LEARNConnecting Underserved Youth to Technology
We are excited at the opportunity to connect with middle and high school students, many of whom are foster youth, sparking their interest in career paths like photography, social media marketing, DJing, and graphic design. Using mobile technology, we're bringing these opportunities directly to schools, clubs, and events where students already gather. Our goal is to introduce young people to the possibilities of technology and careers they might not have considered, opening doors to a brighter future, one they never knew was possible.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
K-12 STEAM education
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
The issue we are seeking to address is K-12 STEAM Education with an emphasis on access to tech and creative industry employment. Many of the youth in the Antelope Valley face educational disparities due to limited access to current technology and resources. This results in a significant gap in technical literacy compared to their peers in more economically privileged areas. Limited exposure to these opportunities can also diminish their interest in pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields or related careers, further perpetuating the gap in technical skills and knowledge.
Recognizing the importance of digital literacy and access to technology, we have established a Teen Tech Center in partnership with Best Buy. This center provides teens with access to state-of-the-art technology and training, equipping them with the skills needed for future success. Our goal is to reach as many youth as possible by expanding the program to meet the youth where they are.
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
Limited access to computers, outdated software, and inadequate training for teachers can hinder students' ability to develop essential digital literacy skills needed for future academic and career success. Recognizing the need for improvements in this area, the Antelope Valley Boys and Girls Club has established a Teen Tech Center in partnership with Best Buy. This center is a place where teens can explore their interest in high demand fields like production, photography, graphic design and computer literacy. Our hope is to mirror this center and bring the same innovation to our off site programs, with the help of our mobile van. We will mobilize our highly trained staff, along with the necessary equipment to visit some our off site locations enabling disadvantaged youth the opportunity to access technology. We will provide the use of equipment and training that could lead to careers such as DJing, photography, and graphic design. We will plan to pilot the program at 3 locations where we would have a dedicated team visit each location one day a week for two hours. Youth will sign up for the course they would like to participate in. Each course would last between 10-12 weeks with a progressive curriculum, resulting in a certificate of completion. We're dedicated to offering underprivileged youth in our community a chance to discover new passions, expand their technical skills, and narrow the gap in digital literacy compared to their peers in more affluent neighborhoods.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
The Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club (AVBGC) has been a cornerstone of youth development in the Antelope Valley community for over three decades. Being one of the premiere after school care programs in the Antelope Valley with over 30 locations, serving more than 5000 families per day we have a significant reach. Successful implementation of technology programs for underprivileged kids in Los Angeles County could lead to a more educated, skilled, and empowered population, driving long-term positive changes in education, economy, and community well-being. Prioritizing digital learning gives underprivileged youth a fair chance to be competitive against its counterparts in a technology driven world. By investing in our youth, we are investing in the future of our community
With your support, we can continue to expand our programs and reach even more youth, providing them with the tools and resources they need to build a brighter future.
What evidence do you have that this project, program, or initiative is or will be successful, and how will you define and measure success?
We will measure success of this program with performance measurement tools such as:
Providing youth with testing after each lesson to gauge information retention.
We will provide Quarterly assessments and surveys to youth and families to identifies areas for improvement or areas that are working well. We will have staff have open dialogue with the youth to determine areas they would like to pursue further.
We will take feedback and utilize it for future session.
As the program progresses we would like to see the students become the teachers and share their knowledge with their peers, fostering a community of learning and collaboration.
In addition to our own internal surveys and observations, we take part in an annual survey through Boys and Girls Club of America, the Nations Youth Outcomes Initiatives. The survey measures indicators of youth achievement. The survey gives youth an opportunity to give feedback about their Club experience, but is completely anonymous.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 60.0
Indirect Impact: 5,000.0