AT&T-funded laptops from Human I-T and hands-on digital skills training from Connected Nation support justice-impacted adults at Homeboy Industries, the Center for Employment Opportunities, and The Prism Way
Los Angeles, Calif. (October 20, 2026) — Connected Nation (CN), a national nonprofit working to expand the access, adoption, and use of broadband (high-speed internet) and its related technologies for all people, today joined AT&T, Human I-T, the Center for Employment Opportunities, The Prism Way, and Homeboy Industries in providing 75 refurbished laptops to justice-impacted Los Angeles residents, paired with hands-on digital skills training to help them use technology safely, confidently, and effectively.
The refurbished laptops, funded by AT&T and provided by Human I-T, are going to participants enrolled in job training and reentry programs at the Center for Employment Opportunities, The Prism Way, and Homeboy Industries. They are being distributed during in-person digital literacy workshops led by CN and hosted by each partner organization from October 19 to 21, with support from AT&T. The workshops are designed for justice-impacted adults and focus on the skills they need to find work, complete job training, reconnect with family and community, and handle everyday tasks that have moved online.
“For many people coming home from incarceration or living with a record, the first steps toward a new start happen online: applying for jobs, completing training, accessing services, and staying in touch with family,” said Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO, CN. “A laptop is an important start, but it is not enough on its own. People also need the skills and confidence to use it safely. By pairing devices with hands-on training from trusted local organizations, this partnership is helping participants turn access into real opportunity.”
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, millions of Americans still lack a home internet connection or a computer, a gap known as the Digital Divide. Many others are connected but lack the digital skills to use the internet for work, health care, education, and communication. By combining devices with hands-on training, CN, AT&T, and their partners are addressing both barriers at once.
“Digital skills open doors for everyone in our communities,” said Lupita Sanchez Cornejo, Regional Assistant Vice President, External & Legislative Affairs, AT&T. “By teaming up with Connected Nation, Center for Employment Opportunities, The Prism Way, and Homeboy Industries, we’re making it easier for people to get hands-on with technology and tap into all the amazing opportunities the internet offers.”
“Our participants are working hard to build careers and support their families, and in today’s workforce, that opportunity starts online,” said Giovanni Frausto, Senior Program Manager, Center for Employment Opportunities. A reliable laptop and the digital skills to use it confidently give them a fair chance to compete for quality jobs, complete vocational training, and navigate daily life with dignity. We are deeply grateful to AT&T, Connected Nation, and Human-I-T for making an investment that directly expands economic mobility for the people we serve.”
The workshops use resources from DigitalLearn.org and content available through AT&T ScreenReady®. Sessions are offered in English and Spanish and cover internet basics, videoconferencing, cybersecurity, mobile devices, and how to spot and avoid online fraud and scams.
This effort is part of AT&T’s initiative to help address the Digital Divide through internet accessibility, affordability, and safe adoption. Since 2021, AT&T has committed $5 billion to help 25 million people get and stay connected to high-speed internet by 2030, including distributing 30,000 laptops nationwide in 2026.
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About the Center for Employment Opportunities
The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides immediate, effective, and comprehensive employment services exclusively to people recently released from incarceration. CEO currently operates in 30 cities in 12 states and is dedicated to ensuring justice-impacted people have opportunities to achieve socioeconomic mobility. For more information, visit ceoworks.org.
Photos from the event!
