Freedom Rings Computer Lab Now Open

Local dignitaries celebrated a ribbon cutting yesterday at Prevention Point

From L to R: Jose Benitez, executive director of Prevention Point; Annet Davis-Vogel, former board member of Prevention Point; David Acosta from the City of Philadelphia AIDS Activities Coordinating Office; Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez; Ashley Del Bianco from the City of Philadelphia Office of Innovation & Technology; Deaglan Daugherty, Critical Path program manager at Philadelphia FIGHT (photo courtesy of Philadelphia FIGHT)

On Tuesday, October 4th, Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez joined representatives of the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia FIGHT and Prevention Point in opening the Freedom Rings Computer Center at Prevention Point (166 W. Lehigh Ave.) during a special ribbon cutting ceremony. The new computer lab will be open to the public Monday through Thursday (noon to 4 p.m.) with computer classes also available.

Philadelphia FIGHT is one of 13 local agencies and educational institutions participating in the Freedom Rings partnership led by the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Innovation & Technology and the Urban Affairs Coalition. The program is designed to provide broadband Internet access, computers and training to the most economically and socially vulnerable areas of the city. In total, 77 public computer centers will be created and 15,000 individuals will be trained in how to use computers thanks to the citywide initiative.

“Freedom Rings is an innovative program to bring computer access to citizens across the city and to prepare our workforce for the 21st century economy,” says Mayor Michael Nutter. “Philadelphia FIGHT is an active partner
providing computer training and digital literacy services to our citizens, and I would like to thank them for their commitment to our city.”

FIGHT’s Critical Path Project has more than 15 years of experience addressing the digital divide and serving citizens who do not have the resources in their own homes to access the Internet. For its part, FIGHT will expand the computer lab and staffing in its AIDS Library, Institute for Community Justice and Youth Health Empowerment Project. FIGHT will also assist in creating or enhancing computer centers at 27 of the 77 locations, including shelters and drug recovery houses where FIGHT currently makes HIV counseling and testing available.

For more information about Freedom Rings, please contact Philadelphia FIGHT at 215-985-4448.