We are very proud that we are going to be playing a part in a grant funded program to help rural California cities incorporate technology to play a part in the global economy. The central California cities of Firebaugh, San Joaquin, Mendota will share a $633,000 grant to provide vocational, citizenship, computer literacy and English classes through distance learning.
As part of the grant, middle schools will offer GenYES classes to students so these students can help their schools and communities use the new technology.
According to the Fresno Bee, the local newspaper:
“Too many kids do not see a future for themselves,” said Jim Gordon, a grant writer for the city of Firebaugh, which won the grant. “Now they have a much larger horizon and they can look to the outside world.”
Community officials also hope that the technology will help residents acquire new workplace skills, which could help diversify the west side’s struggling agricultural economy.
“If we have an attractive work force … businesses will be more apt to settle in Firebaugh,” said Maurice Ledford, a trustee for the Firebaugh-Las Deltas school district.
The California Emerging Technology Fund awards grants to communities with minimal access to computer and Internet technology. The technology link is especially welcomed in communities such as Firebaugh, where less than 20% of households have computers and a smaller percentage have Internet access, according to two school district surveys. Firebaugh and the other communities lag other Californians in computer and Internet access.
——————-
The foresight these cities are showing by including GenYES students in the solution is striking. Today’s youth are the actual inhabitants of the future that these cities want to create, so including students simply makes sense. These students will make a big difference in the success of the grant by providing needed support for their schools and new technology community centers.
We are excited to be participating in this effort!
Sylvia
