Empowering Communities Together through Broadband Connectivity

Marc Blakeman, President, AT&T California and Pacific States
September 10, 2024
Broadband Access and Affordability


Empowering Communities Together through Broadband Connectivity

At AT&T, we are committed to bringing more digital resources to California’s local communities. This includes creating new AT&T Connected Learning Centers across the state. This summer, in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento, we launched two new Connected Learning Centers, for a total of nine in California, including one center located on the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians tribal land.

These centers are now trusted spaces where young people can gather to learn and grow.

Spotlight on Impact: Stories of Success

At the AT&T Connected Learning Center located in the Asian Pacific American Community Center (APACC) in San Francisco, students and older adults alike are benefitting from the digital resources at the Center.

For high school sophomore Alondra Munoz, using resources at the Center to complete homework and online courses has become a regular occurrence. Her grades have improved, so much so that she was accepted into a high-performing public magnet school. She also learned how to write a resume that helped her apply for and receive an internship with the Mayor’s Youth Empowerment and Employment Program in San Francisco.

For Diana Yang, a retired engineer and community member who visits the APACC for exercise classes and socialization, the Connected Learning Center has become a valuable resource. She uses it for reliable, high-speed internet connectivity and helps other older adults with basic computer skills, email access, and other online activities, such as searching for information to meet their needs.

Stories like these can be seen daily across California at any one of our nine Connected Learning Centers.

A Safe Space for Learning and Growth

At the new AT&T Connected Learning Center at the Raley Teen Center in Sacramento, students are eager to use the Center to learn and grow. The center is the first of its kind in the city and is equipped to provide young people with the tools they need to succeed—access to high-speed internet, advanced digital tools, and a variety of educational resources.

In Clovis, CA, the Boys & Girls Club has been a cornerstone of the community, offering essential support to local youth. Now, with the opening of the first AT&T Connected Learning Center in the area, this support extends even further. In a community where over 15% of K-12 students lack access to the internet or digital tools at home, this center is set to make a significant impact by helping bridge the technology gap and opening up new opportunities for students.

These centers are about much more than technology – they create safe, supportive spaces where students can focus on their education. At both centers, students now have dedicated environments where they can complete homework, conduct research, apply for college, and prepare for their futures. 

Looking Ahead

These Connected Learning Centers are part of AT&T’s broader Connected Learning® initiative, a national effort to connect 25 million people to high-speed internet by 2030.

With a commitment of $5 billion, AT&T is working to ensure that students and families across the country have the tools and resources they need to thrive in the digital age.

By the end of 2027, AT&T plans to open at least 100 Connected Learning Centers across the United States, further expanding access to vital digital resources.

Our purpose is clear: to increase digital access, enhance digital literacy, and ensure that every Californian has the tools and resources they need to thrive in our digital world. Together, we can help bridge the digital divide and create a more connected California.

For more information about AT&T’s Connected Learning Centers and how they’re making a difference, click here.

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