Pictured above: Jorge receives a laptop from Easterseals, purchased by Comcast
By Carol Salter, President of Easterseals Oregon
The dictionary defines “collaborative” as “Involving two or more people working together for a special purpose.”
Working together for a special purpose perfectly captures our most recent partnership with Comcast. This spring, thanks to funding from Comcast, we were able to provide Chromebooks for more than 90 Easterseals employment program enrollees and provide them access to the Internet through Comcast’s Internet Essentials program.
One of the recipients, Carmen, has never had a computer before. “Learning English is my biggest goal. That comes first. The computer will help me attend English classes and then I can use it to start my job search.”
“I need this computer—I work remotely,” said Claudia, another program participant. “Without this laptop I couldn’t keep my job.”
These Chromebooks will enable individuals like Carmen and Claudia to learn new technology skills, pursue employment, combat isolation, and bring invaluable opportunities into their lives.
For more than 70 years, the Easterseals Oregon programs have evolved to support marginalized groups: children and adults with disabilities and their families, residents with disabilities who have English as a second language, homeless veterans, and poverty-level mature job seekers. Each of these programs have been created to pursue a mission of empowerment and inclusion, making a positive and quantifiable impact on communities throughout Oregon. We salute Comcast for helping us help our fellow Oregonians.
