HP and Magic Johnson Foundation Team Up to Address Digital Divide in Jacksonville

HP and Magic Johnson Foundation Team Up to Address Digital Divide in Jacksonville

HP and the Magic Johnson Foundation bring their national community technology initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide to Jacksonville today with the opening of the 19th Magic Johnson/HP Inventor Center at the Hilltop Village housing complex.

The Inventor Center in Jacksonville joins centers in 14 other cities around the country to offer training, skills development and online access for youth and adult residents in underserved communities.

Since the launch of the program, centers have opened in Atlanta, Bladensburg, Md., Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Lansing, Mich., Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Oakland, Calif., Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C. HP’s investment in the centers totals $1.4 million over three years.

“In today’s world, a lack of knowledge and understanding of technology puts an individual at a distinct disadvantage,” said Earvin “Magic” Johnson, founder of the Magic Johnson Foundation. “Many of us use technology daily in our homes, our schools and our businesses. Yet, for residents in underserved communities, access to technology is not a given. This partnership with HP enables residents of the community to have access and training opportunities that are not otherwise available.”

Hilltop Village was selected as the location for the Inventor Center because of its commitment to bringing together non-profit, private sector and community groups to collaborate for the benefit of the Jacksonville area.

The Magic Johnson/HP Inventor Center will provide residents in the Hilltop Village housing complex with access to state-of-the-art technology and training opportunities using a powerful lineup of HP commercial and consumer products ranging from PCs to the latest in digital imaging technology.

“The new Inventor Center will offer residents access to needed resources that will allow them to develop computer skills necessary in a technologically driven world,” said Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton. “We thank HP, the Magic Johnson Foundation and the other organizations that collaborated to bring the Inventor Center to the community of Jacksonville.”

The technology deployed in the Inventor Center, valued at more than $80,000, includes HP servers, notebook and desktop PCs, flat panel monitors, digital cameras, photo printers, and all-in-one fax, scanner and printer units.

Read the complete Press Release