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Law enforcement officials often know their communities better than anyone and have firsthand experience working to address the challenges faced by local families. That’s why AT&T teamed up with the Police Activities League of Massachusetts (PAL) to help close the digital divide in Boston.
AT&T and Human-I-T collaborated with PAL and the Massachusetts State Police to bring 200 refurbished laptops and backpacks stuffed with school supplies to Boston students who need it most. Recipients were selected through collaborations with community centers around the city.
In Massachusetts, it’s estimated that 8% of households don’t have access to the internet or connected devices needed to fully participate in the online world, an issue known as the digital divide.
“PAL is a committed partner in building positive relationships between youth and police,” said Karen O’Sullivan, Executive Director, PAL of Massachusetts. “In working with law enforcement and strong community partners like AT&T and Human-I-T, we are able to focus on and address the needs of the most vulnerable populations, and we are delighted to collaborate to provide essential tools for our youth to embark on a productive and positive path in life.”
A distribution event took place on Friday, August 9, 2024, at the Tobin Community Center in Roxbury. Nearly 20 Massachusetts State Police cadets and Troopers joined AT&T, FirstNet, Built with AT&T®, and PAL of Massachusetts to give away the laptops and backpacks to 200 Boston teens and their families. Teens had a chance to enjoy refreshments and interact with the troopers.
“The Massachusetts State Police is delighted to join PAL, AT&T, and Human-I-T in connecting students to new learning opportunities by facilitating access to essential technology,” said Massachusetts State Police Colonel John Mawn. “For our cadets considering a career in law enforcement, this program provides an important opportunity to put into practice one of our core values of service. I wish the children receiving these backpacks a successful school year.”
The distribution is part of a broader AT&T employee effort to help bridge the digital divide and equip 22,000 students across the country with laptops and backpacks before they head back to school. In addition to supplies like notebooks, pencils and headphones, the backpacks included cards of encouragement written by AT&T employees. The AT&T Connected Learning® initiative aims to help address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption. AT&T is committing $5 billion to help 25 million people get and stay connected to high-speed internet by 2030. Connectivity is vital for students, and we’re glad we can provide these resources to those that need them most.
As an independent non-profit organization, PAL seeks to foster a culture of trust between the community and law enforcement through programs that promote character development, improve educational outcomes, and reduce crime. In collaboration with a variety of law enforcement and community partners, PAL remains focused on building positive and impactful relationships between cops and kids and helping support and deliver community policing programs designed to impact, inspire, and empower youth.
The preceding excerpt was provided by AT&T of New England.