At the onset of the pandemic, we witnessed an acute deepening of the digital divide. Low-income, rural, and elderly populations who have less access to digital technology and broadband and the opportunities they provide were suddenly – and with extreme consequences – cut off from education, health, housing, and employment opportunities. Digital access was finally recognized as a necessity, not a “nice to have,” but it’s not only access that’s the problem. Even a tablet or a fiber optic hookup can’t solve the problem if someone doesn’t know how to use them.
Common Impact is addressing digital inclusion as a core tenant of its 2021 strategy. By leveraging skills-based volunteering as a vehicle to align corporate philanthropic resources (capital, product, and people) with the on-the-ground expertise and community trust of direct service nonprofits and advocacy organizations, we can move the needle on this critical challenge. Join this group of cross-sector leaders in the digital equity movement for a conversation on what it will take to truly achieve inclusion by equipping communities with technology, training, and digital literacy skills.
