PowerMyLearning Honors Councilman James Vacca

NEW YORK, December 16, 2017—PowerMyLearning, an education nonprofit in New York City, is honoring Councilman James Vacca for his generous contributions to the New York City Council through the Digital Inclusion & Literacy Initiative. His commitment to closing the digital divide has enabled PowerMyLearning to bring their impactful programs and services to many communities throughout the five boroughs. The organization will pay tribute to the Councilman for his efforts at an upcoming family workshop at a Bronx school.

On December 16, 2017, 60 students from P.S. 72 and their families are invited to a Family Learning Workshop hosted by PowerMyLearning at the Bronx school. At the bilingual workshop, students and families learn together about using technology as a powerful educational tool. They will receive a free computer loaded with educational software, information about online educational resources, free subscriptions to premium software content, and 24/7 bilingual Help Desk support and repair services from PowerMyLearning.

P.S. 72’s partnership with PowerMyLearning, which is fully funded by Councilman Vacca, also includes a professional development workshop series for teachers, designed to help them leverage technology in the classroom and increase family engagement in the learning process. The goal of the programs and services offered by PowerMyLearning is to strengthen the learning relationships between students, teachers, and families so every student succeeds.

“Ensuring our families have the knowledge and equipment to excel in a rapidly advancing technological environment has been one of my top priorities over the years,” said Council Member James Vacca, Chair of the New York City Council Committee on Technology. “Bridging the technological divide by providing training and resources to our underserved populations is critically important. We must ensure that all students have adequate access to the technological tools necessary to succeed.”

As Chair of the Technology Committee, Vacca is dedicated to bridging the digital divide and providing New Yorkers with more access to equipment, training, and internet access. In 2014, he developed the NYC Digital Inclusion & Literacy Initiative, which seeks to address the disparities in access to the internet and increase digital literacy. Each council district can allocate funding through a local non-profit to serve seniors, youth, and immigrant communities. Since its conception, the initiative has grown substantially. PowerMyLearning has close to a million dollars over the past four years from the Digital Inclusion and Literacy Initiative. In the 2017-2018 school year alone, this Initiative funds PowerMyLearning’s work in 25 schools, reaching as many as 1,620 families and 435 teachers. The organization will express its gratitude to Councilman Vacca for his integral role in this important work.