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=Generation Hope Laptop Program= Generation Hope Laptop Program 501(3)c (GHLP) is a private non-profit organization based in Fort Worth, TX that serves economically disadvantaged middle school aged students in Tarrant County, TX by utilizing technology in and outside of the classroom. As an afterschool enrichment program, the organization was developed to address the growing high school dropout rate and close the achievement gap among under-performing students in Tarrant County. GHLP seeks to introduce technology, math, science and engineering instruction aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills in addition to financial literacy and robotics curriculum. Serving approximately 340 students across twelve schools in the Fort Worth Independent School District, the Everman Independent School District and the Crowley Independent School District, GHLP provides new laptops to each and everyone of its students enrolled in the program.

History
Generation Hope Laptop Program was founded in 2008 by Tarrant County Commissioner, Roy Charles Brooks, as a part of the Marion J. and Marie N. Brooks Fund. Marion and Marie Brooks were two leaders in the Tarrant County community who devoted their lives to serving others, including fighting to improve education and being role models for thousands of young people in Tarrant County. Due to the leadership roles played throughout most of their lives, after their death, their children unanimously decided to develop a fund in memory of their parents and their philanthropy efforts that still drives much of the community today. As President of the Marion J. and Marie N. Brooks Fund, Commissioner Roy C. Brooks and its’ Board of Directors generated a plan to address the growing high school dropout rate and the need to introduce technology to economically disadvantaged students. This plan quickly rose to the evolvement of the Generation Hope Laptop Program which serves as the flagship program of the Marion J. and Marie N. Brooks Fund.

Curriculum
Generation Hope Laptop Program curriculum serves as an enrichment program designed with the intent to develop the whole child and supplements the core classroom curriculum of the student's home school. The curriculum constructively guides students to engage in creative and analytically logical thinking and has been scrubbed to ensure it is in line with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). GHLP students meet two evenings per week immediately after school at their home school. Texas Christian University and Texas Wesleyan University are vested in the initiative through development of the curriculum and university students who are serving as Program Instructors and TAME Tutors for the program.

The program utilizes a web-based Learning Management System comparable to Blackboard as a way to innovate, personalize and engage learning experiences for students. The students’ curriculum is in line with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Technology Education to ensure that instruction will improve disparities among low-performing students in the areas of science, technology, mathematics education (STEM). The GHLP Learning Center provides students with a three-year college preparatory learning curriculum that instructs students on the following:


 * Math and Science Instruction


 * Microsoft Office Programming


 * Web Design


 * Video Production and Editing


 * Computer Fundamentals


 * Computer Information Systems


 * Financial Literacy (TCCU)


 * Research and Presentation


 * Writing and Literacy


 * Robotics


 * Leadership Development


 * College and Career Readiness

Board of Directors
Generation Hope Laptop Program is governed by the Generation Hope Board of Directors; those board members include

Founder, President & Chair of the Board. Serves as the Tarrant County Commissioner of Precinct 1
 * Roy Charles Brooks

Retired Tarrant County Commissioner of Precinct 1
 * Dionne Phillips Bagsby

AT&T Retired
 * Michael Board

Precinct Administrator for Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct 1.
 * Krystal James

Chairman of Hub International Rigg, Inc. & Vice chairman of the North Texas Tollway Authority
 * William Meadows

President & CEO of the Bank of Texas
 * Charles Powell

Policy Analyst for the Joint Center’s Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change
 * Royce G. Brooks


 * Cathy A. Young

Secretary to the Board

Fort Worth Independent School District

 * Dunbar Sixth Grade Center 
 * Dunbar Middle School 
 * Handley Middle School 
 * McLean Sixth Grade Center 
 * W.P. McLean Middle School 
 * Benbrook Middle School 
 * Glencrest Sixth Grade Center 

Everman Independent School District

 * Dan Powell/Johnson Intermediate 
 * Baxter Junior High 

Crowley Independent School District

 * David L. Walker Intermediate 
 * H.F. Stevens Middle School 