CASTLE HILL, The Bronx (PIX 11)—The Bronx took a major step toward closing the digital divide Thursday when it opened a new Connected Learning Center at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club.
Through a partnership between AT&T and the Boys & Girls Club, the center now offers free access to cutting-edge technology, such as computer stations, high-speed Wi-Fi, and even a 3D printer. This provides crucial digital resources to local youth.
The center also has software that allows students to create their own music beats and shoot videos, which 14-year-old Brandon McKenzie hopes to explore.
“I will use the center to definitely make a beat and maybe make some videos that I can make with my friends and stuff,” McKenzie said.
For 13-year-old Jayden Agyemam, the center is a stepping-stone towards his future goals.
“I’m probably going to be using it to probably practice coding, stuff like that, because I want to go to a trading school so I can make more money for college,” said Agyemam.
“Nowadays, it’s very difficult for our youngsters to be connected,” said Daniel Quintero, Executive Director of Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club.
He added, “having the opportunity to come to a boys and girls club, come to Kips Bay, do their homework, make their own music, create their own lyrics, it’s a tremendous opportunity.”
Staff said the opening comes as artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, widening the digital divide for New Yorkers without internet access. A 2021 New York City Council study found that nearly 25 percent of households across the city did not have a broadband subscription at the time. Now, the center aims to bridge that gap.
“We’re looking at all of these different concepts that are emerging careers for young people, and so you want to make sure young people have the connectivity, they have the devices, because many of them don’t have them in their homes, and this is a space of learning,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.
For many, the Connected Learning Center represents more than free internet—it’s a doorway to opportunity, where staff hope students can build the skills needed for a brighter future.
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