The WeLoveU Foundation presented 120 devices to Hartford Public Schools to help bridge the digital divide on Friday, December 4, 2020. The socially-distanced ceremony was streaming live from Burr Mall, outside Hartford’s City Hall.

How It All Started

Remote learning has become the new normal since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the United States in March 2020. Since then, many students in Connecticut — the state which has one of the largest achievement gaps in the nation — have fallen even more behind their peers.

After hearing of these challenges, WeLoveU Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah proceeded to launch a new WeLoveU initiative: Closing the Homework Gap: Bridging the Digital Divide for Students and Families. The program supports students with remote learning by donating necessary equipment such as computers and webcams.

“The Chairwoman has always been a strong advocate of education,” said WeLoveU’s Vice President of Community Engagement, John Casas. “As a mother loves her children, mothers’ concerns are always about the education of their children. That’s why this event is so near and dear to our hearts,” he said at the delivery.

Launching the Program in Connecticut

In September, WeLoveU launched the campaign in Connecticut by hosting a webinar. The webinar featured guest speakers Senator Richard Blumenthal and Hartford Public Schools Chief Engagement and Partnerships Officer Nuchette Black-Burke, M.Ed. Senator Blumenthal from the State of Connecticut spoke about the digital divide at the state and national level. Meanwhile, the Hartford Public Schools representative detailed the challenges students and educators will face this school year amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

At the delivery, Honorable Board Member of the WeLoveU Foundation Carmela Liza said, “That discussion [webinar] helped me — and the 500 participants — come to terms with the reality families are facing during this pandemic.”

Closing the Homework Gap Donation Event in Hartford

Six weeks later, WeLoveU delivered its promise by presenting Hartford Public Schools with desktops, Chromebooks and webcams. Hartford Superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez and Ms. Nuchette Black-Burke received the devices on behalf of Hartford Public Schools. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a supporter and partner of WeLoveU, also attended the event.

Hartford Public Schools leadership expressed their thanks to the Foundation in supporting the district during this challenging time. “Hartford Public Schools is deeply grateful for the partnership with the WeLoveU Foundation and Senator Blumenthal,” said Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez. “Their commitment supports our goal of providing equity and access to all students.”

“This event was so inspiring and exciting because it will help so many young people bridge the homework gap,” stated Senator Blumenthal of Connecticut. “This gap is rapidly becoming a kind of chasm that undermines education for countless young people in Hartford and Connecticut and around the country. What the WeLoveU Foundation is doing today is really leadership by example. More and more private organizations hopefully will follow the WeLoveU Foundation and provide these kinds of essential devices for young people. It is really a wonderful event to mark another step in trying to bridge the homework gap.”

In addition to Chromebooks and computers, webcams donated will be used by teachers to deliver online instruction. The donations support the goal to provide one-to-one district device access to all students so they can access online learning.

Following the event, WeLoveU volunteers delivered the devices to Bulkeley High School. This is the third school district to benefit from the Closing the Homework Gap program. Recently, WeLoveU donated devices in New Jersey to school districts in Irvington and Newark.