ConnectHome Atlanta Helps Foreign-Born Students

ConnectHome Atlanta organizers and some of the ESL students

Parents, family and friends attending and celebrating the ConnectHome Third Launch for ESL students

Dan Ellis, HUD Homeownership Center Outreach providing information about homeownership

One hundred and twenty-five joyful and excited ESL students received high speed internet access, free wireless devices and will receive digital literacy training opening the door for them to a world of online information, education, opportunity and hope as the City of Atlanta, HUD and local area organizers came together to celebrate this achievement as part of ConnectHome Atlanta's third launch earlier this month at Benteen Elementary School.

Candace Byrd, City of Atlanta Chief of Staff, Alvera Crittendon, HUD Region IV Administrative Director and city representatives along with Dr. Drew Lovett, Principal of Benteen Elementary School congratulated the students before a crowd of over 250 parents, family members and friends.

"This is an exciting time of opportunity and hope for these youngsters and we are happy that we were able to be a part of this very worthwhile effort with Mayor Reed and the City of Atlanta," said Crittendon.

The first City of Atlanta pilot ConnectHome launched in January at the Centers of Hope at Dunbar Recreation Center/Martin Street Plaza. At the event and pilot site, 88 families (total of 138 children within the families) received an Android-based tablet with keyboard and carrying case, digital literacy training provided by the Centers of Hope, and Atlanta Public Schools. The second pilot launch in April at the Center of Hope at Adamsville Recreation Center consisted of 150 families receiving tablets, internet access and technology training. Later that summer in June, the City of Atlanta and Welcoming Atlanta, organized an Atlanta ConnectHome event in which 50 families in immigrant-dense neighborhoods received free tablets and internet service for 12 months, along with education on how to use technology to improve their educational outcomes.

The City of Atlanta is one of 27 U.S. cities and one tribal nation chosen by the White House (https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/connect-america) and HUD to participate in the ConnectHome pilot program. The Obama Administration announced the program in July 2015, and will initially provide over 275,000 households and nearly 200,000 children, with the support they need to access the Internet at home.

ConnectHome is a public-private collaboration to narrow the digital divide for families with school-age children who live in HUD-assisted housing. ConnectHome is the next step in President Obama's continued efforts to bring affordable broadband access, technical training, digital literacy programs, and electronic devices to all Americans.

If you represent a community or stakeholder and would like more information about delivering services or resources through ConnectHome, you can contact us via email at ConnectHome@HUD.gov.

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