Freedom Rings Partnership Graduates First Class in Digitial Literacy Initiative

The Freedom Rings Partnership is a $25 million federally-funded initiative that is part of the American Recovery Reinvestment Act's Broadband Technology Opportunity Program. It is led by the Urban Affairs Coalition, City of Philadelphia, and Drexel University, with the goal of building digital literacy by providing hands-on training to approximately 15,000 Philadelphia Housing Authority residents in 130 locations across Philadelphia. As part of the program, 5,000 netbooks will be distributed to PHA residents who complete an eight-hour training course. 

Philadelphia Housing Authority Executive Director Michael P. Kelly will award the 116 graduates with certificates and netbooks. Also helping to recognize this class will be Asia Coney, of the Resident Advisory Board, Brigitte Daniel, from Wilco Inc., Chief Education Officer for Philadelphia Lori Shorr, Senior Vice President and Executive Director at Drexel Brian T. Keech, Manager of Government & Strategic Partnerships for the Urban Affairs Coalition, Arun Prabhakaran, and Director of Corporate Solutions at Community College of Philadelphia Chuck Rumford.

News media contact: Britt Faulstick, News Officer, Drexel University Office of University Communications, 215-895-2617, bef29@drexel.edu