Speak Peace Forward Program Digital Literacy And STEM Partnership

Street Corner Resources today announced a $25,000 contribution from AT&T, which will enable them to expand their work with teenagers in Harlem this summer.

Street Corner Resources has been providing young New Yorkers in Harlem with greater access to education, job training, and employment opportunities. The new collaboration with AT&T will provide funding to expand Street Corner Resources’ programs, allowing them to provide paid internships to over a dozen teenagers with a focus on digital literacy and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education to prepare the students for the digital jobs of tomorrow.

“We are so proud to work with AT&T and expand our summer youth program to include digital literacy and STEM education,” said the Iesha Sekou, CEO of Street Corner Resources. “Year-round, we work with Harlem youth to help give them access to the opportunities they deserve to enhance their lives. With AT&T’s help, we are able to provide our kids with the resources, tools, and education they need to be successful throughout the summer and beyond.”

The new digital literacy and STEM curriculum will be added to Street Corner Resources’ Speak Peace Forward program. The six-week program will serve over a dozen young adults in Harlem aged 13 – 24, teaching them basic computer literacy skills, culminating in a project at the end of the program where students will put what they have learned into practice utilizing various coding skills. Thanks to AT&T, participants will receive a stipend of $15 dollars an hour, paid bi-weekly for time spent participating in the program. The program will run from July to mid-August.

“AT&T is thrilled to work with Street Corner Resources to provide access to digital literacy for Harlem youth. This work is a reflection of our commitment to helping address both the digital divide and connect students and their families to the skills, tools, and resources they need to succeed in a digital world,” said Timothy Tapia, Regional Director, External Affairs, AT&T New York. “We are proud to invest in the future of New York and help Harlem be the home of one of the next groundbreaking engineers, data scientists, or computer experts.”

Digital knowledge is quickly becoming the new literacy and is the driver of all new global technology. With the growing demand to innovate, organizations across various industries struggle to fill skilled positions. It’s projected that there will be 3.5 million STEM jobs in the U.S. by 2025¹ underscoring the importance of providing youth the tools and skills necessary to compete in this innovation economy – especially those in underserved and underrepresented communities. The urgency for more diverse technology-trained employees is accentuated by the low percentage of diverse people entering the technology industry. This alarming diversity shortage in the tech industry and the growing STEM job market emphasizes the importance of providing programming like the work announced today by Street Corner Resources and AT&T.

AT&T’s support for this program is part of the company’s $2 billion nationwide commitment to help bridge the digital divide and homework gap.

Street Corner Resources

Street Corner Resources (SCR) was born out of a concern over gun violence and gang activity amongst Harlem’s youth.

In 2005, Iesha Sekou, a long-standing community activist, decided to start a non-profit organization that would engage youth and provides them with the resources to help them develop holistically and serve as a positive alternative against the ongoing trend of violence in urban neighborhoods, Since its inception, Street Corner Resources has lived up to its name by providing multiple resources to community youth.

SCR’s activities include workshops, (Rekindling the Inner Spirit to Succeed, the Male Box Group Series, Financial Literacy), a very active street presence (Speak Peace Forward and Occupy The Corners), and the installation of the first I AM PEACE Music Studio located within a Harlem High School.

Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T

We’re committed to advancing education, creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and improving lives. AT&T Connected Learning is a multi-year commitment to bridging the digital divide and narrowing the homework gap, so today’s learners are connected with skills, resources, and opportunities for success in school and in life.

Since 2008, we’ve committed $600 million to programs that help millions of students across all 50 states and around the world, particularly those in underserved communities.