Digital Equity Initiatives

The Connected Dallas Digital Ambassador program is designed to provide a full spectrum of digital touchpoints for community members that meet them where they are, whether by phone, text, chat, online or in-person. This ensures community members are educated, trained, and connected to all services that require connectivity to improve quality of life.

The Connected Dallas framework is provided by National Digital Inclusion Alliance. For more information, please visit www.ConnectedDallas.org.

Mobile Learning Lab

Many of us take the internet for granted - for some, access isn’t an option, whether it is availability, affordability, or the skills to use it. Living a full life and achieving economic mobility requires high-speed broadband in today’s world - a fact made glaringly clear to all during the pandemic. While long-terms solutions are on the way, we know that students today need support to bridge the gap between today’s needs and tomorrow’s solutions. Beginning in 2018, and getting ‘on the road’ in 2020, the DIA in partnership with the Santander Consumer USA Foundation, The Meadows Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, Cisco, Capital One, Cradlepoint, GTS, REI, Parsec, Netsync, and Presidio, the DIA and our partners at FlyBusFly and Better Block have converted a retired school bus into a large-scale mobile hotspot and classroom, providing after-school enrichment STEAM programming, Wi-Fi, homework help and popup adult community programming. For more info, visit: http://www.dallasinnovationalliance.com/projects/mll

(Em)powerment Pop-ups

(Em)powerment Popups are a new initiative created through a partnership between the CARDboard Project and Dallas Innovation Alliance. Both Dallas based nonprofits focus on bridging the digital divide through the ‘three legs of the stool’ - access, affordability and training - to make a more connected community through outreach to areas that have unreliable access to the internet and need support to access critical services including vaccine registration, Federal benefits for internet service, and more. Communities can connect to public wifi, access to services at partner events including job fairs and readiness, laptops to use, among others. Popups can also provide staff that can help communities understand and register for federal benefits like the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. To learn more about (Em)powerment Popups, where our next events will take place, and how to bring a popup to your community, please contact Sofia at sofia@dallasinnovationalliance.com or call/text us at 817-714-5302.

DIGITAL SKILLS TRAINING COHORTS

In collaboration with the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, CARDboard Project, CitySquare and Power-u-Up!, a digital skill training cohort program has been established to provide individuals with the essential skills to leverage technology for professional and personal advancement. Participants learn the basics of Microsoft Office as well as create their own resumés and online job searching profiles. The program is a collaborative effort to ensure participants are supported throughout the course and after and in response to high demand, cohorts are being offered in both Spanish and English blocks. For more information, and to enroll, please visit: https://unitedwaydallas.org/skills-training/.

Dallas device challenge

Dallas Innovation Alliance and the CARDboard Project have partnered with Comp-U-Dopt to create an easy way to support bridging the digital divide. We are asking Dallas employers and residents to consider donating their used or new laptops to our organizations. Devices will be securely wiped using DoD protocols, reconditioned and then redistributed to families who need them to access opportunity. As the holidays approach we ask that you consider donating gently used laptops or computers to our cause! More information and FAQ's can be found here Any devices which are not usable will be responsibly recycled. Once devices are refurbished they will be redeployed in partnership with community agencies working with families in need across the city of Dallas. If you'd like to pledge devices right now just click here! If you’d like to sign-up for the computer lottery, please visit here.

Internet for All coalition

Internet for All is a collaborative effort of 40+ leaders across the Dallas area, including those from our local school districts, Dallas College, the City of Dallas, the City of Grand Prairie, Region 10, faith-based organizations, Dallas County, and local funders and organizations. Co-led by Jack Kelanic, Dallas Independent School District’s chief technology officer, and Dottie Smith, president of The Commit Partnership, this group of volunteers has joined forces to solve the internet connectivity challenge. For more, visit: www.internetfordallas.org

SOUTH DALLAS EMPLOYMENT PROJECT (SDEP)

The South Dallas Employment Project is a collaboration of 100+ non-profit and for profit organizations, including the City of Dallas, committed to providing opportunity populations with job and life skills, education programming, mental health counseling and addiction treatment that will help individuals overcome some of the challenges they face upon re-entering their communities.

Access and use of internet and related technologies impacts both individuals and our community. A digitally inclusive community is important to economic and workforce development, civic engagement, education, healthcare, public safety and an overall quality of life. SDEP Digital Inclusion Partners are focused on providing digital access as well as digital literacy training in an area void of WiFi connectivity, and are offering guidance and support to establish a Strategic Plan. The Dallas Innovation Alliance serves as the Chair of the Digital Access Committee of the SDEP.