Giugno, 2022

On a visit to Indiana Women’s Prison in 2018, I joined a ceremony for graduates of The Last Mile, an organization preparing people for successful reentry through business and technology training. It was my first time attending a graduation inside, and I listened and was inspired as each graduate shared their determination to succeed in spite of the many challenges they might face after release.

Each year, 640,000 people are released from prison only to be met with an unemployment rate that is five times the national average. This rate is even higher for Black, Latino, and low income individuals, who are disproportionately impacted by mass incarceration. Devastatingly, more than half of those released from US prisons don’t land a job in the first year of returning home, in part because they don’t have the necessary digital skills to compete in an ever-changing job market.

Since 2015, Google has supported many aspects of criminal justice reform with over $48 million in grant funding and 50,000 pro-bono hours. But there’s more work to be done. Today, we’re committing more than $8 million in new funding that will support job seekers impacted by the justice system with digital skills training and automatic record clearance.

The Grow with Google Fund for Justice-Impacted Communities will make more than $4 million available for nonprofits to lead Grow with Google workshops and trainings. Using a curriculum co-curated with five justice-reform-focused partners, our goal is to help 100,000 people impacted by the justice system build career skills–ranging from fundamental skills like finding and applying for jobs online, making a resume using web-based tools, or building a professional brand, to more advanced topics like using spreadsheets to budget for a business.

To accelerate jobs access for formerly incarcerated people, Google.org is providing a $3 million grant and a full-time team of Google.org Fellows who will work pro-bono to support Code for America. Code for America works with community organizations and government to build digital tools and services, change policies, and improve programs. Fellows will work alongside Code for America to help transform the process of automatically clearing criminal records; creating a replicable model to better identify and expunge past records through CFA’s Clear My Record initiative. Google.org is also granting $1.25 million to the National Urban League and Justice through Code, two organizations focused on providing skills training to formerly incarcerated job seekers beginning their careers in tech.

Three years after The Last Mile graduation I attended, it was an honor to sit down with Molly, a graduate who learned digital skills using Grow with Google’s curriculum. She is now employed as a Returned Citizen Advocate at The Last Mile.

Here’s what Molly had to say about her involvement with the program:

When you started learning digital skills at The Last Mile, where were you at in life?

I had just been released from Indiana Women’s Prison and was on a mission to find a new career. I was applying for multiple jobs while also looking for educational opportunities that would help build my skills and knowledge.

How comfortable were you with tech before and after you went inside?

I was incarcerated for three years. When I went in, I felt like I was very tech fluent, but when I was released, it seemed as though the entire tech world had changed. There were new norms and even how email was done felt unfamiliar. Different platforms and software were being used and I felt overwhelmed.

What was a highlight of the program?

The most important class that I took was a learning path called “Basic Digital Skills.” It helped me learn how to use documents and email efficiently. This was reinforced by The Last Mile because we regularly use both of these when communicating and collaborating.

What’s next for you?

Since participating, I secured a job as a Returned Citizen Advocate at The Last Mile. I went from using what I learned (like how to) write a resume, cover letter, apply for a job and interview, to securing a role that allows me to help other members of the community.

I’ve had the opportunity to pay it forward. Alumni are encouraged to participate in the program once they are released from prison. Because I have first-hand experience with the program, I can assist them with any questions and talk about the value and importance of each lesson or learning path from personal experience.

In the future, I plan to continue to support people that are returning to society, and to help people learn digital skills and expand their knowledge. My passion is to help those coming after me to be able to create and build the best future for themselves that is possible.

When it’s time to unwind and watch TV, I always sit down with my two must-haves: my favorite snack and my smartphone. Whether I’m following up on my friend’s recommendations, reading up on the cast or just using my phone as my remote, it’s always by my side.

And I’m not the only one: Our research shows us that two-thirds of U.S. adults research entertainment on their phone daily, and almost half watch content on their phones for an hour a day.

We made the Google TV app on Android to help you discover what to watch with recommendations from across your apps, and to make it easy to start watching movies and shows. Starting today, you’ll also be able to download the Google TV app for iOS from the App Store. And if you already have the Play Movies & TV app for iOS, it will update to the new Google TV app.

To celebrate, here are seven ways you can get the most out of the Google TV mobile app whether you have an Android phone or iPhone.

1. Get recommendations from across your apps: Let the Google TV app know which streaming apps you subscribe to. You’ll see suggestions from your favorite apps all in one place, based on what you’ve watched and what interests you so it’s easier to find your next favorite.
2. Create one Watchlist for your discoveries: Found a new favorite while browsing across your apps, but can’t watch it right now? Save new finds to your Watchlist in the app and pick right up on the big screen later.
3. See Watchlists from your favorite stars: Check out the Watch With Me row on the “For you” tab to get a look at the TV and movies that inspired the lives and careers of our favorite entertainers, artists and cultural icons.
4. Rate movies and shows: After watching, or as you browse, mark titles “watched,” or quickly rate them with the like or dislike buttons. You’ll get even better recommendations based on your interests on both the app and your Google TV devices.
5. Take your library on the go: Your Watchlist, recommendations and the movies and shows you have previously rented or purchased with your Google account go with you, whether that’s out the front door or just to the other room, so you can watch wherever you want.
6. Get all the latest on all your favorites: Visit the Highlights tab to stay up to date with a personalized daily feed of news, reviews and more about the entertainment you love.
7. Use your phone as your remote: If you own a Google TV or other Android TV OS device, you can click the remote button in the app and connect to your TV to control your TV with your phone and use Google Assistant. You can even use your phone’s keyboard to quickly type complicated passwords, movie names or search terms.

Back in high school, before I came out, seeing LGBTQ+ role models made me feel a sense of community. In particular, seeing LGBTQ+ people depicted in art and media who were thriving gave me confidence to be who I am. Artistic expression, from people like Keith Haring and Frida Kahlo, has been crucial for LGBTQ+ people throughout history for telling our stories and securing equal rights.

To celebrate the next generation of LGBTQ+ artists this Pride month, Chrome commissioned five LGBTQ+ artists to create themes you can select to personalize your Chrome browser and Chromebook. Available globally starting today with more options coming soon, these themes reflect the unique points of view of each individual artist. Here’s how some of the artists describe their work:

Our Chrome team crafted themes around the work of the artists to fuse them seamlessly into Chrome, coordinating the colors of your tabs and making sure the work looks great on all types of laptop and desktop screens. To get one of these themes for Chrome browser, visit the Chrome Web Store, select “Themes” and click “add to Chrome”. To set a wallpaper for your Chromebook, right click your desktop, choose “Set wallpaper”, then select “LGBTQ Artists”

This collection is a testament to the expansiveness of the LGBTQ+ community, which continues to become more vibrant and diverse. You can browse all themes in the collection on the Chrome Web Store, where you’ll also find themes from Black and Latino artists.

Indie game developers are known for creating some of the most innovative titles to land on Google Play. It’s this creativity that captures the imagination of the more than 2.5 billion people using our platform each month.

At Google Play, it is our mission to help indie game developers reach their full potential, wherever they are in their journey.

This year, the Indie Games programs are back once again to help talented indie developers design, launch and grow high-quality games and reach new players. Find out more about how the 2022Indie Games Accelerator & Festival helps developers to go further faster.

Supercharge your growth with mentorship & live masterclasses

If you’re an indie developer who is early in your journey — either close to launching a new game or have recently launched a title — this high-impact program is designed for you.

With the help of our network of gaming experts, the Indie Game Accelerator provides education and mentorship for ambitious developers to help you build, launch and grow successfully.

Selected game studios will be invited to take part in the 10-week acceleration program starting inSeptember 2022 as the Accelerator Class of 2022.

This is a highly-tailored program for small game developers spanning 78 eligible countries, that includes a series of online masterclasses, talks and game development workshops. You’ll also get the chance to meet and connect with other developers from around the world who are looking to take their games to the next level.

Celebrating the top indie games in Europe, Japan & South Korea

If you’re a passionate indie game developer and you have recently launched a high-quality game, enter your game to be showcased at the Indie Games Festival by Google Play.

Once again, we are hosting three international competitions in search of the most promising games from Japan, South Korea, and selected European countries, to celebrate the Top 20 indie games in each region.

The festival jury will consist of both gaming experts and Googlers, who are charged with finding creative indie games that are ready for the spotlight. As a finalist you will be able to join the Festival showcase and get your game discovered by top industry experts and players worldwide.

You can now enter your game to one of the Festival contests: Europe, Japan & South Korea.

For more updates and announcements about the Indie Games programs follow @GooglePlayBiz.