GSA

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21 Dec: Five Takeaways from the Global Climate Conference

Laura Bishop spoke to educators from Climate Generation at COP21 about the role of business in climate change.

Just two weeks ago, 187 countries gathered in Paris and unanimously agreed to reduce their carbon emissions to confront climate change. I witnessed this historic achievement and returned home both energized and hopeful. Here’s why:

Our world is united.

This remarkable agreement resulted from the public and private sectors working together to forge a global pact to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), with a target of below 1.5 C (2.7 F). 

LA

23 Sep: Best Buy and OurCycle LA Bridge Digital Divide for Los Angeles Families

The goal was bridging the digital gap for families, but the theme was empowerment at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles on Sept. 19.

Several families, with help from Best Buy employees, were trained on basic computer skills and went home with something they didn’t have before – Internet connectivity and a computer.

Best Buy partnered with OurCycle LA, a City of Los Angeles digital inclusion pilot program geared at providing free refurbished computers and training to low-income families in Los Angeles.

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14 Aug: Geeking Out at School

There was chanting, there was laughing and there was a lot of geeking out over technology.

I spent the last two days with more than 100 very enthusiastic Twin Cities-area students at Geek Squad Academy in St. Paul. Best Buy puts on these camps across the country to give underserved kids hands-on experience with technology to help develop skills and inspire future careers. The curriculum invites them to become “Junior Agents” through exploring digital citizenship, film production, computer programming and robotics, as well as 3D printing and circuitry.

Best Buy Geek Squad Academy Robotics

15 Jul: White House Taps Best Buy to Help Bridge Digital Divide in ConnectHome Initiative

Even as the promise of the connected home becomes reality for many of us, millions of Americans still have limited access to the high-speed broadband service that opens the door to opportunity. To help bridge this digital divide, Best Buy will offer the expertise of its talented employees and community outreach programs in a new ConnectHome initiative announced today by President Obama and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro.

The pilot program is launching in 27 cities and one tribal nation to initially reach more than 275,000 low-income households and nearly 200,000 children with the support they need to access the Internet at home.

Best Buy and Break A Difference

08 May: Best Buy Volunteers Teach Teens to Build Smartphone Apps and More

Creating a customized smartphone app is not something every kid can say they’ve done.

But with the help of dedicated Best Buy employee volunteers, students are getting excited about creating their own apps using the invention kit MakeyMakey.

The app workshops are part of Best Buy-sponsored events happening nationwide this year. Teens get the chance to brainstorm an app prototype, work with the latest technology and create a stop-motion video.

Best Buy’s Community Relations team has partnered with the nonprofit Break A Difference to design several large volunteer events for employees throughout the United States.

Academy Awards

15 Jan: Get Properly Prepared for the Academy Awards

Your mom won’t stop talking about it. Your boss won’t stop talking about it. Even that guy you met on Tinder won’t stop talking about it. The 87th Academy Awards are so close you can almost taste them.

Whether you caught cinema fever or you’re just in the mood for binge-watching great movies all weekend, Best Buy is here to help you get properly prepared for the biggest night in film as Oscar nominations were just announced today.

Want to see what the fuss is all about?  

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10 Nov: Learning New Family Tech with Geek Squad at Engadget Expand

A piano made out of bananas. A Play-Doh Tetris game. A whisk and pie-tin drum set.

Visitors to the Engadget Expand event in New York City over the weekend got a chance to experience unique technology for the family at an exhibit staffed by local Geek Squad Agents and Best Buy Blue Shirts.

Geek Squad was there to show visitors some cool – and fun – things that can be done with technology, and show off Geek Squad Academy, which seeks to inspire young people through technology.