From splicing fiber optics cable to repairing smartphones, students develop tech skills in innovative summer learning program
Photos from today’s event are available HERE
Brooklyn, New York – Today, LinkNYC teamed up with Digital Girl, Inc and Fix It With Piggy to bring over a dozen high school students from Brooklyn and the Bronx together at the Brooklyn Gigabit Center, managed in partnership with the NYC Office of Technology & Innovation, for hands-on training in fiber optic cable splicing, smartphone repair, and other in-demand technical skills.
New York City Chief Technology Officer and Office of Technology & Innovation Commissioner Lisa Gelobter joined LinkNYC, Digital Girl, Inc., and Fix It With Piggy to speak with students about opportunities in New York City’s growing technology sector.
“LinkNYC is committed to ensuring young New Yorkers have access to the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in our city’s growing technology workforce,” said Nicole Robinson-Etienne, Senior Director of External Affairs for LinkNYC. “By partnering with organizations like Digital Girl, Inc. and Fix It With Piggy, we’re helping students gain hands-on experience with the technologies shaping today’s economy while connecting them with pathways to future careers.”
Throughout the event, students rotated through interactive workshops, learning skills as they received expert-led instruction in fiber optic splicing and smartphone repair from instructors and mentors. The summer learning program was supported by Digital Girl, Inc., a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that prepares young people – particularly girls and students from underserved communities – for careers in STEM, and Fix It With Piggy, a Bronx-based community technology hub that provides young people with training and work-based learning opportunities in device repair and other technology fields.
The program is among several initiatives led by LinkNYC, the NYC Office of Technology & Innovation, and their community partners to provide young New Yorkers with practical, workforce-ready skills through real-world technology training.
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About LinkNYC
LinkNYC is the world’s largest and fastest free public Wi-Fi network. Each Link kiosk provides free superfast Wi-Fi, phone calls, device charging, access to social services, and displays content such as real-time weather, transit info, public art, and local information. The city-wide network has more than 21 million Wi-Fi users and has connected more than 35 million free phone calls. All of LinkNYC’s services are completely free to users and taxpayers, provided by CityBridge, a joint venture led by Intersection Media and Boldyn Networks. The second generation offering will deploy thousands of new kiosks, called Link5G, enabled with 5G wireless technology across the city. For more information about LinkNYC or to find a Link near you, visit www.link.nyc.