Materials Availability, Drought Concerns Challenge California North Coast Housing Projects

Though the cost of materials to frame houses and build cabinets appears poised to fall considerably, longtime North Bay homebuilder Keith Christopherson has yet to see it.

“Lumber mills and distributors were ordering early on and buying at higher prices, so (the decreases) have not translated down to the builder yet,” Christopherson said. Santa Rosa-based Christopherson Builders has over two dozen single-family home projects in the pipeline for the next 12 months, mostly rebuilds from the 2020 North Bay wildfires in Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties.

The futures price on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for September deliveries closed at $763.80 per thousand linear board feet at the close of trading Thursday. That’s up 3.6% on the day but down 54% from the peak of $1,686 in early May and down 40% just in June.

And it’s not just the lumber. Windows and other items have to be ordered up front. That not only creates project cash-flow challenges but also logistics loggerheads.

“If you’re on a city lot, there’s often no place to stockpile it,” Christopherson said.

In previous business cycles, the homebuilder had tried various ways to stockpile materials for jobs, such as renting local warehouses or storing materials in shipping containers. However, client last-minute changes would leave the company stuck with what was already purchased, and break-ins of materials containers was a problem.

So ordering items but keeping them with suppliers or subcontractors has been one solution, but those companies have their own challenges.

“Lumber right now is on a five-day hold,” Christopherson said. “When we go to start a house, they deliver (lumber for) the whole house, and we pay for it all up front. It’s the same with the trusses.”

Materials availability was a key factor in the time frame for projecting when work could resume on the 48-unit Napa Creek Village complex and how long it would take to finish.

“I’ve been doing this for 40 some odd years, and this is one of the toughest markets I’ve seen,” said Bill Wilhelm, president of R.D. Olson Construction.

Before work began again, general contractor R.D. Olson Construction spent three weeks taking stock of what had been built and what materials were available to complete the project in the current environment of skyrocketing prices and long delivery times, according to President Bill Wilhelm. In addition to lumber price inflation, the time frame for delivery of vinyl-covered-frame windows has swelled from two to six weeks to 22 to 24 weeks in some cases.

Impact of drought on homebuilding

So far, North Bay governments in the severe drought areas haven’t moved to limit new housing because of water supply concerns. But that could change soon.

Marin Municipal Water District’s board has been debating for the past month whether to implement a moratorium on new water connections and extensions during the drought, according to the Marin Independent Journal. The district last halted new hookups from 1973-1978 and 1989-1993, which included drought years.

District staff have proposed that suspending these new taps on the 191,000-customer water system would save 20 to 60 acre-feet annually but would amount to less than one-thousandth of yearly demand, the publication reported. By comparison, other water restrictions the district board did adopt — such as limits on irrigation use — are projected to save a quarter of district water demand.

The district board is considering information presented at its June meetings before returning to the issue, according to spokesperson Jeanne Mariani-Belding. No date for that has been determined so far.

A coalition of local business groups wrote a letter to the board opposing the moratorium, arguing that it would hurt efforts to create more housing and wouldn’t be as effective as other mitigation efforts.

“Many recall the moratorium of the 1970s as being incredibly disruptive and costly to many segments of our lives and our economy. Not just development was halted but businesses and retailers were prevented from opening or moving, homeowners could not remodel, and municipal planning was totally disrupted. That moratorium had a major impact on jobs, housing and economic vitality,” said the May 28 letter from Keep Marin Working, made up of North Bay Leadership Council, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, Latino Council, Marin Realtors, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Marin County, Marin Builders Association and Marin Small Business Development Center.

“The county of Marin has offered incentives to waive (housing) permitting fees, and then the Marin water district has proposed a moratorium on new housing. That’s an interesting dichotomy,” said Rick Wells, president of Marin Builders Association. “We are experiencing a housing shortage in Marin County. We need more workforce housing.”

BPM Welcomes Gumbiner Savett, Expands Presence in Southern California

BPM LLP, one of the 50 largest public accounting and advisory firms in the country, and Gumbiner Savett Inc., a full-service accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Santa Monica, today announced that the businesses will combine, effective July 1, 2021. Existing Gumbiner Savett clients will benefit from access to BPM’s global reach and the variety and depth of knowledge manifested by its growing base of 800-plus professionals.

The announcement comes on the heels of a slew of recent expansions for BPM. 2020 saw combinations with Irvine-based Warnick, Maestras & Maroney (WMM) Accountancy Corporation as well as Long Beach-based full-service CPA firm Rossi LLP. The combination with Gumbiner Savett further expands BPM’s reach in Southern California with a new office in a significant Los Angeles metro area.

“Gumbiner Savett is an established, respected member of the Los Angeles County’s business community whose mission and values mirror our own,” said Jim Wallace, BPM’s Chief Executive Officer. “This strategic business combination strengthens our competitiveness in the marketplace and will be a key driver of growth for our firm as we expand in Southern California. We look forward to achieving new heights of opportunity for both our clients and colleagues under our newly combined firm.”

Gumbiner Savett’s Santa Monica office will be rebranded under the BPM name, joining the list of the Firm’s existing locations across California as well in Eugene, Oregon, and Bellevue, Washington.

“This combination with BPM will allow us to serve our clients even better through enhanced resources and capabilities, including many new specialty services,” said Rick Parent, Managing Director of Gumbiner Savett. “We are excited to share this news with our clients and continue to find new ways to support and grow their businesses.”

Earlier this year, BPM was recognized as a 2021 Best of Accounting award winner for the sixth year in a row based on client service excellence and was also listed in Forbes’ “Best Tax and Accounting Firms” for the second consecutive year. Most recently, BPM was named as one of Accounting Today’s “Fastest Growing Firms in the U.S.” and among the top firms on the West Coast.

About BPM
Founded in 1986, BPM is one of the 50 largest public accounting and advisory firms in the country. With more than 800 professionals along the West Coast—as well as an office in Bengaluru—the Firm offers a cross-functional team approach that gives clients direct access to the best and most qualified resources. To learn more, visit the BPM website.

https://www.bpmcpa.com/News-Events/211402/BPM-Welcomes-Gumbiner-Savett-Expands-Presence-in-Southern-California

Dominican’s Master of Science (MS) in Biological Sciences is an Advanced, Research-Intensive Program Designed to Train Students Primarily for Successful Scientific Careers Focused on Biomedicine

Through advanced coursework, interdisciplinary research and experiential learning, this program trains tomorrow’s leading-edge scientists in genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell and developmental biology, neurobiology, environmental sciences, biotechnology, genomics, proteomics, protein interaction networks, and bioinformatics.

Students in the Master of Biological Sciences program have the opportunity to immerse themselves in thesis-driven individualized research in their area of interest.

Program Highlights

  • Opportunities to conduct and present your research, gaining valuable skills as a future scientist.
  • Graduates are well-equipped to pursue careers in PhD, MD, or pharmacy programs.
  • Internship opportunities with the Buck InstituteBioMarin, and the SENS Research Foundation (SRF)
Application Deadlines Tuition Rate Per Unit Number of Units Format and Length
Fall: July 1*
Spring: December 1

*Priority deadline is April 1. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis, and research spots are limited.

$1,110

View Tuition and Financial Aid Information for details.

36 Units Hybrid
(online and in-person)24-36 Months
Contact Us. Reach out to an Admissions counselor by phone (415) 485-3280,  email allyse.rudolph@dominican.edu, or register for a counseling appointment.

https://www.dominican.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-science-biological-sciences-ms

Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute Launches New Inclusion Effort

Sonoma State University on Tuesday said it is launching an inclusion program as part of its Wine Business Institute to help further diversify a sector that is largely white.

The institute, which is part of the School of Business and Economics, has been able to start its Inclusive Excellence Program thanks to almost $1 million in funding from local wine companies.

“This is a holistic approach,” said Ray Johnson, executive director of the Wine Business Institute. The university has previously worked with the industry to fund scholarships for those from underrepresented backgrounds, but the new effort will also emphasize internships and mentoring programs to help such students be able to reach executive-level careers within the wine industry.

“These students will then have a greater platform from which to launch the next step in their career,” Johnson said of the effort.

The outreach comes as the sector has been under increased scrutiny in the aftermath of last year’s Black Lives Matter protests to increase diversity. SSU has worked with the Association of African American Vintners in the recent effort, including funding scholarships for two students for the fall semester, said Lou Garcia, owner of the Stover Oaks wine brand and vice president of AAAV. One recipient is an African-American woman and the other is Chinese-American woman, Garcia said.

“They are going to need a lot more than a scholarship. They are going to need support to get in the industry and to stay in there and to learn. That’s going to be the key. There are enough folks out there of color and other folks who want to help,” Garcia said.

The funding for the new effort comes from such sources as the Foley Family Charitable Foundation, Kistler Vineyards, Charles Woodson Intercept Wines, and O’Neill Vintners & Distillers.

“Fostering a more inclusive, supportive, and diverse industry is vital to the health and sustainability of our communities and businesses, and we are pleased to play a role in creating brighter opportunities for the next generation of industry leaders,” said Courtney Foley, second-generation vintner for Chalk Hill Winery, in a statement.

Diversity statistics are rare in the wine industry, though fewer than 1% of U.S. wineries are owned by African Americans. Most, like Garcia, got into the sector after success in other businesses. Anisya Fritz of Lynmar Estate in Sebastopol is working with the Wine Business Institute in conducting a survey of diversity of inclusion within the Sonoma County wine industry, Johnson said.“We can get to some of those numbers … and have a better understanding,” he said of the survey.

The changes over the past 18 months with outreach and highlighting diversity within the wine community have been noticeable, said Andrea Smalling, vice president of marketing and sales at WineDirect, a direct-to-consumer business for wineries based in American Canyon. Smalling, who is Black, has worked in the sector since the mid-1990s, including at Constellation Brands and Treasury Wine Estates. She spent seven years as chief marketing officer with Foley Family Wines.

“I’ve seen massive changes,” Smalling said. “I started in the wine industry in 1994 … it wasn’t like I wasn’t welcome. It wasn’t a negative thing. But it wasn’t until the last 18 months that I saw this groundswell.”

Such changes include the appointment of Carlton McCoy as chief executive officer at the fabled Heitz Cellar in the Napa Valley, making him one of the rare Black heads of a North Coast winery that his family does not own. There also have been efforts by E. & J. Gallo Winery, the country’s largest wine company, to publicly highlight its diverse workforce.

“Everyone is looking for opportunities to add diversity and that is just great,” Smalling said.

Becoming Independent Expanding Workforce Development to Help Bridge Employment Gap in Sonoma County

Becoming Independent (BI), the Santa Rosa-based nonprofit social impact organization that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is set to expand workforce training and development in the North Bay.

Becoming Independent’s Program Headquarters will be a 24,000sf training ground for workforce development in the hospitality, food, administrative, manufacturing, and agriculture industries and will provide vocational training in a professional environment that mirrors real-world employment. The space will include a commercial kitchen that will allow BI clients with an expressed interest in the hospitality
and food industry the opportunity to train using restaurant-quality equipment. For those interested in obtaining industry specific certifications, assistance will be provided. A 10,000sf flexible indoor/outdoor event space will be available for the community to rent, and BI clients who are entering the hospitality industry will be available for staffing at market wages.

“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have always been eager to receive training, support, and most importantly, gainful employment. We’re excited to expand our workforce development program, and as a result, help to fill the workforce gap that our local industries are currently experiencing across a broad spectrum of services.” says Luana Vaetoe, Becoming Independent’s Chief Executive
Officer.

Danny Nooris, Executive Chef at Oakmont of Villa Capri shared “It has been a great benefit employing a BI client. Garrett has been a tremendous and positive asset in the department. He comes to work positive, full of energy, and always willing to help the team. The BI support staff have been a great help with guiding Garrett to fulfill his highest potential in the work that he does. The qualifications that we are looking for in a potential employee are developed through the BI program and it has been beneficial for our department. I would recommend BI clients to anyone looking to fill any employment gaps in any number of job fields and markets.”

Becoming Independent is currently providing services to over 600 individuals in the North Bay; one third of whom are receiving job training and employment support at employer sites as well as at BI, with many more interested in joining Sonoma County’s workforce. Long standing partners currently employing BI clients include Morton & Bassett Spices, Mary’s Pizza Shack, Villa Capri, Keysight Technologies, Oliver’s Market and Wildman Farms. With the redevelopment of their Program Headquarters, Becoming Independent will be primed and ready to provide job opportunities for more clients and the community. In addition to workforce development, wraparound support will be offered to all BI clients, helping to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are housed, educated, and their mental and
behavioral health is supported in an accredited environment that is centered on individualized growth and opportunities.

About Becoming Independent
Becoming Independent is one of the North Bay’s strongest nonprofit organizations serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Established more than 50 years ago by a group of parents determined to create an alternative to institutionalization for their adult children with IDD, BI helps people live meaningful and productive lives as engaged and productive members of their community.

Becoming Independent Expanding Workforce Development to Help Bridge Employment Gap in Sonoma County

Becoming Independent (BI), the Santa Rosa-based nonprofit social impact organization that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is set to expand workforce training and development in the North Bay.

Becoming Independent’s Program Headquarters will be a 24,000sf training ground for workforce development in the hospitality, food, administrative, manufacturing, and agriculture industries and will provide vocational training in a professional environment that mirrors real-world employment. The space will include a commercial kitchen that will allow BI clients with an expressed interest in the hospitality and food industry the opportunity to train using restaurant-quality equipment. For those interested in obtaining industry specific certifications, assistance will be provided. A 10,000sf flexible indoor/outdoor event space will be available for the community to rent, and BI clients who are entering the hospitality industry will be available for staffing at market wages.

“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have always been eager to receive training, support, and most importantly, gainful employment. We’re excited to expand our workforce development program, and as a result, help to fill the workforce gap that our local industries are currently experiencing across a broad spectrum of services.” says Luana Vaetoe, Becoming Independent’s Chief Executive Officer.

Danny Nooris, Executive Chef at Oakmont of Villa Capri shared “It has been a great benefit employing a BI client. Garrett has been a tremendous and positive asset in the department. He comes to work positive, full of energy, and always willing to help the team. The BI support staff have been a great help with guiding Garrett to fulfill his highest potential in the work that he does. The qualifications that we are looking for in a potential employee are developed through the BI program and it has been beneficial for our department. I would recommend BI clients to anyone looking to fill any employment gaps in any number of job fields and markets.”

Becoming Independent is currently providing services to over 600 individuals in the North Bay; one third of whom are receiving job training and employment support at employer sites as well as at BI, with many more interested in joining Sonoma County’s workforce. Long standing partners currently employing BI clients include Morton & Bassett Spices, Mary’s Pizza Shack, Villa Capri, Keysight Technologies, Oliver’s Market and Wildman Farms. With the redevelopment of their Program Headquarters, Becoming Independent will be primed and ready to provide additional job opportunities for more clients and the community.

About Becoming Independent
Becoming Independent is one of the North Bay’s strongest nonprofit organizations serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Established more than 50 years ago by a group of parents determined to create an alternative to institutionalization for their adult children with IDD, BI helps people live meaningful and productive lives as engaged and productive members of their community.

SOMO Concerts, Solar-Powered Sonoma County Venue, Chosen To Exclusively Book & Promote Nederlander Concerts

Nederlander Concerts has further bolstered its stature in Northern California via a new booking and promotion deal with SOMO Concerts, a 3,000-capacity outdoor venue located in the Sonoma County city of Rohnert Park, Calif., about 50 miles north of San Francisco.

The solar-powered concert space occupies a one-acre courtyard in sustainability-minded mixed-use development SOMO Village, and has hosted artists including Lucinda Williams, E-40, Ziggy Marley and Social Distortion under the purview of Second Octave Entertainment since opening in 2014.

“This partnership helps Nederlander’s routing up and down California, where we promote artists in small to midsize venues, and especially amphitheaters,” Rena Wasserman, Nederlander Concerts senior vice president of production and operations, tells Pollstar by email, listing affiliations with Sacramento’s Heart Health Park, the San Jose Civic Auditorium, Paso Robles’ Vina Robles Amphitheatre and several Southern California venues. “The addition of a venue in the heart of Sonoma County will boost our routing capabilities, and SOMO Concerts is a great fit!”

Wasserman knew Second Octave CEO Morty Wiggins from days working together at Bill Graham Presents, and was receptive when her former colleague got in touch to discuss bolstering programming at the venue.

Once home to campuses for Hewlett-Packard and then Agilent Technologies, the Rohnert Park business park that became SOMO Village laid dormant before developer Brad Baker purchased it in the ‘00s. Baker conceptualized a green mixed-use development with housing, retail and commercial real estate and open space and, as Wiggins tells Pollstar, SOMO Village has become “the jewel of the commercial sustainability movement in Sonoma County.”

In the early ‘10s, as the project took shape, Wiggins toured the property – and identified a slice of it that’d be perfect for putting on shows. Soon, he was staging concerts there. But, with cities like San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose – and the major promoters like Live Nation, AEG Presents and Another Planet Entertainment who operate in them – just a short drive away, the fledgling venue faced stiff booking competition.

“It’s extremely difficult to survive as an independent promoter during a summer season in a secondary market,” Wiggins says. “We needed to grow the venue and bring it to a point where it was viable and could fit into someone’s routing. Then we needed to hook up with someone, and Nederlander was a good choice for us.”

According to Wiggins, Nederlander doesn’t “have an overpresence in the market” and understood SOMO’s business model and potential.

“They didn’t think we were too small, they didn’t think we were too big,” he says. “It fit right into their scale of business.”

Booking was the key driver for Nederlander’s deal with SOMO, but the venue’s sustainable nature also played a role.

“Sustainable venues are essential for our industry’s future,” Wasserman says. “SOMO Concerts has done an incredible job focusing on its carbon footprint, and we hope to enhance and learn and contribute to their efforts.”

While Wiggins acknowledges that other factors – money, primarily – usually determine an artist’s decision to play a venue, he says SOMO’s “homegrown” approach to sustainability “definitely is an added bonus for artists that are environmentally sensitive.”

As for programming, Wasserman says to expect diversity in keeping with Nederlander’s track record, while Wiggins notes that the new partnership will likely help to bolster the venue’s Latin and country booking, which he says are “underserved” genres locally.

It’s an exciting time for live music in Sonoma County, Wiggins explains, contrasting business at SOMO, which sells 95% of its tickets to Sonoma County residents, with competitors in Napa, which he says often market themselves to surrounding counties.

“With exclusivity radiuses and the amount of shows that Another Planet and Live Nation do, it’s not going to be easy for Nederlander, but it certainly is less of a challenge for them than it is for us, out there on our own,” he says. “Sonoma county is really coming into its own as a market.”

https://www.pollstar.com/article/nederlander-to-exclusively-book-promote-solar-powered-sonoma-county-venue-somo-concerts-148238

Midstate Construction Completes Dublin High School Science and Engineering Building

Dublin High School Science & Engineering Building

General contractor Midstate Construction Corporation, and Dublin Unified School District,  recently completed Dublin High School Building F – Science and Engineering, a new three-story education facility in Dublin, CA.

Designed by DSK Architects, this project includes new construction of a three-story, 47,090 square foot, steel framed building. The new science and engineering building includes 11 classrooms, 3 lab classrooms, shop areas, and a larger lecture room. The new building also includes a fitness room for the athletic department, and a maintenance shop for the facilities department.

Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities Raises More Than $75,000 NASCAR Week to Help Local Children In Need

The Sonoma Raceway chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities raised more than $75,000 through a trio of creative fundraising activities leading up to the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series race, June 6.

“This year we had to get super creative to find unique ways to raise money during our NASCAR weekend for our area children in need through these fun programs,” said SCC-Sonoma director Cheri Plattner. “We greatly appreciate the support of our donors and corporate partners in helping make these activities a great success.”

For the first time in track history, guests who made a donation to SCC through the Laps For Charity program were allowed to take their personal vehicles out on the iconic 12-turn road course and make a few laps. On Friday, June 4, 115 donors driving everything from Toyota Camrys, Dodge Hellcats, Ford Mustangs, Chevy Camaros as well as a variety of vintage roadsters and muscle cars sped around the track behind Sonoma Raceway pace cars. The event raised more than $28,000.

Another innovative program, The Fan in the Stands, showcased 173 guests who made donations to have cardboard cutouts of their likenesses positioned in the front section of the main grandstands near the start/finish line. More than $46,000 was raised through the program, which was supported by several corporate partners, including LifeWest, United Site Services, Toyota Motors North America, Kaiser Permanente, Hanson Bridgett and Ahlborn Fence.

The cutouts included FOX Race Hub personalities Shannon Spake, Larry McReynolds and Jamie McMurray. The show did a fun segment with the cutouts Sunday morning as their ace reporter Bob Pockrass did his weekend news and notes update from that grandstand section.

SCC-Sonoma also hosted an online auction during the week that raised more than $2,000.

The Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities has distributed more than $6.8 million to Sonoma County youth groups since 2001. For more information about the Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, visit SpeedwayCharities.org/Sonoma.

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About the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities
Speedway Children’s Charities is the charitable arm of Sonoma Raceway.  Speedway Children’s Charities’ mission is to care for Sonoma County children in educational, financial, social and medical need in order to help them lead productive lives. The Sonoma Chapter of SCC has distributed $6.8 million to qualified Sonoma County youth groups since 2001. Much of the funds distributed by Speedway Children’s Charities are raised at special events held at the raceway throughout the year.

AT&T Connected Learning Program Commits $3M to Khan Academy

The AT&T Connected Learning Program Commits $3M to Khan Academy Education Content, Plus Provides Free Hot Spots for Students

What’s the news? As part of our commitment to bridge the digital divide and narrow the homework gap, AT&T will provide $3 million to Khan Academy to support personalized student learning, including free virtual summer camps for students in preschool through twelfth grade.

This is part of the AT&T Connected Learning program, which was announced in April with a companywide $2 billion, 3-year commitment to bridge the digital divide. The program aims to help stem learning loss, narrow the homework gap, and deliver high quality learning experiences anywhere today’s connected students learn.

“Millions of students have struggled to keep up with learning this year because of the pandemic – a challenge felt most acutely amongst our most vulnerable students in underserved rural and urban communities,” said Charlene Lake, senior vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility, AT&T. “We are proud to collaborate with Khan Academy to provide students and teachers with free online education resources that help them catch up from the past school year and stay engaged in learning this summer.”

Why is this important?

Summer learning has always been an important way for kids to stay engaged and prepare for the next school year. This year it’s even more important.

According to a recent Morning Consult survey conducted on behalf of AT&T, one fifth of parents and more than a quarter of teachers report children will need to continue learning this summer to be ready for the next grade level.

Additionally, according to the AT&T Future of School survey, 78% of teachers and 84% of parents are in favor of virtual tutoring sessions or enrichment programs.

Connectivity is vital to ensuring students have access to these virtual summer learning opportunities. We’ve provided 10,000 students with free hotspots and internet through our Connected Nation collaboration, and we’re on track to connect 35,000 students with connectivity before the fall. We also raised $175,000 during the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament on the PGA Tour. Those funds will go towards providing more students with hotspots and free internet.

Read more from educators on the homework gap and how hotspots have helped get their students back on track.

In addition, AT&T is helping to make broadband more affordable for the millions of eligible households who need it most. Families can sign up for discounted connectivity through the $10/month Access from AT&T broadband offering or can get temporary discounts on internet through AT&T’s participation in the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) fund, administered by the Federal Communications Commission.

How will Khan Academy and AT&T deliver summer learning?

  • As the lead supporter of Camp Khan, we are helping to provide a free 30-day math challenge for children in third through 12th grade.
  • We’re also supporting Camp Khan Kids, a free, self-paced virtual summer learning program for children ages 2–8. The camp guides parents and children in a playful educational journey using the Khan Academy Kids app.
  • Our commitment also supports free, self-paced education courses covering K-12 math, grammar, science, history, AP®, SAT®, and more.

What are people saying?

The pandemic brought the inequities of education into sharp focus,” said Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy. “We’re grateful for AT&T’s continued support during this critical time. With AT&T’s help, more students will be able to access our free learning resources this summer as we all begin the journey to recovery.”

“When the pandemic hit in Los Angeles last year, our kids were left behind at school and couldn’t participate in distance learning because most of their families were already dealing with the digital divide and couldn’t afford quality home internet,” said Emma Hernandez, executive director, Southeast Community Development Corporation. “Because of the work of AT&T and Connected Nation, we’ve received 500 hotspots  that will be very valuable to our students, some of which are in foster care or English learners, providing them a free year of internet to participate in online learning from home and catch up on learning loss this summer.”

“At Hmong American Peace Academy, we serve just under 2,000 students that live at or below the poverty line as well as many who are English learners. The 400 AT&T hotspots provided by Connected Nation means our students will be able to use high speed internet to participate in our virtual learning programs this summer and will help them complete homework from home,” said Luke McAvoy, operations director, Hmong American Peace Academy.

https://about.att.com/story/2021/summer_learning.html