Date: November 2022
Amount: $36,048

The Southeast Community Development Corporation(SCDC) is a regional community and economic development nonprofit organization serving low income communities of southeast Los Angeles since 1994. SCDC’s mission is to, through education and technology, create an environment in which individuals are inspired to explore, discover and learn, ultimately empowering children and adults to be confident and innovative individuals who contribute positively to the community. For the past 13 years, SCDC has been focused on providing technology education to youth and adults. SCDC provides classes in basic digital literacy, computer coding, robotics, 3D design and printing, makerspace, virtual reality, basic electronics, and radio communication. SCDC has established three regional technology centers in the southeast area of Los Angeles County. SCDC also has established an ARRL affiliated youth ham radio club – KN6TZH.

Through this grant, SCDC will be able to provide free electronics classes and purchase radio equipment, antennas, cables, and accessories for the Bell Tech Center located in a low-income community in Southeast Los Angeles. These funds will be used to hire a part-time ham radio instructor to provide free classes for our youth throughout the year. Also, funds will be used to establish a ham shack with the latest equipment to communicate with other ham operators throughout the world. Funds provided by ARDC will be matched by other funding sources and in-kind donations from local governments and businesses. Over two years, SCDC will provide a total of 22 classes, 136 hours of instruction, and serve 290 students at the Bell Tech Center. This project will allow youth to work together to problem solve activities, learn to communicate with each other, and share in the enjoyment of accomplishing a project. These valuable lessons that our students deserve to experience no matter the challenges they face in their daily lives.

Learn more at https://www.scdcorp.org.