Akron Boys & Girls Club Opened Learning Center
A new facility at the Steve Wise Club provides students with free digital literacy resources and tech support.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio launched a Connected Learning Center at the Steve Wise Club in Akron. The facility offers students and families access to The Achievery digital platform and free digital literacy courses.
Why it matters
This investment aims to bridge the digital divide by providing essential connectivity, literacy training, and technical support to local students and families in need.
AT&T invested $50,000 into the facility, which features 15 Dell computers and serves as the fourth site of its kind in Ohio. Additionally, the company donated 50 refurbished laptops to local families.
The players
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio
This organization provides after-school programs and resources to support youth development in local communities.
AT&T
This telecommunications corporation manages the investment and hardware donation programs for the new learning center.
Public Library Association
This professional organization partners with community facilities to standardize and provide digital literacy coursework.
The details
Located at 889 Jonathan Ave, the center provides supervised technical support through partnerships with community leaders and AT&T employees. Programming includes digital literacy training conducted in collaboration with the Public Library Association.
Timeline
The Connected Learning Center opened on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The center operates on Mondays through Fridays from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Market Landscape
This facility follows a pattern set by efforts to address the digital divide by placing hardware and training directly within accessible neighborhood youth centers. It positions local organizations to better bridge gaps in student connectivity compared to neighborhoods lacking such infrastructure.
Local families now have access to free digital literacy courses and technical resources at the Steve Wise Club facility. Students can utilize the center during weekday afternoon hours to complete schoolwork and improve technical skills.
The takeaway
Accessing digital literacy resources can significantly improve academic outcomes for students without reliable home technology. Families should check with the local club to confirm enrollment requirements for the new digital courses.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts by visiting the Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cleveland.
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