Portland Launches Digital Equity Service Corps to Bridge Digital Divide

In a significant move to address digital inequalities, the City of Portland, NTEN, and Comcast have joined forces to launch the 2024 Portland Digital Equity Service Corps (DESC). This initiative, announced today, has selected five fellows and their respective organizations to receive grants of up to $5,000 each, aimed at launching or expanding sustainable digital literacy programs within their missions.

The selected fellows represent a diverse group of community organizations: Marina Alvarez from Latino Network, Isa Alvarez from Hacienda CDC, Jeremy Gomez from Free Geek, Rukia Aweys Mohamed from African Refugee Immigrant Organization, and Fabiola Sanchez from Rosewood Initiative. These organizations have deep roots in their communities and focus on critical issues such as affordable housing, tech sustainability, digital access, and youth engagement.

The Portland DESC is part of a larger initiative funded by a $250,000 grant from the Talent for Tomorrow: Digital Equity Challenge, a joint effort by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Comcast's Project UP. This challenge aims to support the development and expansion of local workforce programs designed to enhance college and career readiness, close the digital skills gap, advance economic mobility, and lay the foundation for generational wealth in under-resourced communities.

Rebecca Gibbons, City of Portland Digital Equity Manager, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "Tackling digital equity requires multi-stakeholder collaboration and a holistic approach to inclusive community access." She highlighted that Indigenous people, Black Americans, Latino Americans, low-income households, and people living with disabilities face the most significant barriers to internet and device accessibility.

The DESC program, modeled after NTEN's decade-long Digital Inclusion Fellowship, will provide comprehensive support to the fellows. They will receive training in program design and management, accessibility, adult education learning methods, impact evaluation, coalition building, leadership skills, and workforce development strategies. This approach aims to equip the fellows with the necessary tools to establish sustainable digital literacy programs tailored to their specific community needs.

Amy Sample Ward, CEO of NTEN, underscored the significance of community-based organizations in addressing digital inequities: "We believe that the organizations best positioned to provide critical digital literacy programs are those that are already in and trusted by impacted communities." This strategy ensures that the programs developed will be both innovative and sustainable, meeting communities where they are.

The initiative aligns with Comcast's Project UP, a comprehensive $1 billion commitment to advance digital equity and build a future of unlimited possibilities. Rodrigo Lopez, Region Senior Vice President for Comcast in the Pacific Northwest, expressed pride in the partnership, stating, "Together, we are pleased to support an impressive group of people passionate about bringing digital equity to communities."

This initiative is particularly crucial in the context of the growing digital divide. As more aspects of daily life, education, and work move online, those without access to technology or the skills to use it effectively are at risk of being left behind. The Portland DESC aims to bridge this gap by focusing on communities most affected by digital inequities, potentially impacting thousands of residents in the Portland area.

The success of this program could serve as a model for other cities facing similar digital equity challenges. By combining local government support, nonprofit expertise, and corporate funding, the Portland DESC demonstrates a collaborative approach to tackling a complex societal issue. As the fellows begin their work, the impact of their efforts will be closely watched by policymakers, educators, and community leaders across the country, potentially inspiring similar initiatives nationwide.