Madison Park

Last year, Neighborhood & Business Services (NBS) and our community partners worked together to help bridge the digital divide in Charlotte neighborhoods. This month, we're asking you to join us as we continue to work towards providing digital and media literacy to everyone in Charlotte.

Here are a few ways you can get involved:

• Attend the January 23 #DigitalCharlotte Community Impact Meeting. At this event, you will be able to learn more about DigitalCharlotte and have an opportunity to engage with community partners that offer access, devices, and training/educational resources that empower Charlotte communities. There will also be a special "GigWOW" experience where you can see firsthand what you'll be able to do with faster internet in Charlotte. Click here to RSVP.
  
  
• Help map local free Wi-Fi locations. Although many people have internet service at home, not everyone does. To make finding an open Wi-Fi hotspot in Charlotte easier, we need your help creating a community-supported Wi-Fi map. As you find free and open Wi-Fi networks in Charlotte, take a few minutes to share the location and details here.
  
  
• Learn how to understand Internet options for you and your neighbors. On Jan. 30, the Knight School of Communication will help Charlotte residents find the best internet options for their price range and learn why it’s important to have internet at home. Register for the class here.

Did you know that one of three young people don't have a mentor?

That means there are thousands of local children who feel isolated from meaningful connections with adults outside their homes. This year, you have the opportunity to help change that by being someone a young person in Charlotte can turn to for help.

Here's how you can help us close the mentoring gap:

• Sign up to be a mentor by connecting to a local mentoring agency though the [mayorsmentoringalliance.org]Mayor's Mentoring Alliance program.
• See for yourself why it's so rewarding to be a mentor by attending the Mentoring Alliance Awards on Friday, Jan. 29.

According to a recent national report called the Mentoring Effect, young people who were at risk for not completing high school, but had a mentor, had the tools to avoid pitfalls like skipping school, drinking and illegal drugs. They were 55 percent more likely to be enrolled in college, more than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team and 78 percent more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities than those who did not have a mentor.

This month, let's commit to not leaving these powerful relationships to chance. Every young person should have someone to talk to.

For more information about the Mentoring Alliance Awards or mentoring in Charlotte, please visit [mayorsmentoringalliance.org]mayorsmentoringalliance.org.