How a Best Buy Teen Tech Center in South Memphis is working to 'bridge the digital divide'

Best Buy and The Clubhouse Network have partnered with Knowledge Quest to open a Best Buy Teen Tech Center in South Memphis.

Best Buy Teen Tech Centers are places for middle and high school students to get hands-on experience to explore their interests in programming, photography, filmmaking, music production and recording, and fashion and accessory design.

The centers are meant "to bridge the digital divide by giving youth access to tech education opportunities, relationships that help to build confidence, and a foundation for school and career success."

Knowledge Quest, a youth and community development nonprofit in South Memphis, submitted a proposal for the center in 2020.

Trina Williams, Knowledge Quest's director of development, said it was important students in South Memphis have a place like the Teen Tech Center "to just bridge that digital divide and to give them an opportunity to get a chance to experience technology that they wouldn't otherwise get to experience."

Williams said Knowledge Quest had given out smaller items like computers, laptops iPads, but "it's just such a privilege to now be able to have this tech center that the middle school and high schools can come to after school."

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The 1,207-square-foot center — which held a grand opening ceremony Jan. 18 — is located in a second-floor suite of the W. W. Herenton Renaissance Center at 990 College Park in South Memphis. The space includes about 15 desktops with software supporting coding and computer programming and the Adobe Creative Suite. Additionally, a crafts station with a sewing machine, screen printing and digital cutting is available.

There is also equipment to learn robotics and circuitry and a full recording studio. Students also have access to monthly hands-on workshops to learn more about equipment and software.

Demetria Lay, a 14-year-old student, has been creating at the center every day after school for the last few months.

"I think that it really helped me embrace my creativeness, being at the center because at first I didn't really know how to make any of this stuff," she said referring to pleather luggage tags, key chains, mousepads and bookmarks she's designed. "I never took the time out of my day to learn about until coming here."

Best Buy officials could not be reached for comment.

The South Memphis center is open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. The space is operating at 60% capacity, which is around 30 students at a time, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

To learn more about the Best Buy Teen Tech Center, visit knowledgequest.org/best-buy-teen-tech-center/.

Astrid Kayembe covers South Memphis, Whitehaven and Westwood. She can be reached at astrid.kayembe@commercialappeal.com, (901) 304-7929 or on Twitter @astridkayembe_.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Best Buy Teen Tech Center opens in South Memphis: Here's what it offers