Bright Futures for Youth will start providing much-needed internet access and supervision for students Monday, Oct. 26, at the Nevada County Fairgrounds’ Main Street Service Center as part of an agreement between the fairgrounds and Nevada County.
Bright Futures for Youth is a nonprofit created by the merger of The Friendship Club and NEO Youth Center.
The free Distance Learning Center and Youth Hub will be available to children, 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, to help meet the educational needs as the region continues to deal with the COVID pandemic and the subsequent health and safety requirements.
Children in fourth grade and higher can be dropped-off at the center, while parents or guardians must remain with younger students. The Distance Learning Center and Youth Hub can accommodate up to 40 students at a time.
Free breakfasts and lunches available for students; COVID safety guidelines will be followed.
The Distance Learning Center is committed to first helping students who have limited or no access to the internet or need more help with their schoolwork. School districts are working with Bright Futures for Youth to identify these students.
The Distance Learning Center will offer high-speed internet access – critical for online learning but difficult to get for many residents in rural areas – socially distanced workstations, and a safe and supervised study environment. Students are required to bring their own or school-provided Chromebooks, laptops or tablets, and headphones.
“There are so many ongoing challenges for parents and children, especially when it comes to school and online learning. Many families have no or very slow internet access, and that puts students at such a disadvantage when it comes to online learning,” said Jennifer Singer, Executive Director of Bright Futures for Youth. “The center and hub are truly a collaborative partnership between community organizations with creative and innovative solutions to ensure students can focus on their education in a supervised setting.” Read more.