Do you have any extra funds – even just a few dollars?
These are a few of the many ways that you can help support learning for students in the region, especially in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Dale Anglin of the Cleveland Foundation, Dorothy Baunach of Digital C and Curt Williams of the Digital Equity Coalition joined a NeoSTEM webinar Sept. 1 to share some of the plans to support students, families and teachers in the Fall while much of school will be held remotely.
Moderated by TIES’ Consultant Jeremy Shorr, the hour-long webinar touched on several of the biggest learning challenges facing area students in the Fall: lack of Internet access and devices as well as not enough safe spaces for students to go during school hours.
The Cleveland Foundation and several partners are creating Academic Learning Pods to create in-person groups for Cleveland Metropolitan School District students in Kindergarten through 8th grade learning together with the help of an in-person tutor or teacher to supplement virtual learning.
Organizations have been applying to participate in the initiative and those selected for the Academic Learning Pods Initiative will launch in mid-September. Anglin said additional dollars are needed to support these pods. “No donation is too small,” Anglin said.
Similarly, Williams stressed that no computer will be rejected by PCs for People. “PCs for People will take any computer. They can always use parts. The best computers are 7 years old or newer and have a webcam so that students can get into their web meetings,” Williams said.
Watch the full webinar:
Highlights of the webinar:
About the Academic Learning Pods – “We’re expecting demand to be higher than what we will be able to meet. … We are seeking donations and are trying to raise $1 million to support 1,000 to 2,000 students. We’re halfway there. Please. Please Please. Donate. If you can’t donate money, we also need PPE supplies, cleaning supplies in particular.” – Dale Anglin.
About the Digital Divide – “22.5% of households in Cuyahoga County don’t have Internet access of any kind. This is an affordability issue. Nearly half of households that are low-income don’t have Internet access.” – Curt Williams.
About Technology Needs – “Hot spots just aren’t the solution for the long-term.” – Dorothy Baunach.
About Internet Access – “Internet should be a public utility. It is the electricity of the 21 Century. No one should be without it.” – Dorothy Baunach.
About Lobbying – “Voices are the most important thing. The most important thing you can do is vote and fill out the Census.” – Curt Williams.
Take Action:
Donate computers by contacting PCs for People – cleveland@pcsforpeople.org – 216-930-5741
Donate dollars to the Learning Pod program by reaching out to the United Way.
Donate dollars to the Cleveland Foundation’s Digital Equity Fund.
Reach out to families who may not have devices or Internet and have them contact PCs for People. (PCs for People also has hotspot devices.)
\Read about the Cuyahoga County Public library’s plan for its computer distribution plan at – https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/LP/Tech-Drive.aspx
Join the next NeoSTEM meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6. Register here.
Contact Alyssa Briggs with questions and ideas at AlyssaBriggs@TiesTeach.org