AT&T: Possibilities

Last week I had the privilege of joining my close friends at AAPD to celebrate the anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a transformative piece of legislation that’s afforded individuals with disabilities essential civil rights and unprecedented opportunities in the workplace, the classroom and in their own homes and communities.

In the Netherlands, AT&T works with Junior Achievement to mentor local students. During the 2015-2016 schoolyear, our employees impacted 229 students!

Time sure flies when you are having fun! It’s hard to believe that we are half way through the 2016 AT&T Aspire Accelerator and already it’s such an incredible experience. From our kick off in San Francisco in May to the ISTE conference in June, the 2016 class is making serious progress growing their organizations to maximize impact and is developing impactful relationships along the way. I can’t wait for our next in-person convening at the GSV Pioneer Summit in September. In the meantime, check out the video below to learn more about our program and the 2016 class.

In 2015, AT&T sponsored 7 young men of color for All Star Code’s 2015 Summer Intensive program. Since the end of the program, our AT&T scholars have continued to develop their computer science and coding skills and grow into remarkable leaders. Below is an update from one of these scholars, Kwaku Kessey-Ankomah Jr. Check out this update from John Abreu. We are proud to support All Star Code and the amazing young men they serve with additional support in 2016.

In 2015, AT&T sponsored 7 young men of color for All Star Code’s 2015 Summer Intensive program. Since their graduation, our AT&T scholars have continued to develop their computer science and coding skills and grow into remarkable leaders. Here is an update from one of these scholars, John Abreu. We are proud to support All Star Code and the amazing young men they serve with additional support in 2016.

New York, NY – AT&T today announced a contribution of $250,000 for All Star Code (ASC), a tech education non-profit that provides computer science training for qualified young men of color. This significant investment is funding 60 rising high school juniors and seniors participating in this year’s ASC Summer Intensive. This funding more than doubles last year’s $100,000 contribution to ASC through AT&T Aspire, AT&T’s signature initiative that drives innovation in education to support student success in school and beyond.

I live in San Francisco, where “making” and “tinkering” has become a rite of passage for kids. Schools, public and independent, are building maker spaces. Libraries are hosting making workshops. And every summer, parents go to somewhat absurd lengths to get their kids into the stunningly popular Maker Camps that have popped up across the city. I know, I’m one of them. And it’s worth it, my now eight-year-old still remembers proudly the giant crocodile he built two years ago at a Maker Camp, and brags daily that he knows how to use a chop saw. To him, making equals fun, and first and foremost that’s what it is. But it’s also deeply empowering for young people, who learn through making to collaborate, evaluate and create.

Remember the first time you put pen to paper as a kid to write your first story? It was a world of endless possibility, defined only by your imagination. Flying cars, dogs in suits, chocolate planets -- you could create any world you wanted.

It’s that time of year again. Students look forward to recharging over summer break.

It’s also the time when school administrators look forward to retooling in preparation for the next school year.