LULAC and Facebook Upgrade Empower Hispanic America with Technology Center with Essential Technology
Riverdale, MD (PRWEB) July 11, 2016 -- Today, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), in partnership with Facebook, held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the upgrade of a LULAC technology center at GapBuster, Inc. in Riverdale, Maryland. GapBuster focuses on closing the educational performance gap among minority students through various educational enrichment activities and leadership development opportunities.
“LULAC remains at the forefront of community efforts to create broadband access for the Latino community,” said LULAC National President Roger C. Rocha, Jr. "With Facebook as a partner, we will continue ensuring that the Hispanic community has access to dependable and useful technology that provides Latinos with access to education and skills training in order to pursue educational opportunities and succeed in the workforce.”
The effort is part of LULAC’s Empower Hispanic America with Technology (EHAT) initiative, which focuses on closing the technology gap in underserved communities. The upgrades to the technology center included new desktop computers, laptops, printer, smart TV for educational purposes, high speed Internet, and office software. This center is one of three such centers that Facebook has helped fund. The other sites are located in San Francisco, CA and El Pueblo, CO.
“We’re proud of our partnership with LULAC and thrilled to support its mission to provide the Latino community with access to technology,” said Susan Gonzales, Facebook Community Engagement Director. "Exposure to technology is critical to the development of our youth, and through our support of LULAC’s technology center at GapBuster, Inc., we can encourage students to explore careers in computer science and engineering.”
Without access to the Internet or to computer equipment, students are more likely to fall behind in their school work. The upgraded technology center will help GapBuster continue to empower the Latino population to successfully pursue higher education opportunities.
"The computer technology center will enhance our service to the community and assist with closing the digital divide between low-income Hispanic residents by providing high speed internet access and up-to-date computer and networking equipment," said Dr. Yvette Butler, Founder and Executive Director of GapBuster, Inc. "We want to thank LULAC and Facebook for their commitment to uplifting the Latino community and supporting small local nonprofits that work to meet the needs of the neighborhoods they serve."
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About LULAC:
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit http://www.lulac.org.
About Facebook:
Founded in 2004, Facebook's mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what's going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them.
About GapBuster:
GapBuster, Inc. AKA GapBuster Learning Center (GBLC) is a non-profit educational program dedicated to promoting higher levels of achievement and closing the performance gap of students by enriching and supplementing the learning experience. Founded in 1999, GapBuster’s vision is to close the academic achievement gap. Through supplemental education, enrichment programs, and leadership development training, GapBuster, Inc. develops well-rounded individuals positioned to excel in academic, social, and professional environments. For more information, visit http://www.gapbuster.org
Paloma Zuleta, LULAC, http://www.lulac.org, 202-812-4477, [email protected]
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