Actor, producer, comedian and entrepreneur Marlon Wayans has decided to end the year with a bang. Recently, Wayans shared that he bought laptops for a children's center in Harlem.
“[I] brought a bunch of computers for Harlem kids in New York City,” Wayans wrote on Instagram.
"[I'm] using my hard work to build other roses from concrete. Go be great [and] know [that] somebody cares, me!"
Wayans is the latest public figure to help bridge the growing digital divide within America. Before transitioning from the Houston Rockets to the Washington Wizards, former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook partnered with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Comp-U-Dopt to donate 650 computers to children in the area.
“It’s something that I’m very, very passionate about through my foundation, and I’m just trying to find a way — especially now — to be able to bridge the gap and give kids access to another way of learning, through computers,” Westbrook said.
“This allows them to be able to continue their education, especially from home. I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Digital access is more important now than ever. As the world becomes increasingly digitized, many families fear that their children will fall behind. The Pew Research Center found that nearly 60% of parents in low-income areas fear their children will face digital barriers while pursuing an education. Further research found that 20% of those children did not have access to a computer. The work of Westbrook, Wayans and many others will hopefully help children stay up to date as remote learning continues around the country.
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