Taking care of our community!
Earlier this week respected comedian and actor, Marlon Wayans, donated computers to children in Harlem, New York, Newsone reports.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools around the country have shut down, switching to virtual learning to help contain the virus. This new normal has only helped exacerbate the digital divide, shining a light on students’ obstacles from under resourced communities. According to a Pew Research Center study, 59 percent of parents with lower incomes say their children will face barriers when it comes to digital learning. In addition to those staggering numbers, one in five parents has expressed concern that their children won’t be able to participate in online education due to not having access to a computer.
Many school districts have attempted to accommodate, offering learning technologies to students in need. Still, even that has its limits with widespread malfunctions depending on how financially capable the district is. Understanding these disparities, Wayans stepped up to the plate to do his part, donating several cases of computers to students in Harlem.
The actor and comedian shared a picture of community workers with donations to social media, encouraging other influencers to do the same.
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“Bought a bunch of computers for Harlem kids in NYC. Using my hard work to build other roses from the concrete. Go be great…know somebody cares…ME! Invest[ing] in your communities that watch you buy could help buy kids a future. #TanikaBean, love you! Your passion made me passionately give. Invest in your communities…they need us,” Wayans captioned the photo.
Wayans joins several celebrities helping bridge the digital divide, including NBA star Russell Westbrook who partnered with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Comp-U-Dopt, an org focused on empowering youth through education, this past April to donate 650 computers to youth in Houston.
Thank you for your commitment to our community, Marlon! Because of you, they can!
Photo Courtesy of Dimitrios Kambouris/Chicago Tribune