Hello, my name is Cyrus Robinson and I’m proud to be an AT&T premises technician. I have been married for almost two years and I am the proud father of three beautiful children. In my free time I enjoy bowling, spending time with family and friends, and working on cars.

Doing Work That Matters

I have been with AT&T for eight years and am currently keeping my fingers crossed to become a lineman one day. I hope I can retire as a part of #LifeAtATT when the day comes. I love that my job allows me to meet new, friendly faces every day. Over the years, my team has become my family since we see each other daily. The thing I enjoy most about my work is that it allows me to utilize my communication and physical skills to help our customers, from assisting the elderly with their telephone issues to that young gamer with internet problems. It’s a real perk to connect everyone and bring a smile to someone’s face. Experiencing that joy is something I always had a fondness for.

I remember this brutal winter storm we had in 2015. Due to the large amount of snow, climbing poles or even getting on someone’s roof was out of the question for safety concerns. With AT&T, safety is our number one priority. An elderly woman’s phone line had been ripped from the pole and she did not have a cell phone, so her landline was her only way of communication. I called around to see if a lineman with a bucket truck was near to assist me and — just my luck — he was only three miles out! He assisted in running the new telephone line safely, and we were able to get the customer’s phone up and running again.

Experiencing the joy of helping others extends beyond my job. I am an advocate worker within my church, providing food for the less fortunate and helping with the sick. I also volunteer at my children’s after school programs when I am away from work. It’s not just the right thing to do it; I feel it’s my duty to give back when I can. I’m fortunate enough to take care of my family, but there are so many others who struggle.

Celebrating My Heritage

I reflect on these values especially at this time of year. Black History Month is a time for me to reflect on how lucky I am to be a part of this community, and how far I can go in life despite the obstacles I may face. It reminds me of my ancestors and how far we’ve come throughout the years. I really have to thank the many people who paved the way from MLK to Malcolm X to so many others who risked their lives so we can be as comfortable as we can be for this day and age.

When I was asked to be part of AT&T’s Black Future Maker’s program, I was nervous. To be honest, I turned it down at first. After speaking with my wife and mom, I gained the courage to do it and changed my answer. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Being able to be part of Everyday Heroes — a campaign to celebrate frontline workers for their dedication to community — was an honor. I hope I was able to show younger children, including mine, that you can be whatever you want and impact someone’s life for the better.

I especially love having the occasion to educate my children and some friends on our heritage. The look on their faces when they find out that most of our everyday products were invented by a Black person lights up my day. For so many years, we weren’t allowed to do so much and now we are. We’re probably saving a child’s life right now because they know they can fulfill their own dreams.

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