Photos by Ella Manthey
Access to technology can open doors to education, employment, and economic opportunity. On Tue., Oct. 13, AT&T and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis celebrated the recertification of the AT&T Connected Learning Center (CLC) at the Urban League’s St. Louis headquarters, reinforcing their shared commitment to helping more community members participate in an increasingly digital world. The event also served as the official announcement from AT&T of its recent $25,000 community investment in the CLC at the Urban League.
The celebratory event was attended by Urban League team members, including the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael P. McMillan; Craig Unruh, President of AT&T in Missouri; community partners such as Ron Kitchens, Managing Partner of Greater St. Louis, Inc.; community members; laptop recipients; and elected officials, including Alderman Rasheen Aldridge. The event also underscored how collaboration across community, business, and corporate sectors can make this sort of program happen.
“We have worked with AT&T on a variety of programs over many years,” McMIllan said. “Our ongoing relationship is a great example of the good things that can happen when nonprofits and companies team up to uplift their communities. We are grateful for the opportunity to host this CLC, and we look forward to empowering more area residents with tools for success.”
After a kick-off ribbon cutting, the day included digital empowerment activities, including “Tech for Life,” a technology workshop for adult learners hosted in partnership with AT&T and Compudopt, and a laptop distribution that provided 150 computers to community members.
The AT&T Connected Learning Center at the Urban League headquarters was the first in St. Louis. It offers access to computers that were installed in collaboration with Dell Technologies and St. Louis-based World Wide Technology, along with free AT&T Fiber. Since the CLC opened in October 2023, more than 5.000 residents have participated in programming, such as computer-literacy classes, open labs, and job fairs.
“The greatest force for change in any community is a good job. Whether you’re on a job site or in an office, success in today’s workplace starts with a digital connection,” Kitchens said. “When people are left offline, our region leaves talent on the table. That’s why we’re grateful to the Urban League and AT&T for rolling up their sleeves to close the digital divide, building the talent pipeline our employers need, and creating more and better jobs for families across the St. Louis region.”
The laptop distribution helps address the needs of community members who lack a computer at home, while “Tech for Life” provided adult learners with a dedicated opportunity to engage with technology. Together, the activities demonstrate how digital inclusion efforts can address both access and readiness, opening doors to education and employment opportunities.
“At AT&T, we believe access to technology and digital skills helps open doors to greater possibility,” Unruh said. “The Urban League has been a great collaborator with us as we’ve sought to close the digital divide and equip St. Louisans with the tools and skills necessary in the digital age.”
