Digital Inclusion Matters
“Digital inclusion” describes much of what Springwire does through our programs and projects. We just happen to call it “reducing the isolation of poverty and homelessness by offering communication tools.” So when TechSoup featured Digital Inclusion in a recent by the cup newsletter, I perked right up.
Digital inclusion matters to me because I care about equity, and it bugs me that there are people who are left behind because they can’t access information about basics like housing, food, and health care. Plus, it makes sense to the trainer in me to set people up for continued success by teaching them how to connect. Increasingly, access to technology and training on how to use it is a key to being active in society and to feeling connected.
The folks at TechSoup pointed to a couple of resources that are worth checking out if you’d like to stoke the fire of your commitment to the social justice values imbedded in digital inclusion:
Article – “Without digital connectivity in the 21st century, people will earn less, pay more for the things they buy, live life with fewer personal connections, and they will not be exposed to virtual worlds of vast knowledge, art, and even frivolity.”, Ron Carlee, Chief Operating Officer at International City/County Management Association, article on the societal impacts of digital exclusion.
Article – Learn more about organizations that are helping create digitally inclusive communities, and look at are you doing digital inclusion work?
At Springwire we’re committed to making a difference. If you have other digital inclusion resources to recommend or examples to share, please comment below. Thanks!
Peg Giffels
Deputy Director
