Centro de la Familia de Utah and Comcast Team up to Expose West Side SLC Students to STEM Careers

Centro De La Familia de Utah’s (CDLFU) mission is to develop educational opportunities that empower Latinos. In particular, CDLFU wants to empower youth with the necessary digital tools and 21^st century skills to become strong community leaders. Comcast Foundation provides funding for CDLFU’s Digital Tools for Success & Leadership class for at-risk youth residing on the west side of Salt Lake City.

This summer, CDLFU students participated in a variety of activities throughout the year including, El Futuro Career Day at Comcast.

During El Futuro Career Day, students took part in presentations from a diverse group of Comcast leaders from Technical Operations, Xfinity Marketing and Sales, Customer Service, Talent Management and IT. Students also participated in a hands-on STEM cable wiring activity, and received a tour of the head-end facility.

“Technology is a universal language that our diverse community is ready and able to speak. Opportunities like “EL FUTURO CAREER DAY” demonstrate to our youth how the STEM classes that they are exposed to can be a path to future success,” said Gonzalo Palza, CEO, Centro de la Familia de Utah.

At the event, Comcast ambassadors spoke about Internet Essentials, the company’s broadband Internet adoption program that seeks to bridge the digital divide in low-income households. As a result of this program, more than 750,000 families, or 3 million individuals, currently have access to the Internet at home; between 50 and 60% of Internet Essentials households are Hispanic.

During their online safety class students learned about how and what to post to the internet, specifically social media platforms and thinking proactively on potential future ramifications. Students took what they learned from the Comcast Digital Literacy class and helped seniors at Avenues Courtyard, an assisted living community in SLC, learn how to safely use technology including Facebook and Smart phones to keep in touch with their loved ones.

“The goal of ‘El Futuro Career Day,’” said Scott Allen, Director of Human Resources, Comcast Utah, “was to build an interest in science, technology, engineering and math fields at an early age, and also to encourage students to seek opportunities to obtain the certifications, degrees and skills necessary to enter the STEM workforce pipeline.”

Last year, the Comcast Foundation awarded nearly $35,000 to three Utah-based Hispanic organizations, including Centro de la Familia and Latinos in Action, to support digital literacy programs. The Foundation also awarded a total of $60,000 in scholarship funding to 36 Utah students through the Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program; the program provides college scholarships to students who strive to achieve their potential, who are catalysts for positive change in their communities, who are involved in their schools, and who serve as models for their fellow students.