Net Literacy Increases Computer Access to Over 60,000 individuals in Four States!

Net Literacy is providing computers so that computer labs can be established at hundreds of locations, increasing computer access to the underserved. At community centers, Section 8 and HUD Apartments, independent living facilities, senior centers, schools, churches, and other nonprofits that range from the Boys and Girls Club to the Salvation Army, Net Literacy is making a difference.

"It's important," says Brian Kelley, Net Literacy's second Youth Chair, "that access to computers is available to everyone. Otherwise, it's tougher for students to excel in school and harder for them to find employment once they completed their education."

Since the Computer Connects program was conceived in 2005, Brian Kelley has served as its Team Leader, overseeing an effort that involved schools and Net Literacy’s own repurposing facility and has provided thousands of computers and established or expanded public computer labs in hundreds of locations in Indiana, Illinois, Wyoming, and Ohio. In 2007, Brian was selected to serve as Net Literacy’s second Youth Chair – and built or refreshed all of the organization’s websites during his tenure. “Brian Kelley and team,” says President Don Kent, “took Net Literacy to the next level. His leadership and the hundreds of hours that he has spent each year during the last few years have literally impacted tens of thousands of individuals that were on the wrong side of the digital divide. He’s the leader that made it happen.” In recognition of his accomplishments, Brian Kelley was elected to the Net Literacy Board of Directors, Emeritus.

"Underserved students are a primary focus of Net Literacy,” continues Kelley, “and one of our most important missions is to increase computer access, computer and Internet literacy training, and Internet safety education to youth. Because of the success we had providing computers to school schools in the core city, we expanded our program to work with principals identifying school and student computer needs, and then donating thousands of computers to make a significant impact. We have provided many elementary schools with computers. Some of them use the computers to build computer labs. Other elementary schools place computer stations in each classroom. We are working with school district officials and directly with school principals to test providing them enough computers to enable schools to provide a computer to students that do not have one at their home. Together with the computers, we also provide the computer and Internet training resources and Internet safety materials. One student at a time, Net Literacy is making a difference.”