Spotlight: Gia Duarte

Gia's Story

How This College Hopeful Used a Connected Learning Center to Open the Door to Education

Gia Duarte’s journey with AT&T’s Connected Learning Centers (CLC) at the Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund (SALEF) in Los Angeles is a powerful example of how access to technology makes a real difference. At home, Gia struggled with limited and unreliable technology, which made it hard for her to research colleges and complete applications. Then she discovered the CLC—a reliable space where she could focus, get the resources she needed, and plan confidently for her future.

With the support of the CLC, Gia overcame many obstacles that might have otherwise stood in her way. Her hard work paid off when she was accepted into several prestigious universities, ultimately choosing to attend the University of California, Berkeley.

But Gia’s story doesn’t stop there. Inspired by the opportunities the CLC gave her, she invited classmates to join her at the center, encouraging them to pursue their academic goals. Later, as a SALEF intern, Gia gave back to her community by helping others with digital literacy and citizenship tasks.

Gia’s experience shows how access to technology can empower individuals—not just to succeed themselves, but to lift others up as well. Gia’s story truly shines as an example of how AT&T’s Connected Learning Centers create lasting, meaningful change and open doors to brighter futures.

Gia’s story is just one example of how AT&T is connecting people to greater possibilities through our $5 billion commitment to connect 25 million people by 2030. Find out more about our commitment here.