A lot can change in a week, especially when you spend it making connections. Getting a new laptop on Monday or learning a new tip on how to navigate safely online can bring a student or parent new opportunities by Friday.
To help drive those connection inspired opportunities in Louisiana, we launched Connectivity Week from June 17th to the 21st, distributing laptops, hosting digital literacy workshops and celebrating expanded internet access.
In total, we participated in 17 events across Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Broussard, Covington, Folsom, Jackson, Lafayette, New Orleans and Opelousas all helping make connections for Louisianans to help fill the weeks ahead with digital opportunities.
- 500 laptops were distributed to students and families.
- Over $125K in contributions supporting the University of Louisiana System Foundation, St. Augustine High School and Northshore STEM to assist in their digital literacy efforts.
We kicked off the week in New Orleans, where we announced a $50K contribution to the University of Louisiana System. The contribution will support a “train the trainer” program, training students of the Reginald F. Lewis scholars’ program to provide digital skills training of their own. The already distinguished students that take part in the trainings will be equipped to spread their wealth of knowledge to help their friends, families and neighbors navigate online.
- Later that day, we held a groundbreaking for AT&T Fiber service in Plaquemine Parish as part of our collaboration with the State of Louisiana. We also worked with Compudopt to provide 200 refurbished laptops to Leah Chase School and Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans School students previously without a working computer at their home.
Through the middle of the week, we hosted events marking different stages of our network expansion across the state. We gathered with residents to celebrate efforts to expand AT&T Fiber as well as increased and enhanced wireless connectivity in communities across the state.
- Tuesday: In Covington, we announced a new fiber project in St. Tammany Parish, planning to expand our existing network to nearly 900 locations in the Folsom area.
- Wednesday: We announced AT&T Fiber® in Jackson as part of a public-private project through Louisiana’s Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO) program. Additionally, we distributed 200 laptops to students in Baton Rouge.
- Thursday: We launched new cell sites in Broussard and Opelousas providing boosted connectivity to residents living in the area, traveling on the road, and public safety members responding to emergencies.
We capped off the week by helping host a digital literacy training for 7th-12th graders in Alexandria, Louisiana. The training focused on online safety and privacy, and included the added bonus of an online job skills training.
“Closing the digital divide starts with education,” said Alexandria City Councilman Reddex Washington. “Digital literacy training opens doors to new opportunities, enabling individuals to improve their lives and contribute more effectively to our economy.”
We’ve held Connectivity Weeks and Connectivity Days elsewhere in the country, and now we’re happy to have brought one to Louisiana. After all, our passion lies in bringing people and communities connected resources.
On that note, these efforts aren’t constrained to just one week. We are excited to continue working with Louisianans to bring more connectivity to the Bayou State and across the country, as part of our national commitment to help bridge the digital divide.
