EarthLink,
AARP Texas and the Dallas Independent School District
Partner for the Texas Launch of GenerationLink
[April 5, 2004]
DALLAS, Apr 5, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall
via COMTEX/ -- In collaboration with AARP Texas, three
high schools in Dallas, Texas, today will launch an
innovative program spearheaded by EarthLink (ELNK) ,
one of the nation's leading Internet service providers
(ISP), to bring together seniors, net-savvy teenagers
and the Internet.
The program, GenerationLink, is a national
classroom-based initiative that enlists high school
students to teach seniors how to use the Internet. Developed
and launched by EarthLink in 2002, GenerationLink seeks
to foster intergenerational understanding by using the
Internet to forge a connection between teens and seniors.
"What better way to bring people
together than through the Internet," said Dan Greenfield,
vice president of corporate communications for EarthLink.
"GenerationLink gives us the opportunity to create
a dialogue between teens and seniors in a way that enriches
the lives of both generations."
"Computers can provide an important
way for seniors to communicate with family and friends.
The Internet can be a lifeline connecting individuals
to new resources and information, encouraging them to
be engaged, grow and meet their ever-changing needs
and interests. The Internet also can provide a critical
linkage that reduces isolation and allows more people
to remain independent and lead satisfying lives,"
said Gus Cardenas, state president for AARP Texas.
The EarthLink project is being implemented
through the Dallas Independent School District's service
learning, A Safe and Drug-Free Schools program. Beginning
today, GenerationLink will bring 30 local seniors (10
at each high school), aged 60 and above, to sit side
by side with high school students at Justin F. Kimball
High School, Hillcrest High School and Science/Engineering
Magnet High School at The Townview Magnet Center. The
students will teach the seniors how to send email, surf
the Web and download attachments.
The one-hour class will run for six
weeks, with the high school students serving as Internet
mentors and teachers for the seniors. Senior citizen
participants will come from Concord Senior Center, Cedar
Crest Senior Center, Walnut Hill Recreation Center and
La Voz del Ancianos. In addition, EarthLink will award
a scholarship to the student from each high school who
best captures the essence of the intergenerational experience
in an essay contest following the six-week program.
Teachers at each of the three high schools selected
the participating students and will lead the class.
"As a school district, we realize
that our mission is not only to educate the future leaders
of our community, but also to prepare better citizens
for Dallas, as well as trustworthy and responsible human
beings for the world. Collaborations such as this between
EarthLink, AARP Texas and the Dallas Independent School
District are a win-win situation. The students learn
about the importance of taking an active role in the
community, and our community seniors benefit from the
care and technical expertise of our students. There
is no doubt that this is how you build character among
our youth, and we applaud EarthLink for supporting this
partnership," said Dr. Mike Moses, superintendent
of the Dallas Independent School District.
To date, EarthLink has launched GenerationLink
programs in Atlanta and Orlando. As testimony to the
program's success, participating seniors continue to
use email to stay in touch with faraway children and
grandchildren, while others are using the Internet to
explore information and hobbies, such as reading a hometown
newspaper.
The program was created in part to address
a study published in February 2002 by the U.S. Department
of Commerce that found that teenagers are the most prolific
Internet users, while seniors over age 55 show a sharp
drop in Internet use.
Greenfield noted that plans are underway
for launching GenerationLink programs in additional
cities. "We've seen so much enthusiasm for this
program in Orlando and Atlanta. The seniors are eager
to go online and use email, and the students are proud
of their role as teacher and mentor - ultimately we'd
like to bring this program to schools and senior centers
across the country," Greenfield said.
About EarthLink
"EarthLink revolves around you(TM)."
Celebrating ten years as a leading national Internet
service provider (ISP), Atlanta-based EarthLink has
earned an award-winning reputation for outstanding customer
service and its suite of online products and services.
According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Internet
Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM),
EarthLink is ranked highest in customer satisfaction
among high-speed Internet Service Providers. Serving
more than five million subscribers, EarthLink offers
what every user should expect from their Internet experience:
high- quality connectivity, minimal drop-offs and ISP-generated
intrusions, and customizable features. Whether it's
dial-up, high-speed, Web hosting, or wireless Internet
service, EarthLink provides the tools that best let
individuals use and enjoy the Internet on their own
terms. Learn more about EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK
or visiting EarthLink's Web site at www.earthlink.net
.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership
organization dedicated to making life better for people
50 and over. AARP provides information and resources;
engages in legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy;
assists members in serving their communities; and offers
a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and
services for our members. These include AARP The Magazine,
published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper;
AARP Segunda Juventud, our quarterly newspaper in Spanish;
NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for
50+ educators; and our Web site, www.aarp.org . We have
staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
SOURCE EarthLink
Carla Shaw of EarthLink, +1-404-748-7436,
or mobile,
+1-404-849-1140, or shawcm@corp.earthlink.net; or Angela
Frechette of Text
100, +1-404-748-6468, or mobile, +1-404-915-7593, or
angelaf@text100.com
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