Partners for Digital Equality Announces Federal Broadband Grant in Tallahassee

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January 10, 2011
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Partners for Digital Equality Announces Federal Broadband Grant in Tallahassee

Partners for Digital Equality in conjunction with local partners will work to provide technology access and training to thousands

ATLANTA, Jan. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Partners for Digital Equality (PDE), a non-profit organization that provides broadband solutions and broadband related services to underserved and un-served communities, announced that it has partnered with the City of Tallahassee and Go Beyond Foundation to expand broadband services to rural and underserved areas.  The City of Tallahassee has received a federal grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's Broadband Technology opportunities Program (BTOP). The total program award exceeds $1,600,000.

The BTOP funds will be used to establish the PDE Learning Without Walls(TM) Initiative at the Apalachee Ridge Technology Learning Center and enhance the Go Beyond Foundation's Digital Harmony Program.  Both programs will seek to cultivate and promote broadband adoption, workforce development training, education and online tutorials to meet the needs of citizens, schools and employers.

"Our goal is to empower Tallahassee's citizens to take the appropriate steps to maximize their fullest potential," said Claire Harleston, National Program Director of PDE Learning Without Walls(TM). "Through our collaboration, the City of Tallahassee, Go Beyond Foundation and PDE will heighten digital awareness in underserved areas. We believe that this strategic partnership will not only dramatically reducedigitalilliteracy, but also increase accessfor thousands of students, adults and businesses through technology." 

PDE Learning Without Walls(TM) (LearningWOW)is aimed at enhancing student performance, literacy and self-esteem, while enabling families to get the career development services they need to thrive and remain competitive professionally. Online Tutoring, Career help, Homework Help, GED Prep, and Resume Writing are just some of the free services being offered to students and adults of the Tallahassee area through the LearningWOW initiative. PDE's technology training will help bridge the digital divide, improve education and healthcare, create jobs and boost economic growth thereby empowering underserved communities to transition and maximize in the digital economy.

Newly-elected Chairperson of PDE, Vicki Palmer said, "We are thrilled to be included in this partnership, affording students, adults and the entire Tallahassee community opportunities to tap into new technologies and an empowerment pathway to the 21st century." 

The PDE Learning Without Walls(TM) project has officially launched at the Apalachee Ridge Technology Learning Center.   The partners hope the initial money will encourage additional funding from private sector foundations to expand the program to many other centers in the Tallahassee area.

About Partners for Digital Equality:  Partnersfor Digital Equality(TM) (PDE) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization that provides the un-served and underserved populations primarily in urban and rural communities with innovative technology tools and education. For more information on Partners for Digital Equality (PDE), please visit http://www.pdeql.org. 

SOURCE  Partners for Digital Equality

Partners for Digital Equality

CONTACT: Cynthia Miller, ADE Marketing & Communications Officer, +1-404-815-6966, cmiller@adeql.org

Web Site: http://www.pdeql.org

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