In collaboration with AARP New York, Brooklyn High School of the Arts (BHSA) today will launch an innovative program created by EarthLink , the nation’s next- generation Internet service provider, to bring together senior citizens, net- savvy teenagers and the Internet.
GenerationLink is a national classroom-based, service-learning program that enlists high school students to teach seniors how to use the Internet. Students will learn valuable lessons about citizenship and community, while seniors will learn how to take advantage of all the Internet has to offer. Developed and launched by EarthLink, GenerationLink seeks to foster multigenerational understanding by using the Internet to forge a connection between teens and seniors.
« GenerationLink gives teens and seniors the opportunity to create a dialogue in a way that enriches the lives of both generations, » said Dan Greenfield, vice president of corporate communications for EarthLink.
« The Internet can connect seniors with family and friends, new resources and information, which encourages seniors to participate with others, develop skills and meet their ever-changing needs and interests. It can also provide a critical linkage that reduces isolation, allowing seniors to remain independent and lead satisfying lives, » said Ed Redfern, associate state director of AARP New York.
Beginning today, GenerationLink will bring about 10 senior citizens affiliated with AARP New York, aged 60 and above, to sit side by side with students at Brooklyn High School of the Arts. The students will teach the seniors how to send e-mail, surf the Web and download attachments.
The one-hour class will run for six weeks, with the high school students serving as Internet mentors and teachers for the seniors. In addition, EarthLink has provided the school with its TotalAccess(TM) 2005 software, EarthLink e-mail addresses free of charge, and its national GenerationLink curriculum.
« As a high school, we realize that our mission is not only to educate the future leaders of our community, but also to prepare better citizens for New York, » said Robert Finley, principal of Brooklyn High School of the Arts. « Collaborations such as this between EarthLink, AARP New York and our school is a win-win situation. The students learn about the importance of taking an active role in the community, and our community seniors benefit from the care and technical expertise of our students. There is no doubt that this is how you build character among our youth, and we applaud EarthLink for their partnership. »
To date, EarthLink has launched GenerationLink programs in 13 schools in Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas, Philadelphia, Denver, Minneapolis, Seattle and Boston. As testimony to the program’s success, participating seniors continue to use e-mail to stay in touch with faraway children and grandchildren, while others are using the Internet to explore information and hobbies, such as reading a hometown newspaper.
The program was created in part to address a study published in February 2002 by the U.S. Department of Commerce that found teenagers to be the most prolific Internet users, while seniors over age 55 show a sharp drop in Internet use. According to a 2004 Pew Internet & American Life study, only 22% of Americans age 65 or older reported having access to the Internet.
Greenfield noted that plans are underway for launching GenerationLink programs in additional cities nationwide, including Washington DC on October 25. « We’ve seen so much enthusiasm for this program in the cities we’ve launched — the seniors are eager to go online and use e-mail, and the students are proud of their role as teacher and mentor. Ultimately we’d like to bring this program to more schools and senior centers across the country, » Greenfield said.
About EarthLink
« EarthLink. We revolve around you(tm). » As the nation’s next generation Internet service provider, Atlanta-based EarthLink has earned an award-winning reputation for outstanding customer service and its suite of online products and services. Serving over five million subscribers, EarthLink offers what every user should expect from their Internet experience: high-quality connectivity, minimal online intrusions, and customizable features. Whether it’s dial-up, high-speed, voice, web hosting, wireless or « EarthLink Extras » like home networking or security, EarthLink provides the tools that best let individuals use and enjoy the Internet on their own terms. Learn more about EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK or visiting EarthLink’s Web site at www.EarthLink.net.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP has over 2.6 million members in New York State and nearly 36 million members nationwide. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, http://www.aarp.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
About BHSA
Brooklyn High School of the Arts opened its doors in September 2000 to Brooklyn students who have a special interest and demonstrated ability in Visual, Preservation and Performing Arts. It is the first audition Arts high school in Brooklyn and the first Preservation Arts high school in the nation. The school offers a full range of college preparatory courses with curriculum aligned to the New Standards. Learning is interdisciplinary, with knowledge gained in one subject area connected to learning across all subject areas. State of the art technology that fosters research and independent study is provided and its use encouraged. We support our students’ community involvement and nurture their individual and creative expressions in Art, Music, Dance, Drama and Preservation Arts.
CONTACT: Carla Shaw of EarthLink, +1-404-748-7436, or mobile, +1-404-849-1140, or shawcm@corp.earthlink.net; or Lisette Kwong of Text 100 Public Relations, +1-212-871-3953, or lisettek@text100.com
Web site: http://www.earthlink.net/ http://www.aarp.org/ http://www.scholastic.com/generationlink/
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