Bridging the digital divide in the Bronx
New Verizon Innovative Learning Lab is unveiled.
Need to know:
- The Bronx Writing Academy launched a Verizon Innovative Learning (VIL) Lab, equipping students with technology like 3D printers, VR gear, AI, and robotics.
- This new lab is the 183rd VIL Lab nationwide and the sixth in New York City, part of a national commitment to provide 10 million students with digital skills training by 2030.
The Bronx Writing Academy is officially a new hub for hands-on, high-tech education with the launch of its new Verizon Innovative Learning (VIL) Lab. The new lab will give students access to virtual reality equipment, 3D printing stations, AI and robotics kits, augmented-reality apps and coding and game-design software.
“At Verizon, we are in the business of building networks and fostering connections,” said Vandana Venkatesh, Chief Legal Officer. “But the most powerful network isn't made of fiber and wires. It’s made of people, ideas, and opportunities.”
With computer-focused jobs projected to grow by 10% by 2034, the new VIL Lab helps close the digital skills gap. The program is made possible via partnerships with Heart of America and the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University. To date, the Verizon Innovative Learning initiative — which includes the 183 Labs, as well as other programs and efforts in over 660 schools — has reached nearly 9 million students nationwide, with a goal of reaching 10 million students by 2030.
A training ground for teaching emerging technologies
Yoli Stancil, a native New Yorker, Senior Vice President, Wireline Network Field Operations, and board member for Heart of America, highlighted how the new lab will bridge resource gaps and strengthen the community, empowering students to discover their potential both in and out of the classroom.
At the event, Olympic gymnast Hezly Rivera had this message for students, “The same discipline that allows me to stick a landing on the beam is the same discipline you will use to learn robotics.” She described the lab as a gymnasium for ideas to help students chase their own gold medals.
The VIL Lab program also provides teacher training, ongoing support and a curriculum that encourages students to use technology to solve real-world problems.
