Abyssinian Baptist Church gave away refurbished laptops to New York City students last week, thanks to a community partnership aimed at getting the tech in their hands.
This initiative to bridge the digital divide was a combined effort of the Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program (HJTEP), Abyssinian, and Sen. Chuck Schumer. AT&T and Tech:NYC distributed 200 devices at the event, while the church and several other Harlem nonprofit organizations are to distribute 800 devices in the coming months.
“Access to technology is essential to expanding educational opportunity and preparing young people for success in today’s digital world,” said Councilmember Yusef Salaam in a statement. “This investment is about more than devices — it’s about creating opportunities, and ensuring every young person has the tools they need to thrive. Partnerships like this demonstrate what’s possible when the public, private, and nonprofit sectors work together to build a more equitable future for our communities.”
In all, 1,000 refurbished laptops are funded through a $5 billion AT&T investment to help 25 million people get and stay connected to high-speed internet by 2030.
Students at the event also had a chance to interact with AT&T’s robotic public safety dog.
“Abyssinian Baptist Church continues to give back to the Harlem community, which is part of our mission to serve,” said Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Johnson, Senior Pastor at Abyssinian. “We are honored to collaborate with AT&T, Tech:NYC, and Sen. Schumer to help address the digital divide by hosting this important event to provide technology for youth in need ahead of the school year.”
Katrina M. Adams, HJTEP executive director, thanked Schumer, AT&T, and Tech:NYC for their partnership and investment in Harlem’s students.
“At Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed, and that starts with having access to the tools that make learning possible,” said Adams. “These laptops will help our student-athletes complete schoolwork, explore new opportunities, and develop the digital skills they need to thrive in school and beyond. And for helping ensure more families have the resources to build brighter futures.”
