Tag: Digital divide

Press Release
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Nov 2, 2022 08:00 EDT

CONWAY, N.H., November 2, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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Digitunity, a national nonprofit organization that advances digital equity through device ownership, and network science agency Visible Network Labs (VNL) are hosting a series of webinars to present findings from a survey on how 10 U.S. cities are working to close the digital divide.

The digital divide is the disparity between those who have ready access to computers and the internet, and those who do not. Studies show that this deep, persistent inequity keeps under-resourced people from achieving economic and educational success.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic began, it highlighted a longstanding issue in our country, which is that millions of people in America are still unable to benefit from the opportunities that the internet provides,” said Scot Henley, Executive Director of Digitunity. “The survey findings explore the relationships across sectors in each city and create opportunities for new or improved partnerships to embrace the power of collective action to achieve digital equity.”  

Conducted during the summer of 2022, participants of the survey included nonprofits, government offices, businesses, and other organizations in each of the cities that: 

• Are currently involved in or leading their city’s digital equity efforts.
• Would like to be involved in digital equity efforts.
• Have resources to provide to advance digital equity.
• Have opinions about or a stake in digital equity in their city.

 Details about each upcoming webinar, including registration links, can be found below:

• Thursday, Nov. 3, 3-4 p.m. EDT
• Friday, Nov. 4, 12-1 p.m. EDT
•  Thursday, Nov. 10, 2-3 p.m. EST
•  Thursday, Nov. 10, 3-4 p.m. EST

A critical step towards advancing digital equity is ensuring everyone has access to a large-screen device, such as a desktop, laptop, or tablet. The survey led to the creation of network maps for each city along with geographic information system (GIS) maps. Through this visualization tool, stakeholders and community groups have a better understanding of who is involved and connected.

“Working with a network of partners is essential to building a collaborative advantage,” said Dr. Amanda Beacom, Vice President of Research & Data Science, VNL, “Most organizations build networks using a ‘more is better’ mentality that saps their time and resources. The community partner relationship manager is designed to track, map, and adapt networks in real-time using network science data and insights.”

Having a connected computer and the skills to use it productively is a fundamental need. The issue of the digital divide disproportionately affects communities of color but persists across all boundaries. Digitunity remains committed to eliminating the technology gap, so everyone can thrive in a digitally connected society. To learn more, please visit www.digitunity.org. 

About Digitunity

Since the 1980s, Digitunity has advanced digital inclusion by connecting donors of technology with organizations serving people in need. Our mission is to ensure everyone who needs a computer has one, along with robust internet connectivity and digital literacy skills. To learn more about our mission, please visit www.digitunity.org. 

About Visible Network Labs (VNL)

Visible Network Labs is a team of network scientists, developers, data analysts, evaluators, and technologists working together with a shared mission of building society’s capacity to transform and strengthen social connectedness at all levels of life. VNL focuses on creating new tools, training, and services to make network science and analysis accessible to those who need it.

They worked with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to evaluate their Networks for School Improvement portfolio and guide their strategy moving forward. They also worked with LA County to strengthen the LA Mamas collaborative health partnership for low-income mothers in the Los Angeles metro area. To learn more, please visit https://visiblenetworklabs.com. 

Source: Digitunity

Press Release
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Oct 17, 2022 08:00 EDT

CONWAY, N.H., October 17, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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As a national nonprofit connecting technology donors with organizations serving people in need of computers, Digitunity supports the state of Arkansas in working with community-based groups to close the digital divide afflicting the state’s marginalized residents. They do this through their Digital Opportunity Network, comprised of 1,500 organizations across the U.S.

In July, Heartland Forward, a Bentonville nonprofit, announced the organization of a coalition of over a dozen Arkansas-based organizations. Its goal is to expand internet access throughout the state by supporting local initiatives and securing federal funding to ensure high-speed internet is more accessible and affordable across Arkansas. 

According to findings from the Arkansas State Broadband Manager’s Report, as of June 2020, Arkansas is 50th in the nation for broadband coverage. Only 79% of the state’s population has internet service with speeds of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. As recently as 2022, there are still 210,000 households in the state lacking adequate broadband access. 

“Having a connected computer and the skills to use it productively is a fundamental need in today’s society,” said Scot Henley, executive director of Digitunity. “Since its founding, Digitunity has partnered with several nonprofit organizations in Arkansas, with wide-ranging missions from youth-focused projects to life skills and digital literacy for adult learners, all with a shared mission of bridging the technology gap.”

Digitunity has six Digital Opportunity Network members in the state: 

• The North Central Career Center of Leslie
• The Conway County Center for Exceptional Children of Morrilton
• Carter’s Crew of Little Rock
• The Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center of Little Rock
• Shirley Community Service and Development Corporation of Shirley 
• Northeast Arkansas Innovative Training Center of Jonesboro 

These distribution partners provide technology to adults looking for jobs, schoolchildren, and nonprofit organizations like career and technical centers. As of 2021, Digitunity and its Network have distributed 273 devices in Arkansas. Their body of work connecting donors of technology with recipient organizations serving people in need spans nearly 40 years. 

Since Digitunity’s inception, thousands of people have benefitted from its efforts. Its perspective has been shaped by decades of experience creating local impact through the benefit of a national lens. As an independent, national nonprofit focused on advancing digital equity through device ownership, Digitunity is unique in the digital inclusion landscape. 

One way Digitunity demonstrates this uniqueness is by partnering with local organizations and governments to benefit members of these communities. One such way they’re doing this is by helping state and local governments, like those in Arkansas, create digital equity plans. This action was inspired by the landmark Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will expand broadband infrastructure and enable eligible households to obtain home broadband access and a connected device. Digitunity sees this initiative as an opportunity to help the state of Arkansas as they develop a digital equity plan. The goal of this plan is to expand access to connected devices for all Arkansas residents. 

In response, the organization has developed recommendations for state digital equity plans. This expertise in both supply and community distribution gives Digitunity the ability to effectively partner with coalitions, cities, and states to create sustainable device access solutions. To learn more about Digitunity’s digital equity planning work, please visit digitunity.org.

About Digitunity
Since the 1980s, Digitunity has advanced digital inclusion by connecting donors of technology with organizations serving people in need. Our mission is to ensure everyone who needs a computer has one, along with robust internet connectivity and digital literacy skills. To learn more about our mission, please visit www.digitunity.org.

Source: Digitunity

Press Release
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Oct 10, 2022

CONWAY, N.H., October 10, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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Digitunity is pleased to announce it was selected as the 2022 ChannelPro Not-For-Profit All-Star. ChannelPro recognized Digitunity for its work to close the digital divide through sustainable technology reuse and connecting donors of used computers with its network of more than 1,500 non-profit organizations across the United States serving people in need. 

The only award program of its kind, the ChannelPro SMB All-Stars recognizes select IT hardware, software, and service vendors whose products, programs, and initiatives made a significant impact on small to medium-sized businesses in the last year as determined by the ChannelPro Network editorial team. 

What constitutes a significant impact? 

• Developing a new product or service with market-changing potential.
• Creating a significant new channel program.
• Redefining the company with clear partner benefits.
• Making bold business moves that positively impact resellers.
• A market shift from enterprise to small to medium-sized businesses, with products purpose-built for these businesses.
• Leveraging an acquisition to provide enhanced opportunities for partners and additional functionality for customers.

“Digitunity is thrilled to be recognized as the 2022 ChannelPro Nonprofit All-Star,” stated Susan Krautbauer, Senior Director of Strategy and Development. “Advancing digital equity through device ownership requires close collaboration between Digitunity, business, government, education, and community leaders. By combining bold action and cross-sector cooperation, our mission to create a more sustainable future for everyone can be achieved.”

For the fourth year in a row, The ChannelPro Network is including a Not-For-Profit All-Star Award as well. The All-Stars list varies in size annually. It has neither a minimum nor maximum length. However, placement on this list is a much-coveted honor.

“It’s always a privilege to recognize organizations that make a difference in our industry,” says Rich Freeman, executive editor of The ChannelPro Network. “ChannelPro is especially proud to call attention to the vital work Digitunity does to help Americans thrive in the digital economy.”

Editorial coverage includes the ChannelPro SMB All-Stars special feature in the October editions of ChannelPro-SMB magazine and online coverage at ChannelProNetwork.com. For complete coverage, please visit ChannelProNetwork.com. 

About Digitunity

Digitunity connects corporate and individual donors of technology to thousands of partner organizations every day, providing the technology and support they require to deliver community-based programs to people in need across North America. 

With a proven body of work and a national network of member organizations, Digitunity works to ensure all barriers that limit equitable opportunity to participate in our digitally connected society are removed. To learn more, visit www.digitunity.org.

About The ChannelPro Network 
The ChannelPro Network provides targeted business and technology information for the IT channel. Via ChannelPro-SMB magazine, events, and online properties, the network delivers expert opinions, analysis, news, product reviews, and advice vital to IT solution providers’ success. Perspectives from vendors, distributors, and analysts are spotlighted daily. No other media company focuses on the small and midsize marketplace like The ChannelPro Network.

Source: Digitunity