Brookside Charter School helps bridge the digital divide in KC

In an effort to help bridge the digital divide for low-income families in Kansas City, Brookside Charter School is making a big donation.

Brookside, located at 1815 E. 63rd St., this week will give 88 used computers and peripheral equipment to Connecting for Good, a nonprofit that provides education and training focused on access to technology for low-income residents.

“As Brookside upgrades its technology to implement blended learning, we are pleased to assist Connecting for Good in providing equipment to clients who have lived too long without the benefit of digital access and skills,” said Roger Offield, superintendent of Brookside Charter School.

Brookside’s gift includes both laptop and desktop computers. Connecting for Good will refurbish the computers, and some will be used in its training program while others will be sold at discount price to new users — $100 for a laptop, $50 for a desktop, said Katie Carr, spokeswoman for Brookside Charter.

Tom Esselman, CEO of Connecting for Good, said, “This generous donation supports a key element of the mission of Connecting for Good, which is to provide digital literacy training for our clients at the early stages of technology adoption.”

He said that providing computer equipment for new users who might not otherwise be able to afford it “makes a positive difference for their families. Brookside’s gift will enable 88 more Kansas Citians to participate in the digital world.”

In addition, the nonprofit and the charter are partnering to provide some computer training for Brookside Charter parents. The training will allow parents and the school to better communicate with one another, Carr said.

“Our big thing is that we want to empower our parents to be advocates for their children,” she said.

This story was originally published September 1, 2016 at 1:24 PM with the headline "Brookside Charter School helps bridge the digital divide in KC."