IMPACT GNV launches technology hubs with Children’s Trust of Alachua County grant
Press release from the City of Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The City of Gainesville’s IMPACT GNV initiative has expanded its community-based approach to gun violence prevention with the launch of a new Technology Hub program. Funded through a $50,400 grant from the Children’s Trust of Alachua County, the program provides partner organizations with technology designed to increase digital access, strengthen workforce readiness, and support youth and families in Gainesville and Alachua County.
This newest initiative is an outgrowth of the work done by the Community Gun Violence Prevention Alliance, a partnership between the City of Gainesville, Alachua County, and Santa Fe College to reduce gun violence by addressing the underlying factors that lead to instability within neighborhoods and families. One of the bigger questions surrounds how best to leap the digital divide — essentially providing the training, technology, and reliable internet access needed by children and young people for better educational and employment outcomes.
The Technology Hub program addresses that gap by giving laptops and equipment to community-based organizations already known for helping neighbors access education, employment, and support services. Once installed, the technology hubs serve as safe, welcoming spaces where youth and families can log onto high-speed internet, build digital skills, and participate in structured afterschool and workforce development opportunities.
A slate of hands-on digital training and afterschool classes are offered as part of the program. These include digital literacy workshops, coding and STEM activities, robotics, arts programming, resume development, job search assistance, mental health services, and adult education support. The hubs can be found at partner organizations including the Residence at Oakview Afterschool Prodigy Club, Pineridge Community Center Afterschool Program, Infinite Dream Builders, The Nehemiah Project, and Dream on Purpose.
The Technology Hub program is an example of ongoing brainstorming and cooperation between the Community Gun Violence Prevention Alliance and existing organizations throughout the county. The Children’s Trust has long played a critical role in early intervention and prevention strategies that expand opportunities for children and families.
“Access to technology is access to opportunity,” said Brittany Coleman, Gainesville’s Gun Violence Intervention Program Manager. “This program is about more than computers. It’s about closing gaps, building confidence, and ensuring every resident has the tools to thrive.”
The new initiative builds on the City’s broader IMPACT GNV strategy, which applies a public health approach to reducing gun violence by strengthening neighborhoods, expanding access to resources, and supporting community-based solutions. The technology hubs will remain in place for six to 12 months before moving to new locations. Groups interested in participating are encouraged to reach out for more information or submit an application.
So the Gainesville Democrat politicians believe they will solve a neighborhood’s problems in 6-12 months. Really? Good Luck with that virtue signalling.
This sounds silly abd doesn’t make sense. We are going to attempt to improve technology to make people workforce ready, blah, blah blah. All to reduce gun violence. It sounds like its a give away of computers, and giving things to make every resident thrive. Well you have to get the thugs off the streets to make anything work. Sounds more like one organization giving away free stuff to other group of organizations and nothing benefits a individual. More police and stiffer penalties, and stronger tough love is what needed. I am curious if thus only applies to a certain group or to all of Gainesville and Alachua County residents. And of course I mean American born residents in the area too.
Bear, you have elswhere favored shooting law abiding citizens in the face and in the back and killing them – is that the tough love you are talking about?
I dont think I have advocated shooting law abiding citizens. Criminals committing violent crimes and being shot in self defense yes I have no issues with that. I seriously think you have let TDS and other Derangement ailments take over your though process and well being. Please seek psychiatric help and take your meds.
Laptops & better internet access is going to stop gun violence? I know that incarceration works…
give the money to law enforcement and make the jail larger.
The US has the highest incarceration rate in the developed world, including China. It doesn’t work.
We also have the highest number of guns in the developed world and gunfire is the #1 cause of death of our kids.
Lawful owners in the US own between 300-500 million guns. They have to fill out a ATF for, and other forms to own and possess forearms and also have to have official ID to purchase them. They probably have over 10 million rounds. Guns are not the problem, people are. Case in point. Yesterday a woman threatens a victim with an are. A couple of days ago a man burglaries a home and used a metal rod to assault two people. A man uses a baseball bat to take his anger out over parking. People try to run over people with vehicles. It doesn’t take a genius to see that people are the problem. Guns like knives, axes, baseball bats, screwdrivers, vehicles are tools, etc without a brain, or emotions. It’s people using the object.
Prisons are necessary is isolated dangerous and repeat offenders. They serve as punishment when all the touchy feely attempts fail. If the penal system was harsher about violent crimes that might be a better deterrent to repeat crime.