Initiative is made possible by a new $1.6 Million contribution from AT&T
As part of its commitment to help bridge the digital divide, AT&T is contributing $1.6 million to NPower to create and manage a tech community “helpdesk” for the St. Louis area. NPower, the leading free tech training nonprofit, will provide call center support for local residents challenged with technology or connectivity issues at home. The goal is to help people who don’t have the tools they need to make the most of the internet. This gift also includes an initiative in Dallas, Texas.
Set to launch in July 2023, the “helpdesk” will teach residents how to sign up for internet service, use computers, improve digital skills, and connect to valuable resources and services.
Ben Kesler, executive director for NPower Missouri, says the program will help families facing everyday connectivity issues, while also training and employing young adults with the tech skills needed to launch lucrative careers in technology.
“The time for the Community Helpdesk is now. The pandemic has expanded the digital divide. This initiative will not only provide valuable on-the-job training for emerging tech talent, but also it will serve as a much needed community resource for some of our most vulnerable populations,” said Kesler. "We'd like to thank AT&T for their support in funding this initiative as we further serve the St. Louis community."
AT&T Contribution for Community Helpdesk
This initiative is part of AT&T’s 3-year, $2 billion commitment made in 2021 to help close the digital divide and its goal to launch digital navigator programs nationwide, bringing digital training and tools to neighborhoods in need.
The call center will help people become a part of and engage in our digital world and will also empower young adults from the St. Louis area by putting them on the other side of the phone.
“Everyone deserves internet access – it’s on us to help make that a reality. But we can’t do it alone,” said Mylayna Albright, assistant vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility, AT&T. “That’s why we’re thrilled to be working with NPower, a leader in training tech talent from diverse communities, to launch the helpdesk and bring us one step closer to helping bridge the digital divide.”
Under the grant, NPower Missouri will hire 10 apprentices from their tuition-free Tech Fundamentals program to staff the helpdesk and will rotate them on monthly assignments. Kesler said this ensures that NPower graduates are continually learning and solving real-time tech problems.
The Community Helpdesk is designed to support the many residents who struggle to connect vital communication devices to broadband internet or Wi-Fi. And this “disconnect” is especially prevalent in underserved communities that systemically lack access to quality connectivity. This initiative will provide equitable tech services across all communities.
NPower, who previously launched a helpdesk in Baltimore, says the communities expected to benefit most from the helpdesk include:
NPower anticipates the helpdesk will field an average of 140 phone calls per day, serving 3,400 people per month.
About NPower Inc.
NPower is a national nonprofit, rooted in the community, that is committed to advancing race and gender equity in the tech industry through skills training, real-world experience, support, and mentorships. The organization has helped young adults from underserved communities and veterans move from poverty to the middle class by training them with a range of tech skills and placing them in quality jobs. Students who enter the free 20-week training program earn industry-recognized certifications and graduate with the competencies of an IT professional with one to two years of experience. NPower also places students in paid internships and apprenticeships with corporate and nonprofit organizations. Eighty percent of NPower graduates get a full-time job or continue their education. NPower is a vital solution towards bridging the national talent gap that exists in the high-growth technology industry. Over the past decade, NPower has expanded its program reach and developed a robust network of Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized enterprises, government agencies, staffing firms, and a network of nonprofit partners that host its interns and hire its graduates full-time. To learn more about NPower, visit www.npower.org.
About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
We’re committed to advancing education, creating opportunities, strengthening communities and improving lives. As part of our company-wide $2 billion commitment from 2021 to 2023 to address the digital divide, we launched AT&T Connected Learning to invest in connectivity and technology, digital literacy and education solutions to help today’s learners succeed inside and outside of the classroom. Since 2008, we’ve committed to programs that help millions of students across all 50 states and around the world, particularly those in underserved communities.
