Nonprofi t donates laptops and hotspots to students
BY JASON COHEN
During the time of
COVID-19, local nonprofi ts
have stepped up to the plate to
provide resources to children
who do not have the proper
equipment for virtual learning.
Nonprofi ts HERE to HERE
and the Bronx Community Relief
Effort (BCRE) purchased
and are distributing 600
Chromebooks and 750 Wi-Fi
hotspots to students of 30 city
high schools.
“We’re thrilled to partner
with The Bronx Community
Relief Effort, DreamYard and
our partner high schools to
make sure that more students
have access to the technology
they need for remote learning
and to make sure their professional
development continues
during this period of so much
disruption,” said Abby Jo Sigal,
founding CEO of HERE
to HERE. “This pandemic
has exposed deep inequities
across our city, which is only
being magnifi ed with school
closures and the interruption
of programs like the Summer
Youth Employment Program.”
The COVID-19 pandemic
and its impact on New York
City has exposed gaps in access
to digital learning. HERE
to HERE has worked with its
network schools to identify
the immediate technological
needs of their students and
schools reported access to laptops
BRONX TIMES R 20 EPORTER, MAY 15-21, 2020 BTR
and reliable Wi-Fi. A large
pool of students across the
Bronx and other boroughs, including
college students, still
lack laptops along with free or
affordable, reliable high-speed
internet access.
Cities like Philadelphia
and Cleveland have shown
that adjustments can be made
to the youth internship and
employment infrastructure
to incorporate digital workbased
learning. Philadelphia
plans to continue its summer
youth employment program
digitally and HERE to HERE
is hoping to show the administration
it can do the same.
New York City’s recent
decision to cancel Summer
Youth Employment Program,
a work-based learning opportunity
for the city’s young
people and communities, has
left many searching for ways
to develop their professional
skills and connections, support
their families and stay
meaningfully engaged, and if
necessary, indoors this summer.
“The Bronx is considered
a digital desert with many in
our community not having access
to technology, or in some
cases the internet, in order to
learn from home and to participate
in virtual work-based
learning opportunities,” said
Derrick Lewis, founder and
chair of the Bronx BCRE.
“We are grateful for our partnership
with HERE to HERE
and DreamYard to distribute
Chromebook laptops and Wi-
Fi hotspots to our Bronx high
school students. Their leadership
is helping us close the
digital divide in The Bronx.”
Laptops donated by HERE to HERE Photo courtesy of HERE to HERE
James E. MaQuade, Owner
Family Owned & Operated for over 60 years
3535 East Tremont Avenue
Bronx, New York
718-792-0270
www.schuylerhill.com
If funeral homes were all the same,
Ours wouldn’t be the family choice
The families of our community so often choose our funeral home. Some come to us to pre-plan
arrangements because we offer all the options and choices they desire. Others come to us at their
time of need seeking guidance, support and the certainty of a funeral service that is correct in
every way. Should your family fi nd itself in need of our services, we hope you’ll make the choice so
many in our community have.
/www.schuylerhill.com
/www.schuylerhill.com