Aspen Digital

Communities who have historically experienced marginalization continue to be denied the representation, opportunities, and resources necessary to grow and thrive in the digital economy. In the wake of COVID-19, this problem has become even more critical.

Yet, there are dedicated organizations that are accelerating digital equity for their communities. Access to technology tools, and the skills to use them, can provide educational, employment, and social opportunities that can change people’s lives.

Over the past four months, Aspen Digital has been training 7 groundbreaking nonprofits – from the US, Morocco, and India – through our Digital Equity Accelerator, a collaboration with HP. In its inaugural year, this initiative helps to scale efforts to close the tech gap for marginalized and underserved populations, including women and girls; ethnic, racial, and religious minority communities; aging populations; people with disabilities; and the teachers working with these groups.

“Join us October 7 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 4:00 p.m. Western European Summer Time, and 8:30 p.m. Indian Standard Time for ‘Accelerating Impact: An International Digital Equity Showcase.” Graphic includes logos for Aspen Digital and HP as well as the website domain AspenDigitalEquity.org. It also includes a series of three photographs depicting people using technology. On the left, a person in a wheelchair uses a smart phone. At the center, a child uses their computer for virtual learning. On the right, two people, one wearing a head covering, look at a computer tablet together.

The culmination of this process will take place during a virtual showcase this Friday, October 7, at 11am EDT / 4pm WEST / 8:30pm IST. After months of hard work, the Accelerator’s inaugural cohort will present their approaches for scaling digital equity solutions. I can’t wait for the world to see what they’ve been up to.

We’ll also hear from high-level leaders dedicated to this cause, including Skoll Foundation President Marla Blow and Walmart Director of Global Culture Victor Calise.

As the clock counts down toward this major milestone, I’m excited to share more information on the incredible work this year’s cohort is doing. Read on, and get ready to be inspired!

Get to Know the 2022 Cohort of the Digital Equity Accelerator

Digital Empowerment Foundation

This nonprofit works across 24 states and 135 districts in India. For the last 20 years, DEF has been supporting rural women, youth, and entrepreneurs through access and infrastructure, media literacy, online security, and more.

Douar Tech

Douar Tech serves women in Morocco ages 18-35 from rural and urban-adjacent communities. They offer training in skills that are essential to thrive in a digital world, helping to foster youth and women’s empowerment.

e4 Youth

These folks support young people who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color across Central Texas in the United States. For 15 years, they have sought to increase opportunities for their communities.

eSTEM Morocco

Operating in 12 regions of Morocco for almost 10 years, eSTEM Morocco encourages women as well as girls ages 8-18 to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Fourth Wave Foundation

This nonprofit has been harnessing the power of technology for the last 16 years to help children with disabilities across 33 districts of Karnataka, India, thrive in their education journey.

Mobile Pathways

Mobile Pathways provides immigrants to the United States who have pending legal cases with access to critical services through digital technology.

Oasis Institute

This group has helped to empower older adult learners for the last 40 years, offering technology access and education in cities across the United States

The Digital Equity Accelerator supercharges nonprofits closing the digital divide. A collaboration with HP Inc., this Aspen Digital initiative helps to scale efforts to advance digital equity for marginalized and underserved populations, including women and girls; ethnic, racial, and religious minority communities; aging populations; people with disabilities; and the teachers working with these groups.

Aspen Digital empowers policy-makers, civic organizations, companies, and the public to be responsible stewards of technology and media in the service of an informed, just, and equitable world. This Aspen Institute program shines a light on urgent global issues across cybersecurity, the information ecosystem, emerging technology, the industry talent pipeline, tech and communications policy, and innovation. It then turns ideas to action and develops human solutions to these digital challenges.