Students gathered Tuesday afternoon in the gym of the Georgette and Cato Johnson YMCA in Whitehaven for the ribbon-cutting to open a new Comcast computer lab supporting the Y’s Future Ready: Digital Skills for Tomorrow’s Workforce program. The initiative aims to equip youth with essential digital skills for academic and workforce success.
City, county and state officials joined representatives from Comcast and the YMCA for the celebration, which included games and activities led by Evangeline Parker-Guest, Comcast senior manager of external affairs. At the center of the event were the students, beneficiaries of a new learning space that will offer training in digital tools including Adobe, Canva, JavaScript, and photo and video editing. Fifty students ages 13 to 18 make up the inaugural cohort.
Opening the program, Parker-Guest invited students to introduce themselves and share career goals. The audience of parents and grandparents applauded as students expressed interests in careers such as forensic scientist, psychologist, nurse, video-game developer, producer and content creator. One student captured the spirit of the moment with, “I just want to be successful in life.”
“This is encouraging to the youth,” said Joyce Milligan, a grandmother who received one of the special audience gifts given by Comcast. “I think this program will help them in the future. I love the Y, and think it is a safe space for these children.”
In a nod to the Halloween season, officials were asked to give students a “tip and a treat.” Mayor Paul Young offered a “tip” of what he called one of his favorite quotes: “A wise man can entertain the ideas of others without accepting them.” He continued, “It means you may not agree with someone, but listening to different perspectives gives you a more balanced view of the world.”
Throughout the event, students received gifts including laptops and backpacks filled with goodies. But the largest gift was presented by Mike McArdle, senior vice president for Comcast’s Big South Region, to YMCA President and CEO Brian McLaughlin — a $30,000 donation check.
“What I love most about Comcast is that it’s not just about the technology, it’s not about the connections, it’s about the communities. It’s about partnerships and investing in the communities we serve,” McArdle said. “We’re committed to expanding digital opportunity and helping young people gain the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly connected world.”
In accepting the contribution McLaughlin said, “We are grateful to Comcast for their continued partnership. At the YMCA, our mission is to help young people reach their full potential, and this initiative perfectly aligns with our commitment to strengthening our community through education and opportunity.”
During a live classroom demonstration, 25 students engaged in hands-on learning activities. The lab is designed to allow students to explore digital technologies while building real-world skills.
“It isn’t your typical classroom experience,” said Timika Glenn, site director. “We want this to be a project-based program, so you guys learn by doing.”
Comcast and the YMCA have partnered for more than a decade to offer youth coding classes and community programs. The digital skills training initiative will continue through May 2026 and includes support from Comcast’s Team UP national employee volunteer program, which is responsible for stuffing backpacks with digital resources for students. The full effort is part of Comcast’s broader $1 billion commitment to expanding digital inclusion and economic mobility.
