YMCA, Comcast to expand digital opportunity in Holyoke
Comcast Tech Titans teaching the community leaders 21st century tech skills.
Photo credit: Greater Holyoke YMCA
HOLYOKE — Representatives from the Greater Holyoke YMCA and Comcast were joined by state Rep. Patricia Duffy on April 2 to celebrate the opening of the organization’s STEAM tech center, along with a recently awarded $15,000 grant from Comcast.
Through this support, the Greater Holyoke YMCA’s STEAM tech center provides access to devices, digital literacy training, coding, digital arts and online safety.
YMCA programs serve over 500 youth annually and will integrate platforms such as ST Math, Cricut design, and E-gaming embedded with healthy screentime habits and teamwork.
Marc Goodman from Comcast stated, “This is truly a tech oasis for Holyoke students, giving them access to an array of devices, digital literacy training, coding, digital arts and online safety to serve 500+ youth.”
The grand opening event included a T-shirt design through Cricut and heat press, E-gaming and VR challenges, and AI skill development. The event also featured members of the Comcast Tech Titans teaching the community leaders 21st-century tech skills.
According to those in attendance, the Greater Holyoke YMCA is a Comcast Lift Zone, which enables it to provide complimentary high-capacity WiFi to its patrons throughout its community center.
Greater Holyoke YMCA CEO Conor Bevan talked about how the partnership with Comcast has benefited the opening of the tech center.
“Comcast has been an incredibly generous and dedicated partner of the Greater Holyoke YMCA, and their continued support has been instrumental in helping us open the tech center,” Bevan stated.
Comcast’s support is part of Project UP, the company’s $1 billion initiative to connect people to the internet and create digital opportunity through digital programs such as internet essentials, lift zones and digital navigators.
Comcast’s New England Region Senior Vice President Carolyne Hannan shared her thoughts on the partnership with Holyoke.
“Comcast is proud of its longstanding commitment to Holyoke and the relationships we’ve built with local organizations like Greater Holyoke YMCA, which are opening doors to transformative digital skills building and workforce development opportunities,” Hannan said. “We recognize the critical role that the internet plays in achieving economic mobility and personal growth, which is why we’re investing in partnerships that empower residents to shape their own futures.”
Internet Essentials provides high-speed Internet to qualifying low-income households for as low as $14.95/month. Since 2015, Comcast’s Internet Essentials has connected more than 801,000 low-income Massachusetts residents to broadband service at home.
