OneBaltimore, in partnership with President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, Microsoft, and a host of elected officials and local business and community members, gave 40 Baltimore City Schools and education-based non-profit organizations more than 1,000 computers on Wednesday.
The move was an effort to bridge the digital divide and increase technology access, skill development and organizational capacity for the community. Currently, a quarter of Baltimore residents live below the poverty line, according to a press release sent to JET. Twenty to 40 percent lack internet access, a key component when applying for jobs and educational development.
“If the next generation is to be competitive in emerging economies, it begins now,” said Michael Cryor, Chairman of OneBaltimore. “We take seriously our responsibility to equip our students with the basic resources and skills needed to compete and win in Baltimore and on a global scale.”
The donation was made possible via the Federal Government’s General Services Administration’s (GSA) Computers for Learning Program. Microsoft donated software for each computer.
The 40 Baltimore City Schools and education-based non-profits were awarded the opportunity to become recipients of the donated computers through an application process.
“A gift like this will help keep our kids off the streets and give them a safe place to go and access technology that might not exist for them otherwise.” said Ericka Alston, Founder of Kids Safe Zone.
