Carmel High School Net Literacy student volunteers will be honored at a special presentation by Mayor Jim Brainard; in recognition of the contribution that they are making in Carmel and throughout the state of Indiana. The presentation will occur on Monday, April 18 beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Carmel High School in the Business Department, Room F109.
Mayor Jim Brainard will present the Carmel High School Net Literacy student volunteers with a Proclamation from the City of Carmel for their efforts refurbishing computers that were donated to students in the Carmel Clay School District who were without computers at home. In addition, they will be recognized for leading the effort to increase Internet Safety Awareness in Carmel and Central Indiana by creating an Internet Safety Public Service Address (PSA) awareness campaign. Currently, the PSA campaign airs on Bright House Networks. Mayor Brainard will also present a proclamation on behalf of Governor Daniels proclaiming “Indiana Net Literacy and Digital Inclusion Day,” recognizing the Carmel High School students’ contributions in a three year initiative. The initiative provides thousands of computers to hundreds of libraries, community centers, and nonprofits in more than 80 Indiana counties.
“Our Carmel Clay Schools’ students have been leaders in service learning that has benefited and enriched the Carmel Community,” said Mayor Jim Brainard. “Since 2003 when Net Literacy was founded by Carmel Middle School students, Carmel Clay Schools have impacted our community as middle school and high school students have provided hundreds of computers for Carmel Clay Schools’ students and taught computer and Internet skills at Prime Life Enrichment and independent living facilities within our community. They have also donated computers to the nonprofits in Carmel that support and enrich our community“
Net Literacy’s student volunteers have been widely recognized by our nation’s leadership, including two American Presidents. In 2010, digital inclusion programs that Net Literacy’s student volunteers created were cited as good practices in the National Broadband Plan developed by the FCC and presented to Congress. Also in 2010 and at the request of the Lt. Governor’s office, Net Literacy’s Carmel High School chapter undertook an initiative to donate thousands of computers to hundreds of nonprofits so that they could build or expand computer labs in 80 Indiana counties in a three year program. At the halfway point, Governor Daniels proclaimed March 1, 2011 “Indiana Net Literacy and Digital Inclusion Day” recognizing these student volunteers’ efforts to help increase digital inclusion throughout the State.
“It is wonderful to see our students give back to their community by doing something they love: computer refurbishment”, said Dr. Jeff Swesson, Superintendent Carmel Clay Schools. “Their hard work and dedication deserves to be recognized for the positive, far-reaching impacts they are making throughout Indiana.”
Bright House Networks and Net Literacy joined forces in 2004 with a mission to increase computer access across Central Indiana and educate youth on the importance of Internet Safety. One of the most significant accomplishments of the partnership is the creation of a Bright House Networks – Net Literacy Internet safety public service awareness campaign. The campaign was scripted by and stars Net Literacy Student volunteers talking about tough Internet safety issues such as cyber bullying, sexting, social networks and many other tough issues youth face online. The Internet Safety PSA campaign has been reviewed by the Indiana Department of Education, and can be seen in its entirety by visiting www.safeconnects.org.
“Bright House Networks is committed to giving back in every community we serve,” said Karen Broach, Regional Vice President of Operations for Bright House Networks. “Our partnership with Net Literacy allows us to provide free, critically needed computers to thousands of individuals in our community and also, through our Internet Safety PSA campaign, reinforce our commitment to educating our youth about the importance of being safe online.”
“In 2004, Bright House Networks took a chance on some Carmel Middle School students that dreamed of helping others by increasing digital inclusion and became the first company to support Net Literacy,” said Steven Chen, Co-President of Net Literacy’s chapter at Carmel High School and a member of Net Literacy’s Board of Directors. “Since then, Bright House Networks has enabled Net Literacy to donate more than 5,000 computers to schools and nonprofits, helping to increase computer access to tens of thousands of Hoosiers. Earlier this month, we produced another six Internet Safety PSAs through our Safe Connects program. These PSAs are ‘real’ and are scripted by and star students, resonating with members of the Digital Generation. The PSAs will air on Bright House Networks beginning in June, and will help increase Internet safety awareness, especially to students.”
For more information about Bright House Networks, visit brighthouse.com. For more information about Net Literacy, visit netliteracy.org.
About Net Literacy
Established in 2003, Net Literacy is a student-managed non-profit organization that promotes youth philanthropy through community outreach programs. Its mission is to increase computer access by creating public computer labs, teaching computer and Internet skills and educating youth and parents about Internet safety. Comprised of youth and adult board members, Net Literacy has established hundreds of computer labs to increase computer and Internet access to the underserved, including labs at community centers, senior centers, libraries, schools, churches and other non-profits. For more information about Net Literacy, visit netliteracy.org.
About Bright House Networks
Bright House Networks is the sixth largest owner and operator of cable systems in the U.S. and the second largest in Florida with technologically advanced systems located in five states including Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Michigan and California.
Bright House Networks serves more than 2.4 million customers who subscribe to one or more of its video, high-speed data and voice services. The company also offers a full suite of phone, Internet, Ethernet and cable television services to businesses of all sizes.
For more information about Bright House Networks or our products and services, visit brighthouse.com.
