Participants applaud as Cox Director of Field Operations and Commercial Business Dennis Wilbanks cuts the ribbon at the Cox Technology Center at Tumbleweed. L-R: Cox Senior Communications Specialist Roxanne Wingate, Tumbleweed volunteer tutor Bill Sanford, Tumbleweed Chief Executive Officer Cynthia Schuler, Learning Center Director Lisa Meier, Wilbanks, Tumbleweed student Caprice Marino and volunteer tutor Kyoko Toyama.

September 3, 2015   Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development and Cox Communications celebrated the success of Tumbleweed’s Cox Technology Center at an official ribbon cutting September 3.

The Cox Technology Center is comprised of 16 computers and interactive projector technology. It has been heavily used by homeless youth at the Tumbleweed Learning Center on North 7th Street in Phoenix since it debuted in the spring. Young people work into the evening hours most weekdays at the Center, completing high school equivalency certificates, college admission tests and even entrepreneurial business plans, according to Learning Center Director Lisa Meier. “It is a haven and a source of success for our youth,” she says. “Being in a safe and comfortable place using highly sophisticated equipment helps them achieve goals and gives them confidence,” she said.

Cox Communications donated $20,000 to launch the Center, one of 27 Cox Technology Centers around the Valley.

“Thanks to Cox Communications, we have a state of the art classroom and we have opened up online learning for our homeless youth,” said Tumbleweed Chief Executive Officer Cynthia Schuler. “Their lives can be chaotic and unpredictable, so 24/7 online access can help them keep up and stay focused on their goal.”

“Cox is committed to increasing the accessibility of technology for our community,” said Susan Anable, Vice President of Public Affairs, Cox Communications Southwest. “Together with Tumbleweed, we are working to ensure our youth are prepared to thrive in today’s digital world and excel in their future.”