Atlantans have access to high-speed internet, digital devices and educational tools.
This is the second Connected Learning Center that AT&T has opened in Atlanta, and one of 20 centers AT&T has opened this year. The centers are housed within local organizations that support underserved populations, including some of our nation’s most vulnerable students and families.
“As we continue our work to make Atlanta a city of opportunity for all, we need to ensure equity in access to digital tools and high-speed internet across our city. The launch of the AT&T Connected Learning Center is another step toward bridging the digital divide in our communities and ensuring there is a level playing field for every Atlanta family.”
– Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens
The new center will help to bridge the digital divide by providing free access to a range of digital resources all under one roof, including:
- High-speed AT&T Fiber internet
- Wi-Fi
- Dell Technologies computers
- Free education resources
- Tutoring and mentoring from AT&T employees.
As part of the launch, AT&T employee volunteers conducted a digital literacy training for Atlanta seniors at the Salvation Army Kroc Corps Community Center, teaching them basic computer skills, online safety and digital best practices.
“At AT&T, we are proud to provide the connectivity, digital tools and educational resources needed for Atlantans to succeed today and tomorrow. AT&T’s investment in the Connected Learning Center at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center directly reflects our commitment to helping bridge the digital divide and making an impact in the communities we serve. These Connected Learning Centers will help equip Atlanta youth, families and seniors with the resources they need to strengthen digital literacy skills, apply for jobs or access healthcare.”
– Venessa Harrison, President of AT&T Southeast Coastal States
The Salvation Army also plans to utilize the Connected Learning Center for its workforce development program so Atlanta youth have access to digital tools they need to apply for jobs, participate in trainings and develop skills that will connect them to a future of opportunity.
“We are grateful to AT&T for their generous support which will allow us to offer more programming opportunities at the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. Corporate supporters like AT&T are vital to our efforts to provide hope to those in the community who need it. We are pleased to have these new computers as we begin a pilot program to teach resume writing, part of a new workforce development program that we are creating for metro Atlanta.”
– Major Thomas McWilliams, The Salvation Army Metro Atlanta Area Command
