Comcast Launches WiFi-connected "Lift Zones" in Peoria area

Peoria IL

07 September, 2021

11:41 AM

Description

Lift Zones provide safe spaces where students and families can access the Internet for school and digital skills building  Comcast recently announced the launch of new WiFi-connected “Lift Zones” at community centers in six Peoria area locations. Lift Zones are safe spaces where students and families can get online for distance learning, to do homework, to learn new digital skills and to search for employment. The new Lift Zones are located at: George Washington Carver Community Center ,710 W. Percy Baker Ave., Peoria, IL 61605; Boys & Girls Club of Pekin, 1101 Veerman St., Pekin, IL 61554; Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Peoria locations: Caho/Becker Unit, 2703 W Grinnell St., Peoria, IL 61602; East Bluff Community Center, 512 E Kansas St., Peoria, IL 61603 Nannie M. Johnson Community Center, 3129 NE Madison Ave., Peoria, IL 61603 Richland Farms Community Center, 446 Cass St., East Peoria, IL 61611 The COVID-19 crisis put many low-income students and families at risk of being left behind and accelerated the need for comprehensive digital equity and Internet adoption programs to support them. The Lift Zones are part of a larger multiyear plan by Comcast to support community-organization based WiFi at more than 1,000 Lift Zones throughout the country – including the Peoria area. The Lift Zones also are an extension of the company’s longstanding commitment to help connect low-income families to the Internet and provide resources to help them take advantage of educational opportunities and the digital economy. The Lift Zones complement Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, a low-cost Internet adoption program for low-income families, which has helped connect more than 10 million people in America – including more than 1.3 million in Illinois alone - to the Internet at home since it was launched in 2011. Through the company’s Internet Essential Partnership Program, Comcast joined with Peoria Public Schools District 150 and Illinois Central College to bring Internet service into even more low-income homes to ease the challenges of distance learning and remote work during the pandemic. “The pandemic has further demonstrated that digital literacy and Internet access are necessities for our community,” said Peoria Mayor Rita Ali. “We are pleased to have Lift Zones in Peoria to help students and families connect to the Internet for school, work and building digital skills at local community organizations.” “We are proud to join Comcast and other community partners to launch Lift Zones in the Peoria area,” said Jacobie Proctor, Chief Executive Officer of George Washington Carver Community Center. “The ability to provide free Internet access helps further our vision to create opportunities and experiences that are essential for individuals and communities to grow and thrive.” “Through Internet Essentials, Comcast has helped hundreds of thousands of Illinois families cross the digital divide,” said Matthew Summy, Comcast’s Regional Vice President of External and Government Affairs. “I’m proud that Comcast recognized the impact of the digital divide early on, stepped up and now continues to offer solutions that further our commitment to communities through the creation of Lift Zones and the Internet Essentials Partnership Program.” Comcast’s Internet Essentials program also makes a range of educational resources available online for anyone to access at www.internetessentials.com/learning. The Learning Portal provides videos and materials about topics like: Internet Basics, Online Safety and Security, Building New Skills and Getting Things Done. The site also links to a number of free educational websites for students.