Comcast has awarded 130 laptops to the City of Alexandria’s Summer Youth Employment Program to support its students with digital skills training and workforce readiness. The laptops were awarded as a surprise during a graduation ceremony for the students at Alexandria City High School on August 9.
The donation is part of Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion commitment to advance digital equity through programs and community partnerships that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers and creators.
This marks the second year in a row that Comcast has awarded laptops to graduates of the City of Alexandria’s Summer Youth Employment Program. The program places local youth in six-week summer job opportunities and helps them gain exposure to the world of work.
“Comcast recognizes the critical importance that skills training, Internet connectivity and access to technology play in career readiness,” said Katrina Ashmore, Chief of Workforce Development, City of Alexandria. “We are grateful for this generous laptop donation from Comcast, which will help these students reach their full potential as they enter a technology-driven workforce.”
Research from the National Skills Coalition (NSC) reveals that 92 percent of all jobs require digital skills, but nearly one-third of U.S. workers lack basic digital skills. Additionally, jobs that require even one digital skill can earn an average of 23% more than jobs requiring no digital skills.
“We are passionate about digital skills training and opening doors for the next generation of innovators in Alexandria and beyond,” said Misty Allen, Vice President of Government Affairs & Community Impact for Comcast’s Beltway Region. “The City of Alexandria’s Summer Youth Employment Program is a creative, impactful career development initiative and we are proud to partner together on our shared mission to build a workforce for the future.”
Over the past three years, Comcast has committed more than $39 million in cash and in-kind contributions to more than 125 local non-profits in Virginia. This investment includes the installation of 13 Lift Zones in Virginia – such as the Dunbar Alexandria-Olympic Boys & Girls Club – which provide free, high-speed WiFi service and digital skills training to local community centers to promote digital learning.
For additional information on Project UP and Comcast’s digital equity initiatives, visit https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/project-up.
