Outside of the Kingwood Community Center, you could hear the beats of a drumline getting louder. Walking in the front doors there’s another layer to the music– cheering coming from a crowd sitting under a rainbow balloon arch. Front and center, students with the Kingwood Park drumline, some of whom know what it’s like to not have access to some of the most essential tools, a computer and a reliable connection.
“I’ve been doing everything on my phone,” Kingwood Park High School Sophmore Selva said.
The celebration was a first in Kingwood. It was the opening of a new Comcast Lift Zone, a safe place where residents can access free high-speed and reliable WiFi. What the Kingwood Park High School students didn’t know was that they were in for a big surprise. Watch the moment that will give you all the feels. 👇
“Capturing and seeing their faces, their smiles and their comments really just tells us that our ‘why’ is making things happen in a really positive way within our community,” Loren Hudson, Comcast Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, said.
In addition to the laptop giveaway, Comcast also donated $30,000 to non-profit organizations that serve residents the Kingwood area. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, dozens of seniors were able to sit with tech experts, or digital navigators, to get help learning how to use computers and smart devices. They too were helped out of the digital divide.
Just a day earlier, Comcast Texas, Houston’s largest internet service provider, unveiled yet another new Lift Zone at the US Vets Tunnels to Towers Village. The Lift Zone will help veterans connect to the internet and make the most of it. Veterans will also be able to access online resources, job listings and stay connected with loved ones.
Following the event, Comcast’s Team UP volunteers helped veterans learn how to use computers. Comcast also presented U.S. Vets Houston with a check for $25,000 to help with programs that address the digital divide.
Lift Zones are a part of Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion investment to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. There area over 1,250 Lift Zones across the country– 53 of which are located in the Greater Houston area. These zones are strategically placed in community centers, libraries and other public spaces. The goal is to create a network of safe, reliable WiFi spots that foster digital inclusion and pave the way for a more connected future.
