Summary of partners

org name Website description City State

Mobile Citizen

Mobile Citizen

Mobile Citizen, a Voqal project, provides low-cost mobile internet with unlimited data plans exclusively to nonprofit organizations, educational entities and social welfare agencies. Championed by a national collaboration of EBS (Educational Broadband Service) licensees, Mobile Citizen’s internet service is available nationwide. We believe that making internet access available at an affordable price advances social equity.

Boulder

CO

Net Literacy

www.netliteracy.org

Net Literacy has donated over 44,000 repurposed computers to the families of students without a computer at home, as well as to schools, public libraries, after-school programs, churches, community centers, and other nonprofits. Their Computer Connects program has repurposed computers for eighteen years in Indiana.

Carmel

Indiana

Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network

ODLAN

Our mission is to remove digital literacy and access barriers. We work with service providers to develop digital strategies that will address the challenges marginalized communities face when accessing online service provisions. 

Toronto

Ontario

Our Community LA

Our Community L.A.

Formerly known as Our Children LA, Our Community LA (OCLA), leverages technology to help those in need easily connect to essential resources. Their goal is to empower and support all homeless and resource-insecure individuals, including youth and students under age 25, families, and seniors.  By providing unique mobile and online tools, OCLA helps people learn about the supportive services. OCLA’s free WIN What I Need mobile app connects individuals in need with available help in real-time. Over 94% of homeless individuals use a smart device, but finding reliable and up-to-date information about shelter, food, jobs and other needed services can be difficult.

Pacific Palisades

California

PCs for People

www.pcsforpeople.org

Since 1998, PCs for People has been a driving force behind digital inclusion efforts in across the US. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, our mission is to provide a technology access that offers employment and educational opportunities to low-income individuals, families with children, and those with disabilities.

Their services include free end-of-life IT asset management and certified data sanitization, technology refurbishing, computer distribution, computer repair, internet service, tech education, and free electronic recycling. Through an unwavering commitment to the communities they serve, they have distributed over 60,000 computers, subscribed thousands of families to low cost internet, and recycled millions of pounds of electronics.

They have facilities in St. Paul, Denver, and Mankato, MN, where they were founded. They serve 200 people a day coming through their doors, low income families looking for computers, computer repair, or Internet service.

In addition to shipping nationwide, PCs for People has partnered with Mobile Beacon to offer a free platform that allows non-profits to offer affordable, high-quality refurbished computers and Mobile Beacon’s unlimited, high-speed internet service for as low as $10/month.

St. Paul

Minnesota

PEC Center for Digital Inclusion and Technology

People’s Emergency Center & Center for Digital Inclusion and Technology, http://cditech.org

In February 2003 People’s Emergency Center created the Digital Inclusion (DI) program to help bridge the digital divide in West Philadelphia. Through DI programs, students of all ages develop the technology skills necessary for success in the 21st century. To accomplish its mission DI provides free courses in computer and internet literacy to local residents. Upon completing the course, qualified students may receive free or low-cost computers . Additionally, DI promotes viable, low-cost broadband internet access for the people  it serves. The DI program uses a three-pronged strategy to advance information technology literacy:​

They offer free computer training at every level: Computer and Internet Class (CIC) takes adult learners through basic computer operations and OS concepts, internet navigation, email usage, MS Office applications, and the effective use of social networking applications.  Tech St@rs (TS) is an after-school program for students from neighborhood elementary schools. It employs a proven web-delivered  tech literacy curriculum along with interactive group projects to reinforce  computer basics. The Teen Technology Network (TTN) offers West Philadelphia teens the chance to learn advanced computer skills and media training. Our programs offer the students the chance to develop or improve their command of computer literacy, financial literacy, multimedia productions and leadership skills. In addition, we provide “Pop-up” labs with tablets and netbooks to deliver workshops and open access in the classrooms or community centers.

CDIT gives free computers to youth participants who successfully complete a TS or TTN training course and direct adult learners to local low-cost refurbished computer resources.

CDIT promotes viable free and low-cost broadband options and informs participants on pertinent government services and community-based resources on the Internet.

Philadelphia

PA

Peer to Peer University (P2PU)

Peer to Peer University

Peer 2 Peer University (or simply P2PU) is a non-profit organization that facilitates equitable learning beyond institutional walls. Founded in 2008, P2PU has grown into a distributed community of educators, librarians, activists, policy-makers, and technologists. P2PU trains librarians and community leaders to facilitate learning in their neighborhoods, develops and curates open educational resources and software, and champions related causes including open education, digital equity, and public libraries.

San Francisco

California

People’s Resource Center

PeoplesRC.org

The PRC Computer Access and Training Program provides free classes in computer skills and software, including Intro to Computers, Windows Fundamentals, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

As a Microsoft Registered Refurbisher, PRC takes donated computers and refurbishes them for distribution to people who need a home computer.

The Dr. Fix-It program provides free repairs on home computers for PRC clients.

Wheaton

Illinois

RSVP

RSVP

RSVP improves the lives of vulnerable populations in the local community of Southeastern Pennsylvania by focusing on education and wellness and by supporting nonprofits through skill-based volunteer programs.

The Digital Equity Project provides online training for adults to learn to use email, the internet, Zoom, social media as well as access community resources so they can connect with friends and family, communicate with their child’s teacher, access resources, and ease the feeling of isolation.

King of Prussia

Pennsylvania

San DIego Futures Foundation

San Diego Futures Foundation

San Diego Futures Foundation works to improve lives in San Diego County by making information technology available to underserved populations by providing technology equipment, training, support, IT outsourcing, and digital media services to nonprofit organizations, disadvantaged small businesses, low-income households, people with disabilities, and seniors.

San Diego

California