CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Center for Digital Equity (CDE) at Queens University of Charlotte will celebrate Digital Inclusion Week October 2-6 with a themed week-long campaign to highlight the work CDE has done with several civic, community and corporate partners to reach the goal of making Mecklenburg County the most digitally equitable community in America.
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance created Digital Inclusion Week as an annual awareness, recognition, and celebration week to promote digital equity in communities nationwide. The 2023 theme, “Building Connected Communities,” is an effort to prompt action for the digital inclusion movement, which the CDE has been doing since its inception. CDE has embraced a collective impact model for its work to be more effective and efficient – building a digitally connected community in Mecklenburg County is only possible with a collective impact.
“Advancing digital equity isn’t a solo act,” says Bruce Clark, Executive Director at The Center for Digital Equity. “It’s like a big team effort where each of us plays a part, and when we work together, we make a strong impact. It’s about making sure nobody gets left behind in this digital journey so we all have a fair shot at a better future. Digital Inclusion Week celebrates this collective effort and invites new partners into the process.”
As part of the Digital Inclusion Week celebration, CDE will participate in activities throughout the week at partner events to provide digital resources available to residents in the Greater Charlotte Metropolitan area and promote the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) via the Digital Navigator program:
- October 3 – Digital Accessibility Day: Spotlighting a ‘Read and Write’ program that supports people with disabilities access to tech resources. There will be a panel discussion exploring the topic of digital accessibility with representatives from Metrolina. This is a CPCC-hosted event.
- October 4 – Device & Access Day: Digital Navigators will be on hand to spread awareness about the Affordability Connectivity Program from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. A panel discussion focusing on access is planned with representatives from CDE and EducationSuperhighway. This is a CPCC-hosted event.
- October 6 – Telehealth Day: This event will be in partnership with Atrium to promote services available for telehealth programs, i.e., getting connected to a doctor virtually. This is a CPCC-hosted event.
Additionally, as a way to engage the online community, the CDE’s social media campaign will promote digital equity and inclusion all week long by highlighting partner stories related to the following areas of impact:
- Device and Connectivity
- Digital Literacy and Skilling
- Policy, Advocacy, and Ecosystem
The stories will be available on CDE’s social channels and website. A full schedule with times, locations, and details can be found on CDE’s website, thecenterfordigitalequity.org. Those interested in CDE’s current work are invited to review their first-ever annual collective impact report, also on thecenterfordigitalequity.org.
For additional information about the Center for Digital Equity and upcoming National Digital Inclusion Week plans, follow the CDE on LinkedIn, X (Formerly Twitter), Threads, and Instagram. For media inquiries or interview requests, contact Jameka Whitten at 704.965.3297 or jameka@jswmediagroup.com.
About The Center for Digital Equity (CDE)
The Center for Digital Equity at Queens University of Charlotte is the backbone organization for a collective impact strategy bringing together residents, public and private sector partners to co-create solutions allowing every resident to thrive in our modern culture. It recognizes that digital equity is necessary for a thriving society, democracy, and economy. Through awareness, partnerships, and action, it aims to empower organizations to deliver digital inclusion resources to the communities they serve. Ultimately, the CDE’s goal is to make Mecklenburg County the most digitally equitable community in America.
Header Photo Credit: The Stem Alliance
