By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
April 29, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Because of a contribution, the Mattie Rhodes Center is now able to provide more dependable computer access to the community.

On Friday, April 17, the League of United Latin America Citizens [LULAC] Institute, with the help of representatives from AT&T, announced an upgrade to one of its Empower Hispanic America with Technology Centers in Kansas City. The LULAC Institute received a donation of $200,000 from AT&T to improve seven of its 60 technology centers around the country. The center is located in the Mattie Rhodes Center, 148 N. Topping Ave.

The centers are part of an ongoing effort to ensure that the Latino community has access to dependable and useful technology. Upgrades to the center inside Mattie Rhodes include computer equipment, office applications software and technology curriculum. The technology support will also be made available to assist with the use of the new software and equipment.

Individuals who visit the center will have the technology they need for GED preparation, financial aid research, job searching and resume building. At the unveiling John Sondag, president of AT&T Missouri, said improving access to technology is the kind of program that can help expand opportunities in, “an increasingly diverse society.”

“It’s important for us to be part of the community,” Sondag said. “We have a core philosophy and value that we work in the communities we serve.”

Sondag explained AT&T has around 2,500 employees in the Kansas City area, not counting all the retirees, as well. All employees are focused on the company’s philosophy, as well. Within the last four years, employees has volunteered roughly 1.6 million hours of community service in Missouri.

“It’s these types of things that make it easy for me to get up and go to work,” Sondag said. “Our philanthropic mission is educationally based.”

John Fierro, president and CEO of the Mattie Rhodes Centers, said the new computer lab is about connecting people and improving communication. The community has greatly benefited from the computer lab because there is software the center could not have afforded on its own.