Raising awareness for efforts to bridge Detroit’s digital divide
Between October 3-7, Detroit will be one of 56 communities taking part in Digital Inclusion Week.
Internet and computer access is crucial, no more than ever, as more of our lives transition to online spaces. Despite this, 30% of Detroiters do not have online access at home.
Digital Inclusion Week seeks to raise awareness of solutions that deal with home internet access, personal devices, local technology training and support programs.
“This isn’t [a problem] that we can solve one time…we need to develop a responsive strategy.” — Joshua Edmonds, Director of Digital Inclusion
Listen: Why it is important to improve digital access and literacy in the city.
Guest
Joshua Edmonds is the City of Detroit’s inaugural Director of Digital Inclusion and is America’s first municipal Director of Digital Inclusion. He says the solutions promoting digital access must be dynamic due to the nature of the problem.
“A family might (have internet) during tax season, and then by the time back-to-school comes around, they may not have it,” says Edmonds. “This isn’t [a problem] that we can solve one time…we need to develop a responsive strategy.”
Image credit: Jerome Vaughn/WDET
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