September 15, 2020
HARTFORD, CT—The International WeLoveU Foundation East Coast Region (WeLoveU) hosted the Closing the Homework Gap webinar to bridge the digital divide for students and families. Guest speakers U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Hartford Public Schools Chief Engagement and Partnership Officer Ms. Nuchette Black-Burke, M.Ed. and Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez discussed the impact remote learning has had on the students who don’t have access to computers at home and how people can support the cause.
Senator Blumenthal stated, “As most of Connecticut’s students return to school with some sort of virtual learning, our most vulnerable, low-income communities are falling behind because they lack access to affordable, adequate high-speed internet connections. As we continue to battle the pandemic and adapt our school systems to the resulting public safety measures, we must also ensure that we find comprehensive solutions to closing the detrimental homework gap.”
“In collaboration with our community partners, we can meet the needs of our students and families during this challenging time,” said Nuchette Black-Burke, chief engagement and partnership officer at Hartford Public Schools. “By providing supports such as technology to all our students, we can continue to prepare them to succeed in school and beyond.”
“This coming year, we continue to strive for equity by providing all students with one to one access to a district device for online learning. This is critical to ensure students have the resources they need to access their learning from home,” said Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, Hartford Public Schools superintendent. “Fulfilling our mission to prepare and inspire all students during this challenging time requires an intentional approach and partnerships. The generosity of the WeLoveU Foundation and efforts of our partners and government to extend access to all students in Hartford will make a difference for our students and families,” she added.
“Closing the homework gap in Connecticut will not only help students, families and educators for this school year, but for generations to come,” said Alex Post, director of global partnerships of the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation East Coast Region.
An estimated 50,000 students in Connecticut’s public schools are challenged with a learning curve that is out of their control: the homework gap — the inability to learn and complete homework assignments due to limited access to technology. In an effort to facilitate distance learning, the WeLoveU Foundation will be donating Chromebooks and similar compatible devices to school districts that are unable to provide all students with these essential resources.
The Intl. WeLoveU Foundation has made a firm commitment to improve the quality of life through six initiatives: Blood Drives, Education, Emergency Relief, Environmental Protection, International Aid and Social Welfare. Its core values revolve around promoting unity and friendship among all people of the global village — beyond nationality, race, religion and socioeconomic status — through impactful volunteerism carried out with the heart of a mother.
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About the International WeLoveU Foundation
The International WeLoveU Foundation is an NGO associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications. Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah founded WeLoveU as a vehicle to promote unity and friendship among all people of the global village — beyond nationality, race, religion, and socioeconomic status — through impactful volunteerism within the initiatives of blood drives, education, emergency relief, environmental protection, international aid and social welfare. WeLoveU has received more than 100 honorary and presidential awards from various countries and governments including the U.S. President’s Call to Service Award for volunteerism and the Green Apple Award for best environmental practice. Today WeLoveU is located in more than 60 countries around the world. For more information, visit weloveuusa.org.