Gads Hill Center (GHC) received a $15,000 grant from the Comcast Foundation to support year two of a technology project in which students in our Building Leaders program are trained to teach parents digital literacy skills. The project targets youth and adults across Chicago’s under-resourced southwest and west side neighborhoods – including North and South Lawndale, Brighton Park, Chicago Lawn, Gage Park, Ashburn and Back of the Yards.

Comcast also supported this project last year with a grant from the Comcast Foundation. Thanks to Comcast’s support, last year GHC provided technology training to 177 residents who demonstrated growth in digital literacy skills; 40 of the residents used enhanced computer access and proficiency to seek employment, with 53% securing employment as a result of their job search. Additionally, the youth digital literacy trainers developed valuable leadership and oral speaking skills, and a tangible advantage they can use to set their college applications apart from their peers. One youth trainer remarked that the program “taught me responsibility – what it’s like to be in the workforce, and to have a hand in helping others.”

With the help of Comcast, GHC will continue to leverage the strengths of local youth by identifying and training a cohort of 12 high school students who have demonstrated a high level of interest and competency in working with computers to serve as digital literacy trainers for other members of the community. Through this cross-generational project, GHC will improve the lives of participants by demonstrating improved digital literacy skills among adults, increasing measures of leadership, pro-social behavior and 21st century skill development amongst youth, and creating college and employment opportunities that will help local residents realize better future.

In addition, this year’s grant provides funding for GHC to update the computer lab at GHC’s Pilsen site with new tech equipment to offer an appealing, committed space for youth to present digital literacy workshops to at least 240 local residents, and to engage in their own learning. The lab will remain open for adults and youth to utilize during the agency’s hours of operation from 8am to 6pm in the summer and 8am to 8pm for the rest of the year.

“We are proud to support Gads Hill Center to help youth and adults develop the skills they need to succeed in today’s digital world,” said John Crowley, senior vice president of Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region.

This grant from the Comcast Foundation is in recognition of Comcast’s commitment to the communities where its customers and employees live and work. Since its founding in 1999, the Comcast Foundation has distributed more than $163 million in cash support of programs implemented locally in Comcast communities.

About the Comcast Foundation:
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities—promoting service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $180 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.