Connecting Families graduates holding their laptops on the steps of City Hall
15 residents of the Decatur Housing Authority graduated on May 9th from a pilot program designed to improve digital access for Decatur residents. We developed the Connecting Families program as a partnership between the City of Decatur and the City of Decatur Schools Technology Department. This program gave families in the Swanton Heights, Allen Wilson Terrace or Gateway neighborhoods:
- A free, refurbished laptop
- A year of free wireless Internet access in their homes, using Decatur’s new municipal WiFi system
- And (most importantly!) 6 free classes on how to use their computer and the Internet to help their children in school and be in contact with their children’s teachers
The program resulted from a generous grant from the Great Decatur Beer Tasting Festival Committee. Training was provided by Alan Thornton, owner of an on-site computer troubleshooting company called Decatur Computer Help.
The Connecting Families program has the potential to affect 43 children currently enrolled in the school system. At graduation these women were thrilled, some to the point of tears, to finally take home their laptops.
In today’s world it is a life-changing experience to get connected! Congratulations!
[…] Helps 15 Residents Get Online 15 05 2009 Click over to the Decatur Minute and read how the city is helping 15 Decatur Housing Authority families […]
This is such a cool program! I am so glad that it was a success for Decatur!