New South Dallas tech hub at ICDC offers face-to-face help with digital connections

A computer literacy training program has trained over 50 individuals, both young people and adults, in information communication technology from rural Siaya County in Kenya. The program is free and is open to anyone fifteen years old and above. It is crowd funded by a network of donors and graduates have access to more professional and personal growth opportunities.

Most prisoners don’t have access to computer, in order to bridge the digital divide the Prisoner Reentry Institute is offering a free course called Tech 101 to former prisoners who served long sentences. People are taught things like how to set up Google accounts, navigating Microsoft Office, and social media. “Once you learn the basics, you really start feeling good about yourself, especially when you learn enough that you can start helping others.”

In London, the residents who have never accessed the internet are disproportionately disabled, elderly, or otherwise marginalized but a new approach by the Mayor's office, supported by results from pilot programs in the city, is looking to change that. Allowing people to rent tablets, and training people to use them and the internet, along with a deliberate effort to convince users of the utility of the digital world, has been shown to be an effective way to reduce isolation and boost quality of life.

In an era when success in school and the workplace is so heavily reliant on internet access, almost 20 percent of New York City households still lack internet access at home. Fortunately, the New York City Housing Authority is taking steps to address the issue by providing solutions such as installing free hotspots, distributing complimentary Wi-Fi equipment, and even parking digital vans outside of public housing complexes so that residents can easily and freely access computers, printers, and the Internet.

Before 2011, 40% of residents of Greenfield, Massachusetts did not have Internet access. The mayor hired someone to help the town become its own Internet Service Provider, build out the necessary fiber, and fund the entire project without raising taxes. Dan Kelley, who oversaw the project, said “the biggest reason the plan in Greenfield has worked is because of the buy-in commitment made by the town’s residents.” The new affordable Internet is helping residents throughout the town stay connected.

At Martindale Community Library, free Digital Lift Navigator classes helps participants learn how to better use basic technology as more aspects of daily life shift online. The class has 10 students so far, each of whom receives a free tablet that they get to keep after the course.

The ReDI School of Digital Integration offers free technology classes to women with migrant and refugee backgrounds, as well as career resources such as mentorships, company visits, talent matching, and internship opportunities. More than 500 students have participated in the school's Denmark-based programs.

BitLab Innovation Hub offers a STEM program geared at out-of-school children, which provides hands-on training to prepare them for careers in technology. The school has trained 105 children so far.

AfroGames offers young people aged 12 and over with classes in game programming, bringing the world of gaming to the lower-income communities in Brazil, or favelas, allowing youth to explore their culture, technology and potential job opportunities through game design.

Garrett County students were able to get back in school quickly because the district built trust with its community by providing families with crucial supplies, carefully planning the reopening, and communicating extensively with parents. When remote learning was required because of COVID-19, the district provided families with computers, tablets, central Wi-Fi hotspots, and delivered meals, which built trust and opened lines of communication. When students were brought back into the classroom, parents trusted the district to prioritize safety and their feedback was incorporated and responded to.