Mayor Dickens Opens AT&T’s Connected Learning Center

What’s the news? AT&T’* is opening a new Connected Learning Center inside the Atlanta Police Foundation’s Andrew and Walter Young Family At-Promise Center in Southwest Atlanta to provide internet access and education tools to youth who face connectivity barriers vital to their long-term success. It’s part of the AT&T Connected Learning initiative and our $2 billion commitment to address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption.

This is the first of three Connected Learning Centers that AT&T will open in Atlanta. In all, AT&T is opening more than 20 centers across the country. Centers will be housed within local organizations that support some of our nation’s most vulnerable students and families. The goal of the centers is to encourage more families to get connected through connectivity and education resources that teach students and their families the value of the internet and how to use it safely and effectively. 

Why is this important?  In Atlanta, it’s estimated that more than 12,000 K-12 students¹ don’t have internet at home. 

“Digital connectivity is essential to providing equity of opportunity, and the AT&T Connected Learning Center is a transformative step in closing the digital divide for Atlantans,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “The AT&T Connected Learning Center housed in the Andrew and Walter Young Family At-Promise Center is a great example of community collaboration that will move Atlanta forward.” 

“Connectivity is the foundation of a thriving community, and AT&T is proud to invest in technology and resources to help close the digital divide,” said Venessa Harrison, president of AT&T Southeast. “By providing greater connectivity, we are empowering youth in Southwest Atlanta with the promise of tomorrow and uplifting the next generation of leaders. Through the Connected Learning Center, we are quipping these young people with the digital tools they need to succeed today and tomorrow.”

How we will make it happen

The new center will help bridge the digital divide by providing the At-Promise Center youth with access to education, mentoring and tutoring resources, as well as high-speed AT&T Fiber internet, Wi-Fi, and computers.  

Education resources will be available within the center to help students and families participate in digital engagement. This includes the newly launched The Achievery, a free digital learning platform created by AT&T, as well as free digital literacy courses and workshops created with the Public Library Association. 

As part of its ongoing commitment to championing digital inclusion for all communities, Dell Technologies donated Dell OptiPlex computers and Dell monitors which feature integrated audio and webcams to support virtual learning. Overland-Tandberg, a leading global technology and IT services company, led the onsite configuration of the computers. The company, a Black-owned corporation, is part of AT&T’s $3 billion Supplier Diversity initiative.

“Through this collaboration with AT&T, the At-Promise Center now has a dedicated space where our Atlanta youth can access free internet connectivity, computers and educational resources to complete homework, apply for jobs, study for the GED and develop essential job skills,” said Dave Wilkinson, president and CEO, Atlanta Police Foundation. “The Atlanta Police Foundation is committed to inspiring new pathways of success for Atlanta’s youth, and the AT&T Connected Learning Center will help them forge a path to achieve their fullest potential.” 

The Atlanta Police Foundation is a non-profit organization established to promote excellence in police services and provide programs deemed to make the most immediate impact on crime prevention and emergency preparedness for all those who work, play and live in the city of Atlanta. It’s At-Promise initiative brings police and community partners together to create opportunities for success for Atlanta’s youth. 

How else are we supporting communities in Atlanta? 

We offer affordable internet options

We’re continuing to help make internet more affordable for millions of eligible households around the country, including in Atlanta. Eligible households can sign up for free internet service by combining the $30 a month benefit from the new federal Affordable Connectivity Program with our low-cost Access from AT&T plan, which provides faster internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps. 

We are expanding our network

In addition to our community investment in Atlanta, we also continue to invest in bringing fiber and connectivity to this area. From 2018-2020, we expanded coverage and improved connectivity with a nearly $5.1 billion investment in our wireless and wireline networks in Georgia. At the end 2021, AT&T Fiber covered more than 6 million fiber strand miles in the state of Georgia. 

Learn more at att.com/connectedlearning.