Individuals and organizations from across the digital technology sector took time to recognize and celebrate the industry’s progress during this year’s Digital Inclusion Week, which ended Oct. 6.
The week-long annual event includes participants from around the United States, with dozens of digital skills worships that occur both in-person and virtually.
This year’s Digital Inclusion Week, the seventh annual running of the national event, is focused on building connected communities, according to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) website. Digital Inclusion 101, Building for Digital Equity, and Telling Your Digital Inclusion Story are titles of some of the events the NDIA has presented as part of 2023’s recognition.
Angela Siefer, executive director of the NDIA, said digital inclusion is about increasing opportunities for people across the country “to use technology to live, learn, work, and thrive.”
“We’re celebrating local leaders, advocates, and organizations this week as digital inclusion heroes,” she said. “Every local community action and event matters in the movement for digital equity.”
Sponsors of this year’s Digital Inclusion Week include Comcast, which donated 400 laptops to eight non-profit organizations involved in the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey’s Digital Navigator Network.
The donation coupled an announcement from the company that Comcast and the United Way would expand the Digital Navigator Network, which is composed of individuals who teach digital literacy and help people sign up for internet service.
Sandra Speight, a Philadelphia retiree, used the network. Her comments were included in Comcast’s announcement.
“Thanks to the Digital Navigator network, I received the support I needed to successfully sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program and Internet Essentials Plus from Comcast,” she said. “I now have the connectivity I need, without the financial burden. I am so grateful for those resources. I wasn’t alone thanks to the Digital Navigator network.”
Other sponsors of 2023’s Digital Inclusion Week include Dell Technologies and the NTCA, with Alliant and Foundry10 listed as “megabyte sponsors.”
A full list of the dozens of digital workshops and in-person events being held during Digital Inclusion Week is available here, on the NDIA’s website.
