The Westcott Community Center in Syracuse received a $20,000 Spectrum Digital Education Grant. The money will go toward helping to bridge what's called the digital divide through the funding of a Spectrum Learning Lab.

It'll help older adults get online through education classes and access to technology like laptops. Getting folks up to speed is an issue that really came to the forefront as the COVID-19 pandemic forced a lot of our day-to-day communication online.

"There are a lot of barriers to access to technology in the community," Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said. "One of the most significant ones is among our older population that didn't grow up with it. So there's an intimidation factor, and I think often times, people want to try new tech but they're intimidated by it and they don't know where to turn. And we're here to say that everyone can benefit from these skills and to come meet these people where they are."

Judith Brooks, a resident of Syracuse, said she originally decided that she didn't need technology at her age.

"Then, I realized how difficult it was to maneuver through my computer to do the necessary things that I needed," she said. "I needed to learn how to do that, and this is going to give me the opportunity."

The funding is part of Spectrum and its parent company, Charter Communications, which is making a five-year, $7 million commitment to digital education in the areas it serves from coast to coast.