AT&T: Possibilities

We believe that every young person should have a caring adult to turn to. This provides a foundation for students to succeed in all that they do – in school and their future careers. That’s why we’re connecting our employees to students around the world through Aspire Mentoring Academy.

Recently, AT&T and Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) launched CLETeenHack, a 9 week programming contest for high school students in northeast Ohio. We’ve all heard about “hackathons” in our local communities, but the CLETeenHack is different. Like last year’s CBusStudentHack which engaged students to develop an app focused on health and wellness, CLETeenHack encourages students to use coding to benefit their community.

In January, we announced an open call for applications to the AT&T Aspire Accelerator in search of ventures using technology to support students’ educational and career success. For- and non-profit organizations chosen to participate in the program will receive financial investment, access to expert services and mentorship. The application period closed in February, and we received 238 responses from organizations located across the country. Stay tuned for more information about the organizations selected for our 2016 Aspire Accelerator class, which will kick off in May!

We all have a huge stake in education, as parents, as community members and as learners ourselves. The only way we can collectively move education forward is if we start trading lenses and begin building a better understanding of how other communities see teaching and learning. EdSurge has spent months researching the predominant edtech trends, exploring data and engaging many voices including educators, administrators, entrepreneurs, investors, parents and policy-makers. We wanted to share the perspectives, hopes and, at times, frustrations of others as we all move forward to shape the future of teaching and learning.

As someone who has been donating blood since 1976, I’m always excited to celebrate National Heart Month in February. It’s important to remember how we can do our part to help keep hearts beating around the world. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. will need blood. And, one pint of blood donated can save up to three lives.

AT&T has long been a City Year champion, investing both in the national organization, as well as the community of Little Rock, Arkansas. As a team sponsor for four years, they have had an impact on many students, including this year’s senior class valedictorian, Hillary.

Today, AT&T* and the Imagination Foundation are launching The Inventor’s Challenge. The Inventor’s Challenge is an opportunity for pre-K through high school children to create novel, imaginative and possibly viable solutions to all sorts of problems. A common factor in the creations will be the integration of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). The Inventor’s Challenge engages children in STEAM tools and materials, alongside critical 21st century skills.

As we spring into the new year, we honor our final two 2015 Champions of DOT – Kelly Chrietzberg and Mohammed Farshori – who helped end 2015 on a high note with their selfless acts to better their communities.

Earlier this month we announced that we reached an exciting milestone: AT&T employees have provided 1 million hours of mentoring to more than 160,000 students who need it the most through our Aspire Mentoring Academy.

When I look back at my own education, I am grateful to the adults who opened doors of opportunity for me. At the time, I just knew them as people I looked up to; today I understand these inspiring people were my mentors.