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YMCA Of Greater Houston And HP, Inc. Partner To Bring Digital Equity To 5,000 Houstonians

By: Olivia Villarreal
| Published 05/22/2023

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HOUSTON, TX -- As part of the YMCA USA and the HP Inc. global partnership launched in January 2022, the YMCA of Greater Houston plans to accelerate digital equity and improve learning outcomes among youth, seniors and underserved communities. In the first year of the initiative, the YMCA of Greater Houston anticipates serving 5,000 Houstonians to enhance community members’ learning and well-being through digital literacy and STEM education programming.

On May 22, the YMCA of Greater Houston and HP opened Houston’s first YMCA Digital Hub at West Orem Family YMCA. The center will feature computer literacy classes for senior adults, youth programs to enhance literacy and STEM education, language courses, open computer lab to provide access to job searches and resume building and more. YMCA and HP LIFE programming will be available to all community members at no cost, and a YMCA membership is not required to participate.

HP LIFE, a free IT and business skills training program from the HP Foundation, provides accessible training courses to enrich lives around the world, support economic independence and improve employability skills. Courses include communications, start up, finance, marketing and operations. With partners such as YMCA USA, HP experts around the world are empowered to create highly relevant, business-focused courses that are free to use for everyone, everywhere. The 32+ self-paced courses are modular, interactive and full of information and practical exercises to enable users to develop the necessary skills for a successful future. Courses are available in eight languages: Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Portuguese and Spanish. Looking ahead, the YMCA plans to also develop a volunteer engagement program for HP employees at the headquarters office in Houston.

Through the worldwide partnership, the YMCA and HP aim to enhance young people’s learning, support their well-being, increase their employability and resilience, and empower them to be leaders and changemakers in their communities and the world.

“In tandem with our organization’s mission to connect the community and provide equal opportunities for all, the YMCA of Greater Houston is proud to partner with HP to bring necessary resources to Houston and promote digital equity across the city,” said Stephen Ives, president and CEO, YMCA of Greater Houston. “We will continue to collaborate and look forward to developing accessible, adaptable programming to empower and enhance our neighbors’ digital literacy skills and STEM education.”

'We’re thrilled to build on our partnership with YMCA to equip local communities with the digital tools they need to succeed,” said Ina Progonati, HP Global Lead for Sustainability and Social Impact Partnerships and Programs. “HP is committed to accelerating digital equity for 150 million people by 2030 and our strategic partnerships are key to our goal to narrow the digital divide.”

To learn more about the YMCA of Greater Houston programming and the YMCA Digital Hub at the West Orem Family YMCA, or to register for the program, please visitymcahouston.org or contact your local YMCA.

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