News
Mayor's Workforce & Technology Summit
Mayor Kathy Taylor and members of the business, non-profit and
education community will be hosting a workforce and technology
summit tomorrow to share case studies and outcomes of their
progress on two initiatives that were announced last year-The
Employee Technology Assistance Benefit program and an initiative
called Bring IT Home to Tulsa. Companies presenting will also be
providing action steps for other Tulsa companies and educators to
get involved in both initiatives.
The summit will be held at Tulsa Community College-
Northeast Campus, Seminar Center on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 9
a.m.-1:30 p.m.
The Employee Technology Assistance
Benefit provides working families the choice
to purchase affordable new name brand home PCs through their
employer, utilizing the convenience payroll deduction. This benefit
is designed to help working families attain digital connectivity
and bridge the digital divide. Allegiant Benefit,
Inc. provides Tulsa companies the option to offer this
benefit to their employees. The Employee Technology Assistance
Benefit is offered to employees based on tenure versus credit
rating and provides and an affordable selection of personal
computers for low and moderate income working families.
Bring IT Home to Tulsa will provide affordable and
no-cost in-home broadband internet and community based technology
access to traditionally underserved communities through the
AT&T, AccessAll program and a unique collaboration with One
Economy Corporation, Habitat for Humanity affiliates and other
low-to-moderate income housing providers. The approach taken by
AT&T, AccessAll, is combining computer equipment, internet
access, training and public purpose online content, and has already
proved effective in a pilot program conducted by One Economy.
As part of the overall initiative of Bring IT Home to Tulsa, a
new and innovative approach to technology and youth job training is
being offered as well. The Digital Connectors, a group sponsored by
Workforce Tulsa, will collect, refurbish and distribute donated
computers to families, students and homes where digital access
would not otherwise be an option. The Digital Connectors, sponsored
by Workforce Tulsa are enlisting community partners, faith based
organizations and technical support for the effort. Presently 16
youth have begun the orientation process as a Digital Connector and
more than 100 computers have been donated by Dollar Thrifty Auto
Group and NORDAM.
"With Oklahoma's workforce ranking 43rd in the nation
in home access to personal computers and internet services, we are
urging companies in Tulsa to take advantage of these opportunities
to elevate local digital literacy in our community," Mayor Kathy
Taylor said. "At the City of Tulsa, we are facilitating access to
technology for working families that will build a solid and stable
workforce and enhance the quality of life in Tulsa"
The City of Tulsa, NORDAM, Tyson Foods, Inc., Tulsa Housing
Authority, One Economy Corporation, CAPTC, Workforce Tulsa,
Advanced Academics, Dollar Thrifty, Cox Communications and
Allegiant Benefit, Inc. are a few of the companies that will be
presenting tomorrow.
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