JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Corner at Debs Store in Jacksonville hosted a celebration Thursday at 2 p.m., where 250 people received a laptop to help bridge the digital divide.
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AT&T opened a new Connected Learning Center inside the store to give residents internet access and other resources to help with digital literacy.
Internet For All estimated that 11% of households don’t have internet access or the devices needed to fully participate in the online world.
David Rey, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of North Florida, said the Connected Learning Center aligns perfectly with the mission behind The Debs Store.
“When we opened the restored The Corner at Debs Store last year, our goal was for it to be more than solving the food desert in the Out East neighborhood,” Rey said. “The digital resources provided with AT&T’s Connected Learning Center are vital tools for residents seeking employment or those who don’t have a way to access the internet. This will give residents that crucial access the internet provides to the world.”
The Connected Learning Center is the first in Jacksonville and the sixth in Florida. It offers free access to digital resources, including high-speed AT&T Fiber internet, Wi-Fi and Dell computers.
Jalisha Williams, an Out East resident and Debs Store employee, said it’s nice to see the neighborhood change.
“It’s good for the community,” Williams said. “It’s a lot of benefits that come with the store. Not only do you get groceries, you get to come upstairs, you get to try to have job opportunities.”
She also received one of the 250 laptops.
“It gets you going a long way, say you want to stay at home, it helps you apply for work at home jobs. It helps you with applying for extra benefits for your life, if you want to apply for benefits for Medicaid or EBT, you can do it right at home from a laptop,” Williams said.
Users will have access to free digital literacy courses and tutoring and mentoring by AT&T employees and community leaders.
Williams said the programs are good for the youth.
“They can come up here, apply for it, and they get to get the experience of work life. It helps them build their resume. It’s so many benefits for the youth here. They just get to come and enjoy and see what could be for the future for them,” Williams said.
She said she’s enjoyed working at Debs and
