BATON ROUGE, La. – Today, at 5:30 p.m., Cox and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana (HCCL) will announce that valuable online resources to improve digital literacy skills are now available in Spanish at the Hispanic Apostolate of Baton Rouge (6380 Hooper Road, Baton Rouge, La. 70811) on ten new Chromebooks donated by Cox.
Together, Cox and the Hispanic Chamber are offering the Cox Digital Academy in three locations across Louisiana – with one already opened in Jefferson Parish and another soon to open in Lafayette.
The Cox Digital Academy is part of Cox’s commitment to narrowing the digital divide. Cox and HCCL are also partnering to educate families about the discounted home internet service available through Cox’s Connect2Compete program.
“We are committed to offering every child the opportunity to reach his or her full potential through access to a fast and reliable internet connection which is essential for thriving in today’s world,” said Raiza Pitre, Cox Business sales executive and vice chairwoman for HCCL. “Cox’s expanded Connect2Compete program includes digital literacy training tools through the free Cox Digital Academy, which is now available in Spanish.”
“We appreciate the opportunity to work with Cox to build capacity through digital and computer literacy,” said Mayra Pineda, president and CEO of HCCL. “This partnership with Cox and the Hispanic Apostolate will enable the Hispanic community throughout the State of Louisiana to gain access to more opportunities, increase their performance in school, cultivate and improve skills vital to career development, and broaden and grow their overall digital knowledge.”
“There’s great joy in knowing that businesses in our area strive to bring access to educational and technological resources,” said Julia Scarnato, executive director of the Hispanic Apostolate for the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge. “We are excited about Cox’s and the Hispanic Chamber’s support in implementing new projects. Together, this partnership is making a difference in our community.”
The Cox Digital Academy features content, tools and resources from Common Sense Media, EVERFI and the Public Library Association. Spanish-language resources available through the Cox Digital Academy range from computer and internet basics to educational games for students of all ages. Some of the content includes:
- How to use media and tech to raise bilingual kids
- How to effectively use parental controls
- Facts about online predators, cyber bullying and general bullying
- Cyber Safety, including social media tips and warning signs to look out for
- Apps designed to help students boost their math skills over summer vacation
- Kindergarten readiness resources
Information about Connect2Compete, Cox’s discounted internet service, is also available at the Hispanic Apostolate. Families, with at least one K-12 student, who live in public housing or qualify for free or reduced school lunch through the National School Lunch Program are eligible to sign up for the Connect2Compete discounted internet service at home. Families will also receive free access to more than 500,000 Cox WiFi and Cable WiFi hotspots located in high-traffic areas nationwide. More than 350,000 people have benefitted from Connect2Compete since its creation.
More information about the Cox Digital Academy can be found here: www.cox.com/aboutus/connect2compete/digital-academy.htm
