Richmond, VA:
Podium RVA and Impact Makers will prepare Richmond teens for the future by launching an AI Literacy program at Armstrong High School and Richmond High School for the Arts. Impact Makers is providing generous financial support to launch these programs, in addition to bringing their AI expertise to provide support with staff training, curriculum research, and evaluation development. This partnership is critical to fostering social mobility and preventing the widening of the digital divide across the region.
Stated by the CEO of Impact Makers, Shiva Kommareddi, “AI can be a powerful equalizer for underserved youth to unlock personalized learning and vast troves of knowledge. Our youth should first have equitable access to this powerful technology, to avoid yet another digital inequity. Our goal through this program is to help students develop both an understanding of this powerful technology to aid in their careers as well as provide them the tools to utilize it safely.”
Shared by Executive Director of Podium RVA, Vicki Yeroian, “Children are being introduced to AI, which is a completely new navigation system for the world where we learn, live, and work. Now is the time to create after-school and summer programs where youth receive positive mentorship in its application.”
About Podium RVA
Established in 2008, Podium RVA’s mission is to empower youth ages 11 – 19 as confident and capable writers and communicators with the skills to succeed in school, career, and life. Podium RVA supports under-resourced communities and public schools in Richmond, Henrico, Hopewell, and Petersburg. To date, over 5,500 youth have participated in Podium RVA’s out-of-school time and professional development programs. For more info, visit www.podiumrva.org.