ORLANDO, Fla. – Heart of Florida United Way unveiled its United Learning Lab Tuesday, a state-of-the-art mobile computer lab equipped with Starlink technology capable of connecting more than 500 devices at once.
The converted passenger bus is designed to bring critical services directly to underserved communities across Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
Kelly Astro, Senior Vice President of Community Impact at Heart of Florida United Way, described the technology on board.
“It is a high-tech computer lab. We have Starlink, so over 500 devices can actually connect to this bus when it comes into a community,” Astro said.
For many residents, accessing community resources is not just a matter of availability, it is a matter of transportation. The United Learning Lab aims to eliminate that barrier by bringing services directly into neighborhoods.
U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (D-Kissimmee) emphasized the need for mobile outreach across the region.
“Central Florida is a big place. You have some places where people are really struggling on 192 or across the Sermon area, or on the west side of Orange County. So, getting busses to these communities that need additional opportunities, need access to the internet, is going to be absolutely essential to making sure no one is left behind,” Soto said.
The lab will offer a wide range of digital education classes for students, seniors and everyone in between.
“We’ll be offering digital education classes, for everyone from students to seniors. We will be working with high schools, with students to be able to help them complete college applications. Their FASFA applications. We will be able to help young parents with students or children who might have developmental delays,” Astro said.
Residents earning less than $73,000 a year will also be able to file their tax returns on the bus free of charge with IRS-certified preparers.
Astro tells News 6 the project has been two years in the making, and United Way plans to deploy the bus at least five days a week across Central Florida cities.
“It allows us to eliminate that notion that a zip code really determines what you have access to,” Astro said.
The United Learning Lab is set to make its first trip next week, with a stop at Osceola High School during Meet the Teacher Night on Wednesday.