2024-12-22T03:54:53-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150196267/california-s-quattrocchi-kwok-architects-helps-bring-broadband-internet-to-rural-students-amid-covid-19 Sean Joyner 2020-05-05T12:36:00-04:00 >2020-05-05T15:00:35-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/82/8246c8cd3e91fd737d83a7e58932aaa4.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>When Santa Rosa-based&nbsp;<a href="https://archinect.com/quattrocchikwokarchitects" target="_blank">Quattrocchi Kwok Architects</a> (QKA) heard a <a href="https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/10885373-181/digital-divide-leaves-rural-and" target="_blank">local call to action</a> to help economically disadvantaged schools in Sonoma County facilitate distance learning, they answered the call. Due to COVID-19 many of the underprivileged students in the area lacked the basic resources needed to continue their education online.</p> <p>QKA has so far provided 60 Wifi hotspots to families without internet access, 350 reams of copy paper, and monetary contributions to the <a href="https://www.roselandsd.org/District/Department/90-ways-to-give/6258-Family-Food-Relief-Fund.html" target="_blank">Roseland Public School's Family Relief Fund</a> to help feed families in need. The firm specializes in education design and co-founder and Principal Mark&nbsp;Quattrocchi, FAIA, personally reached out to school across Sonoma County and Lake County to see how he could help.&nbsp;</p> <p>"Listening to their stories of material shortages is heart-wrenching, as we see up close the uneven playing field these disadvantaged schools experience &mdash; from no laptops, to laptops but no Wi-Fi, and to Wi-Fi &ldquo;hotspots&rdquo; but no cell coverage,"&nbsp;<a href="http://www.qka.com/news/2014/11/05/bridging-gap-addressing-equity-distance-learning" target="_blank">Quattrocchi wrot...</a></p>