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Black History Month T-Mobile Career Fest for high school students

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Community

Employee Spotlight: A Champion for the Next Generation of Tech Leaders

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T-Mobile’s VR-y Cool “Game of Phones” Holiday Campaign Creates Popular “Magentaverse”

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Donate to Feeding America in the T-Mobile Tuesdays app on Giving Tuesday

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An Appetite For Awareness: “Food Donations At Local Foodbanks Are At An All Time Low.” 

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LULAC T-Mobile Conexiones Digital Literacy

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The Conexiones Program Helps Latino Students Navigate the Digital World

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Appy Hour: A Class on Connection (Video)

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The U.S. Military Creates Great Leaders: T-Mobile Wants to Hire Them  

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T-Mobile's Kaylee Kenison, a former Iraq War medic, advocates for veterans who work for The Nature Conservancy and helps connect the organization with veterans through TNC's Veterans in Nature’s Service employee resource group

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Employee Spotlight: How These Magenta Rock Stars Go Green

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Earth Day The Nature Conservancy T-Mobile

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T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert is celebrating the second anniversary of the company's merger with Sprint, along with its successful approach to doing what the Un-carrier does best: delivering for consumers.

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Calling Young Innovators: T-Mobile and the T-Mobile Foundation Launch Fourth Changemaker Challenge to Fund Big Ideas

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T-Mobile Makes $2.5M Donation Aimed at Opening Doors to Equitable Economic and Educational Opportunities for Young Adults

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The Un‑carrier advances importance of STEM education by supporting interactive programming focused on technology’s role in connecting people to their world

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BELLEVUE, Wash. — March 22, 2023 — Today T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) announced a $1 million contribution toward the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s new upcoming <a href="https://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/cellphone-unseen-connections" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cellphone: Unseen Connections</a> exhibition to share the journey and impact of wireless connectivity — past to present — and inspire tomorrow’s innovators to think about what’s possible into the future.

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From the first brick-style devices and flip phones to the smartphones we all rely on today, cell phones and wireless networks have revolutionized the ways we communicate and interact. And the mobile revolution has just begun. The Smithsonian’s new exhibition will share the technological, environmental and cultural impact of wireless connectivity, showcasing leaders who built the industry and the technology and infrastructure that make mobile devices work. T-Mobile, an industry leader in providing wireless and broadband connectivity to customers on America’s leading 5G network, is one of two key supporters of the exhibition that will open for visitors on June 23 in Washington, D.C. 

“I love that T-Mobile is helping bring the dynamic story of how wireless connectivity has changed the ways we work and live to life through this new Smithsonian exhibition,” said Callie Field, President, T-Mobile Business Group. “Our hope is that the rich history in this exhibition will not only educate those who visit and further their understanding of the power of technology today, but also inspire the next generation of leaders who will be the innovators of tomorrow!”

T-Mobile’s contribution to the Smithsonian complements the Un-carrier’s ongoing initiatives to use its network, scale and resources for good to connect people to the possibilities that technology enables. These include:  

<a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/business/education/project-10-million" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Project 10Million</a>, a $10.7 billion program aimed at closing the education gap by providing free wireless hotspots and connectivity to millions of underserved students across the country.

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<li><a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/business/education/project-10-million" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Project 10Million</a>, a $10.7 billion program aimed at closing the education gap by providing free wireless hotspots and connectivity to millions of underserved students across the country. </li>

<a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/changemaker-challenge-launch-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Changemaker Challenge</a>, a nationwide contest that gives young leaders ages 13 to 18 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico the opportunity to bring their innovative ideas to life to change their communities for good.

<li><a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/changemaker-challenge-launch-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Changemaker Challenge</a>, a nationwide contest that gives young leaders ages 13 to 18 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico the opportunity to bring their innovative ideas to life to change their communities for good. </li>

<a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hometown Grants</a>, a five-year, $25 million program for small town grants that fund community projects and spur economic development.

<li><a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hometown Grants</a>, a five-year, $25 million program for small town grants that fund community projects and spur economic development. </li>

Support for higher education through a donation to <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/uw-ieb-t-mobile-donation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building</a>.

<li>Support for higher education through a donation to <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/uw-ieb-t-mobile-donation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building</a>. </li>

Support for minority entrepreneurs and owned businesses through T-Mobile for Business’ <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/business/magenta-edge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Magenta Edge</a> along with educational workshops and events with the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/business/t-mobile-for-business-and-dofc-support-mbes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency</a>.

<li>Support for minority entrepreneurs and owned businesses through T-Mobile for Business’ <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/business/magenta-edge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Magenta Edge</a> along with educational workshops and events with the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/business/t-mobile-for-business-and-dofc-support-mbes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency</a>. </li>

Digital literacy programs with <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/digital-literacy-for-hispanic-communities" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Unidos US and LULAC</a> and donations of connected devices and 5G hotspots to <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/business/resources/articles/digital-literacy-programs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">public libraries</a> in rural and urban communities.

<li>Digital literacy programs with <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/digital-literacy-for-hispanic-communities" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Unidos US and LULAC</a> and donations of connected devices and 5G hotspots to <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/business/resources/articles/digital-literacy-programs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">public libraries</a> in rural and urban communities. </li>

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About the Cellphone: Unseen Connections Exhibition

Through a focus on cultural objects and the raw materials, human labor, technology and infrastructure that makes our devices work, the exhibition tells the global story of cellphones that helped usher in the means to both sustain cultural traditions and create new ones globally. Educational programming and outreach — including an after-hours opening celebration, ongoing workshops and games within the exhibition along with field trip, after-school and drop-in programs — will further complement exhibition content to inspire and educate the public around the nation. 

For more information, go to <a href="https://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/cellphone-unseen-connections" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cellphone: Unseen Connections</a>.

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T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Sprint. For more information please visit: <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.t-mobile.com</a>.

Media Contacts   T-Mobile US, Inc. Media Relations   <a href="mailto:MediaRelations@T-Mobile.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MediaRelations@t-mobile.com</a>

Investor Relations Contact   T-Mobile US, Inc.   <a href="mailto:investor.relations@t-mobile.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">investor.relations@t-mobile.com</a>   <a href="http://investor.t-mobile.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">http://investor.t-mobile.com</a>

T-Mobile Contributes $1 Million to Smithsonian's New Exhibition on the Impact of Wireless Connectivity - T-Mobile Newsroom

T-Mobile Contributes $1 Million to Smithsonian&#8217;s New Exhibition on the Impact of Wireless Connectivity

A T-Mobile technology expert shares her story of how the Navy prepared her for a career in technology, but not for the reality of her otherness as a Black woman in the field. Now, she’s showing high school students what the next generation of tech leaders can look like.

Dr. Cheryl Cooper has worked hard to earn four credentials and degrees in cybersecurity: DCS, CISSP, CISSA and CDPSE. She’ll tell you, however, her life’s work is removing barriers that keep future generations from believing they can achieve those titles as well. (We'll save you the google search of all those certifications: Digital Communication Specialist (DCS), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Systems Information Auditor (CISA) and Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE).)

“I am a champion for students, especially women of color, to pursue careers in cybersecurity and technology,” she says. “Our students can’t dream what they can’t see.”

A business information security officer with T-Mobile based in Overland Park, Kan., she is also a member of T-Mobile's Technology Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. And she serves as the president and founder of <a href="https://winsmentors.org/">Women in Security Mentors</a>, an organization that advocates for women and minorities to pursue careers in technology and in cybersecurity.

In 2022, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/drcherylcooper">Dr. Cooper</a> led all-girls cybersecurity and technology career fests at T-Mobile’s headquarters in Bellevue, Wash., and Overland Park, Kan., welcoming a combined 265 students whom she says are underrepresented in the field and lack proper mentors.

“There are <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/the-cybersecurity-industry-is-short-3-4-million-workers-thats-good-news-for-cyber-wages/">more than 3 million</a> unfilled cybersecurity jobs today, yet I found that minority representation is in single digits in the field,” Dr. Cooper says. “Only 9% of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/09/30/minorities-and-the-cybersecurity-skills-gap/?sh=62e0028a7f3f">cybersecurity jobs</a> are held by black employees, with 24% of the jobs held by women. There are so many career paths in this field, not just coding, that I don’t think all our students are being introduced to. That’s where I come in.”

On Feb. 23, she is leading another all-girls cybersecurity and technology career event, this time at one of the company’s store locations in Frisco, Texas. The fact that it falls within Black History Month is not lost on her.

“These events are to support building the next generation of a diverse pipeline in technology and cybersecurity, and to support closing the race and gender gap,” she says. “Black History Month provides an opportunity to showcase the Black culture, contributions of Black people, and an opportunity to be of service to Black communities. We must show people of color, and especially our girls, visual opportunities so that they can see themselves in the world.”

Dr. Cooper says she sees how T-Mobile is building a workforce of the future, by advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond so as to reflect the communities the company serves.

Since 2021, T-Mobile has invested over <a href="http://mobile.com/brand/celebrating-diversity/black-history">$3 million in HBCUs</a>, and Dr. Cooper’s efforts to introduce technology opportunities to minority youth, specifically female minorities, resonates powerfully with T-Mobile’s company values and its enterprise competency framework known as the "Values in Action,” one of which is creating affordable access for the next generation. The company has <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/project-10million-fall2022-update">continuously expressed</a> its commitment to help close the digital divide and provide affordable access to connectivity, so everyone has the opportunity to succeed. That devotion to equal opportunities is another reason Dr. Cooper is also working to launch a T-Mobile Cybersecurity Internship Program this year.

“It’s a paid internship for high school juniors and seniors that creates a career path in cybersecurity and provides certification while they’re studying in college,” she says. “Isn't that amazing?! At the age of 20, you have the opportunity to have a certification, a two-year degree and four years of experience under your belt.”

Dr. Cooper plans to do even more. We asked her to talk about her tireless work and to share her story as an influential Black woman in wireless technology.

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How would you describe your journey into the technology field?

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My journey into technology is not the traditional path. I grew up in the inner city of Kansas City and I wanted more opportunities, so I turned to the military and enlisted in the United States Navy. I went in as a radioman technical controller, responsible for troubleshooting telecommunication systems and changing out cryptographic keys. I learned so much, but when I returned to civilian life, I was surprised to see the lack of women and Blacks in technology. As I continued my career in technology, I saw racism, both unconscious and conscious bias, as well as a gender gap with women in STEM, specifically technology. This became even more apparent when I started going to industry conferences and didn’t see people who look like me. That’s what got me on my path to say, “I’ve gotta do something about this. I’ve got to be a changemaker. I’ve got to work on closing this race and this gender gap.” It’s been a passion of mine for a decade.

Tell us about the Cybersecurity and Technology Career Fests for high school students you’ve led on T-Mobile’s campuses. And why do you think it’s significant that your upcoming event falls during Black History Month?

For the last decade, I’ve been committed to doing what I can to close the race and gender gap in this cybersecurity and technology field because I know it holds so much opportunity for aspiring youth. Most companies have a recruitment strategy for cybersecurity roles. But what I found is that unless we incite our youth to pursue careers in technology and cybersecurity, we’re not likely to find them. That’s why I started the <a href="https://winsmentors.org/">Women in Security Mentors Organization</a>, an organization that introduces women and minorities in underserved communities to the cybersecurity field. Many of the high schools in the communities we have focused on are not introducing the students to these amazing and rewarding careers, especially when you look at Title I schools and inner-city schools. I pitched a paid high school internship program where juniors and seniors create a career path in tech and study for certification. I also talked with my senior leadership team about minority youth, especially female minorities, who aren’t aware of the types of jobs available in cybersecurity. I said we need to show that opportunities aren’t limited to coding. We have to show them that there are people who look like them currently working in roles like mine. That’s how I came to create our first career fests, which brought hundreds of female students to the T-Mobile campuses. And, next up, I’m on my way to Frisco, Texas, where we plan to welcome another hundred girls. We’re going to close that gap by introducing the students to these career fields and the opportunities they can visualize themselves in. We took a poll, and 97% of the students who attended our Bellevue career fest last year said they felt more hopeful about the future. Another 80% said they’d now consider STEM careers.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

Black History Month is important and especially so to me because we have started to say it’s not just Black people’s history, it’s America’s history. It provides an opportunity to honor the sacrifices that have been made for racial, social and economic equality, and what we are doing to close the gaps. Black History Month is an opportunity for us to learn where we came from and evaluate where we’re going. A lot of people don’t even know the significance that Black people played in fields like technology. More people know about the contribution of Black women in space exploration, women like Katherine Johnson, thanks to the movie Hidden Figures, but there’s so much more to learn. It’s an opportunity for not just the Black community, but for all people to pause and learn about a people’s contributions to our society overall.

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Check out footage below from the Career Fests in Overland Park, Kan., and Bellevue, Wash. 

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A T-Mobile technology expert is showing high school students what the next generation of tech leaders can look like.

Employee Spotlight: A Champion for the Next Generation of Tech Leaders - T-Mobile Newsroom

T-Mobile’s leaders threw a magenta party in the Metaverse and 400,000 people showed up!

If you build it, they will come. Even if the thing you’re building doesn’t exist IRL.

There’s a lot of building happening right now, in fact, thanks in part to the wireless industry’s rollout of 5G — particularly T-Mobile’s. This step-jump in technology is bringing the kind of capability that leads to a new digital frontier known as the “metaverse.”

Defined as a virtual-reality space where users can interact with a computer-generated environment, the metaverse has grown in popularity in recent years with the introduction of Meta’s Oculus Quest headset, which provides a fully immersive experience, and several popular metaverse platforms, such as <a href="https://decentraland.org/">Decentraland</a>, <a href="https://www.sandbox.game/en/">The Sandbox</a> and Meta’s own <a href="https://www.oculus.com/horizon-worlds/">Horizon Worlds</a>. Popular gaming platform <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.roblox.com%2F&data=05%7C01%7CCory.McConnell%40T-Mobile.com%7C05a6714fd8aa4934e90b08dae2bce0ab%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C638071598095032423%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=E%2F3CZnquLcjKEyoK11qX2m7MCxKtDL5eYlaWboyeNP0%3D&reserved=0">Roblox</a> is widely reported as the largest virtual world in the metaverse.

T-Mobile’s Senior Leadership team has an annual tradition of marking the holidays by experimenting with new technology. This past December all 17 members took a visible step into this new frontier, appearing in their own “world” as hologram versions of themselves to deliver holiday well-wishes and a bit of fun, celebrating a banner year for T-Mobile — the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/business/t-mobile-preliminary-customer-results-2022">highest growth year in company history</a> for postpaid accounts, postpaid customers and broadband customers.

By working in partnership with <a href="https://evercoast.com/">Evercoast</a>, a volumetric capture company, the Un-carrier designed the <a href="http://GameOfPhonesVR.com">“Game of Phones”</a> campaign, giving visitors an interactive experience set within T-Mobile’s actual Bellevue, Wash. HQ. As players entered the “Magentaverse,” they were greeted by a hologram version of President and CEO Mike Sievert, who gave directions for how players can navigate the campus. As the game continued, players would uncover additional holograms of top leadership, earning tokens for each correct answer to trivia questions and getting a first-hand look at the cool spaces around the recently renovated campus where employees connect, collaborate and recharge.

The participation in the campaign was just as mind-blowing as the VR gaming experience.

Driven by the company’s executive social handles, the “Game of Phones” campaign saw over 400K people complete the game for a chance at prizes — an astonishing 8,700% increase over the company’s 2021 holiday campaign.

Because the wireless provider is committed to giving back to the community, players were also able to help distribute <a href="http://GameOfPhonesVR.com">a $100,000 donation from T-Mobile</a> through the trivia gameplay across three non-profit organizations: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, National Urban League and Conservation International.

The company has launched and supported several innovation-related programs, some of which include: <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/t-mobile-expands-accelerator-program">T-Mobile Accelerator</a>, <a href="https://5goilab.com/">5G Open Innovation Lab</a>, <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/business/ventures">T-Mobile Ventures</a> and <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/2023-t-challenge">T-Challenge</a> — and in other areas in the world of VR, such as the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/fisk-university-htc-vive-t-mobile-and-victoryxr-launch-5g-powered-vr-human-cadaver-lab">5G-powered VR human cadaver lab</a> for students in pre-med and biology-related majors at Fisk University, in partnership with the top-ranked HBCU, HTC VIVE and VictoryXR.

T-Mobile is excited to lead the charge in building out the future frontiers of VR with its <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/4g-lte-5g-networks">unparalleled 5G network</a>.

T-Mobile’s VR-y Cool “Game of Phones” Holiday Campaign Creates Popular “Magentaverse” - T-Mobile Newsroom

A local food bank representative in Washington estimates they are short as much as 4 million pounds of food right now compared to previous years and need your help. Here’s how T-Mobile is giving back by donating 2 Million Meals* to Feeding America® and helping connect employees and customers to other nonprofits.  

The holidays are a time of gratitude and giving, and this year T-Mobile is making sure its customers and employees have every opportunity to get in the spirit. This Giving Season, the Un-carrier is teaming up with <a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Feeding America</a>, the largest nonprofit working with 200 food banks across the country and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs to end hunger in the United States. Due to the pandemic, unemployment and food insecurity soared, leading 53 million people to turn to food banks and community programs last year to help put food on the table at home. That’s why the company has announced it will be donating up to 2 million meals ($200,000 value) to Feeding America through the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/t-mobile-tuesdays" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile Tuesdays App</a> on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29.

“Record inflation is causing demand to increase and remain high at food banks across the country,” says Lauren Biedron, vice president of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America. “The Feeding America network is not immune to the impacts of inflation, with aspects of food bank operations including purchasing food, transporting donated food, energy for cold storage, and other costs including wages and even vehicle maintenance seeing increases. The latest Feeding America food bank pulse survey finds that 90% of all responding food banks reported seeing increased or steady demand for services amid record food price increases, with 60% being increased need. Now more than ever, we need the support of partners, like T-Mobile, to make nutritious food accessible to all neighbors in need.” 

And the goodness of Giving Season does not end once Giving Tuesday is over! T-Mobile is hosting food drives across the country helping employees give back to their local food banks through mid-December. Plus, the company will donate in a big way gifting a total of $150,000 to food banks in Bellevue, Washington; Overland Park, Kansas; Frisco, Texas; and Reston, Virginia.  

In addition to the food drives, the T-Mobile Foundation will gift all employees seed funding on Giving Tuesday to donate to their nonprofit of choice through the end of the year. Since 2015, T-Mobile has given almost $22 million and volunteered more than 321,000 hours to support over 22,000 nonprofits across the U.S. during Giving Season! 

“Food donations are at an all-time low right now and historically dip after the holidays in January and February,” says Ryan Scott, chief development officer for <a href="http://www.foodlifeline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Food Lifeline</a>, a nonprofit in Seattle and a member of the Feeding America network that works to serve the western Washington community and provides nutritious food to 1.37 million people. “We typically have four to five million pounds of food here in the warehouse at this time, but because of the pinch we only have about 1 million pounds. Letting people know they can donate 10 meals to Feeding America on behalf of T-Mobile with a simple tap on the app on Giving Tuesday is so important but introducing them to their local foodbanks so they know they can donate all year long is just as vital.”

Head to the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/support/plans-features/t-mobile-tuesdays-app" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile</a><a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/t-mobile-tuesdays" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Tuesday app</a> on Nov. 29, tap donate 10 meals to <a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Feeding America</a> on behalf of T-Mobile, and learn more about how you can support your <a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">local food bank</a>.

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*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks.

Hear how T-Mobile is giving back by donating 2 Million Meals* to Feeding America® and helping connect employees and customers to other nonprofits. 

An Appetite For Awareness: “Food Donations At Local Foodbanks Are At An All Time Low.”  - T-Mobile Newsroom

A digital literacy program created by The League of United Latin American Citizens continues to grow with T-Mobile’s help, and this Hispanic Heritage Month students say it’s an opportunity to stay ahead of today’s fast-paced connected technology.

A program focused on digital literacy and safety for students in Hispanic communities has expanded across the country as it enters its third year. Current high school participants say it’s been a rewarding opportunity. 

“I’m interested in computer science,” says Elizabeth Rodriguez, a senior at North Side High School in Houston and current <a href="https://lulac.org/conexiones/">Conexiones</a> participant, “and this program for the community is amazing because sadly my mother and family never had this opportunity. I know they’re grateful I get to study this subject and I hope my younger nephews and future generations get the chance as well.”

Created by <a href="https://lulac.org/">The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)</a>, the oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the U.S., the grassroot STEM program aimed at students ages 14 to 18 has been expanding with the support of T-Mobile as part of the Un-carrier’s <a href="https://es.t-mobile.com/news/community/equity-in-action">Equity In Action plan</a>. The Conexiones curriculum is meant to educate youth on digital privacy and security, identifying misinformation, combatting cyberbullying and building positive relationships online. To date, LULAC’s program has had 231 participants.

“At the end of last year’s cycle, 51.8% of participants said they were interested in pursuing a career in the STEM field while 96% said they were more interested in continuing to learn about internet safety,” says Priscilla Garcia, LULAC’s empowerment and education program coordinator.

With a pilot program in just two sites back in 2019, Conexiones is currently running programs at six sites in Texas, Virginia, California and Washington D.C.

This Hispanic HeritageMonth, we learn more about a digital literacy program created by LULAC that continues to grow with T-Mobile’s help.

The Conexiones Program Helps Latino Students Navigate the Digital World - T-Mobile Newsroom

Since 2017, T-Mobile’s Cydni Russell has carved out a place in her schedule and heart for older people in her community, inspired by her love for a woman a state line away. Here she shares her story, as well as a handy how-to video that answers one of the most common questions she gets asked: “How do I save photos from my messaging apps to my phone?”

Once a month, a room in the <a href="https://www.lakemaryfl.com/senior-center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lake Mary Senior Center</a> fills with raised hands, mobile devices and at least a little bit of magenta.

When Cydni Russell, T-Mobile retail associate manager, moved to the Orlando suburb of Sanford, Florida from Alabama in 2011, she didn’t unpack grand designs to help hundreds of local older adults with a range of wireless basics and in-depth tech tips.

But six years into her career at T-Mobile, she was looking for ways to build up a brand relationship with her community, and the idea found her.

“Appy Hour is an hour-long class,” she explains, “and every month, we talk about a different application of the students’ choice.”

Lake Mary’s director tallies requests and emails Cydni the popular choice a few weeks before each class. She readies a three-slide presentation, and they cover this topic for the first 30 minutes.

“But the second half, that’s their favorite part — open Q&A. Some of our students come in with a notebook full of questions. And then, as we help them with their phones, their tablets and their watches, they take notes.”

“Older adults will sometimes come into our stores, buy a phone, and need someone to sit down and teach them a few things,” Cydni says. “So the need exists. But when people ask me why I started Appy Hour, I really just did it because of my Grandma Pru.”

Any time Cydni’s grandmother needs help with her device, she calls. “It made me wonder, how many other grandmothers are out there without someone who lives nearby to ask? One day, an older person came into the store asking for help adding a new contact to their phone, something so simple. And helping is just the right thing to do, especially because none of us would be here without these folks. So that’s what really did it — that’s the aha moment. It’s about my grandma.”

Before Cydni’s grandmother inspired Appy Hour, she was the reason Cydni landed in Orlando.

Eleven years ago, Cydni and her one-year-old son Ethan were living living arrangement in which she didn’t feel safe, she explains, so her grandmother picked them up late at night and moved them into her own home. The two had always had a special bond, but as she tried to plan the next steps for herself and her one-year-old, her grandmother shared a story Cydni hadn’t heard before.

“After bedtime, she came into the room where I was staying and sat down. And there can be a lot of stigma around talking about volatile domestic situations but she told me that she had also been in a difficult relationship, and that’s why she’d taken her kids and moved to Orlando all these years ago.” They moved again later, to be closer to family in Alabama, but the story inspired Cydni, and her planning was done.

In Florida, Cydni says, “It took a community. At one point my manager at an earlier Metro store had me place Ethan in the same daycare system as his child, so if I was stuck at work, he could do pickup for me. There was a time when it felt like everyone in my store was on my son’s pickup list. That’s how we made it work together, and that’s how I was able to grow with this company.”

Years later, with her grandmother in mind once more, Cydni checked with her manager about her idea. “The time’s yours, I’ve got your back,” she remembers him saying. So, she got to work.

“I just started looking up senior centers in our community. I made a list, started calling them up, and the first location I called, their response was: ‘Please, because get these questions and we need someone who knows what they’re doing!’” Cydni remembers the director at the time explaining that she had an iPhone and knew some iOS tricks, but so many members had different devices that helping was hard.

The topics students request run the mobile device gamut, so Appy Hour classes have covered topics from GPS and location services to social media. “When we get to Q&A,” Cydni says, “of course, there are basic questions on how to save a contact, how to FaceTime.”

But what’s Cydni asked most often? “How do I take a picture from Facebook and save it to my phone?” “Sometimes they want to know how to upload pictures, but most often, they want to save a picture of someone in their family from Facebook to their phones,” she says.

For the benefit of all those out there who could use a little more connection, here’s Cydni’s helpful step-by-step explanation of the most common question her students at Lake Mary have: “How do I save a photo from my messaging apps to my phone?”

“They get a lot of pictures from their grandkids, too, and they want to know how to take a picture from their text messages and save it to their phones or print it out. So, we go into teaching about those things as well, with the printer at the Senior Center.”

For years, Cydni helped students at the Lake Mary Senior Center with their devices and helped them connect with their families across distances. “One woman, in particular, has been trying to set me up with her son for the longest time. You know how you can tell when you’ve earned someone’s trust? When they’re ready to make you a member of their family,” Cydni says. “And she’s a firecracker. She takes over the room! And she’s always so proud to let everyone else know that she’s been going to Appy Hour since day one, the first class.”

In early 2020, Appy Hour earned Cydni a place in T-Mobile’s 2019 Winners Circle, an annual company award program based on nominations and performance. Another Metro by T-Mobile store reached out about the program, eager to implement it in their own community. “They’d just done their very first class,” she remembers. Then, the pandemic happened.

“When COVID hit, one of the first thoughts I had was about how of course we couldn’t have classes anymore. It was just too dangerous. But I did reach out and share my email address, and a few of the students would FaceTime me with their questions.”

Cydni’s store was closed at the onset of the pandemic, part of a company-wide effort to balance safety and service by keeping stores open in critical mass locations and shifting to virtual retail in others. Like many T-Mobile employees during the pandemic, she adapted, commuting to Daytona as acting manager for another team. Later, she transitioned to a new T-Mobile store, changing managers. But once restrictions eased, she was ready.

Cydni brought Appy Hour up to her new manager during their weekly alignment, and David Recio remembers the conversation well. “We spoke about any hot topics and urgent matters, but this conversation was just a little bit different. We were focused on getting outside of our door to find opportunities and getting to be a part of the community.” That’s when Cydni introduced Appy Hour.

“She explained the process and what goes into the program, and without hesitation, I was on board. I could see the passion that Cydni had when speaking about Appy Hour and making a change in the community. How could I say no?”

“The focus shifted,” David says, “from how we bring in sales customers to how we impact our communities. Cydni inspired me to think outside of the box and really embrace the Un-carrier culture. She is an awesome leader, and I am grateful to have her on my team.”

Cydni remembers the unquestioning support. “I told him, ‘I promise you it’s going to make a difference,’ and he just said: ‘I trust you. Go for it.’”

Watching the class quickly fill with familiar faces and fresh tips and tricks, David says, “I believe the original reason the students started showing up was for the educational portion of Appy Hour. Learning how you use your devices and being proficient in their apps is important.”

“But there are regulars because they get a sense of community. Cydni has built a community of people who look forward to being helped, taught and appreciated, and that’s what Appy Hour is about,” he says.

In a recent class, Cydni offered tips and tricks on health apps. “I showed them how they can utilize <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-health/id1242545199" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Health</a> if they have an iPhone, how they can use <a href="https://www.myfitnesspal.com/">My Fitness Pal</a> to track their diet, and how their hospitals and doctors have different apps which will show their lab work and other things they need.” She says Apple Watch’s safety features were another hot topic.

After a few months in action, peers are reaching out again. “Cydni has been able to influence retail store managers and district managers to make Appy Hour part of their culture,” David says. Cydni’s excited to help them launch Appy Hour programs in their communities.

Plus, she has another open invitation to attend to.

“I’ve been invited to learn how to crochet with members of the Senior Center,” Cydni beams. She looks forward to learning from her students.

Want more Appy Hour? Follow Cydni on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/THECYDNIRUSSELL">@THECYDNIRUSSELL</a>

Looking for big savings for seniors? Check out T-Mobile's 55+ plans <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans/unlimited-55-senior-discount-plans">here</a>.

Inspired by her grandmother's mobile device questions, a T-Mobile’s employee has created a program to help seniors answers common questions.

Appy Hour: A Class on Connection (Video) - T-Mobile Newsroom

Record-breaking interest in the Un-carrier’s 4th nationwide contest aimed at unleashing big ideas to champion change resulted in fifteen winning teams of visionary teens  

BELLEVUE, Wash. — May 31, 2022 — T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) and the T-Mobile Foundation today announced the 15 winners of the 2022 Changemaker Challenge, the nationwide contest that gives young leaders between the ages of 13 and 18 the opportunity to level up their ideas for creating a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable future with networking, mentorship, and seed money.

Following more interest in the program from youth innovators than ever before, winning ventures from this Changemaker Challenge, the fourth sponsored by T-Mobile, the T-Mobile Foundation and <a href="https://www.ashoka.org/en-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ashoka</a>, came from teams focused on three project categories: Digital Empowerment, Equity in Action and Thriving Planet. Submissions tackled issues ranging from food insecurity and combatting stereotypes around boys reading to making STEM education accessible for all.

 Every winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to T-Mobile’s headquarters in Bellevue, Wash. later this summer for the three-day Changemaker Lab to get coaching and mentorship from T-Mobile leaders, skills training from Ashoka, and networking opportunities with other winning teams.  

Winning teams also receive seed money to fund their projects. Five winners in each of the three categories have been awarded $5,000 each in seed money. From those top 15 teams, one project per category was selected to receive an additional $5,000 seed funding (for a total of $10,000 per team), and the opportunity to pitch their projects to T-Mobile senior leaders and the T-Mobile Foundation at the Changemaker Lab in Bellevue, Wash., later this summer. 

Among the three category winners who will present at the Changemaker Lab, one will be selected as the Grand Prize Winner and receive another $5,000 — for a total of $15,000 — plus a one-on-one meeting with a T-Mobile senior leader for additional guidance on how they can grow their venture.   

“We were blown away by record-breaking interest in this fourth year of the Changemaker Challenge, and we’re so inspired by these young innovators who are working to make real change happen through big and bold ideas,” said Janice V. Kapner, Chief Communications Officer for T-Mobile. “Paving the way for change by seeing a challenge and finding novel ways to fix it is the Un-carrier way – and these bright young leaders are doing just that! We can’t wait to see how they create a more sustainable, equitable and connected world for us all.” 

Since the Changemaker Challenge launched in 2018, T-Mobile, The T-Mobile Foundation and Ashoka have fielded over 1,000 total applicants. Following the Changemaker Lab this summer, the program will have awarded roughly $385,000 in funding to winning teams. 

“From making technology more accessible to creating new spaces for learning and collaboration, these determined young people have realized their power to create change in the world,” said Tia Johnston Brown, Executive Director for Ashoka Youth Years U.S. “We congratulate the winners of the 2022 Changemaker Challenge, and we hope their work in the world serves to motivate all young people to dream, build a team, and change their world." 

For more information about the T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge, visit <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/community/education/changemaker-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">t-mobile.com/changemaker</a>

Winners of the 2022 Changemaker Challenge

For more details about each winning project, check out the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2022/05/Changemaker-Challenge-2022-Winner-Lookbook.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2022 Changemaker Challenge Lookbook.</a>

Digital Empowerment - Top Category Winner <a href="https://challenges.changemakers.com/challenge/tmochangemaker2022/applications?application=26323171" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Safe Teens Online</a> (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) A global, youth-led peer-to-peer initiative that educates teenagers on online privacy and safety, encouraging inclusivity, safe habits, and emotional well-being.

Equity In Action - Top Category Winner <a href="https://challenges.changemakers.com/challenge/tmochangemaker2022?application=26153698" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MiSendero</a> (Santa Barbara, Calif.) MiSendero works to meaningfully integrate Latin American English learners into their school communities by facilitating mutual learning experiences for all students.

Thriving Planet - Top Category Winner <a href="https://challenges.changemakers.com/challenge/tmochangemaker2022/applications?application=26251316" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tobelli</a> (Aurora, Ill.) Biodegradable food packaging that repurposes the cellulose found in tobacco to create a thin, safe material to help reduce waste.

Digital Empowerment  <a href="https://challenges.changemakers.com/challenge/tmochangemaker2022/applications?focus_area=Digital+Empowerment&application=26336949" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bridge the Gap Initiative</a> (North Royalton, Ohio) A student-run organization designed to help senior citizens navigate the digital world by teaching them valuable skills like texting and video calling using their smart phones.

<a href="https://challenges.changemakers.com/challenge/tmochangemaker2022?application=26340810" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">STEM for the South Bronx</a> (Bronx, N.Y.) A high school robotics team with a vision to create an education center that is open to the public to explore the world of STEM.

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The Conexiones Program Helps Latino Students Navigate the Digital World

Appy Hour: A Class on Connection (Video)

T‑Mobile and the T‑Mobile Foundation Announce Winners of the 2022 Changemaker Challenge

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