Shared Futures: The A.I. Forum

How is AI reshaping the way we live, create, connect, and evolve?

On June 13, Shared Futures: The AI Forum will bring together the cultural architects of our time to explore.

Aspen Digital

A Showcase of Dedicated Nonprofits

Organizations that #AccelerateDigitalEquity

Two people, one wearing a head covering, look at a computer tablet together.
October 4, 2022

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.

A graphic advertising Accelerating Impact: An International Digital Equity Showcase.

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

A graphic quote reading: "DEF provides women from rural communities with critical digital literacy skills, tools to fight back against disinformation and online harassment, and the support needed to help many more families do the same."

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.

A graphic quote reading "We train, support and connect youth from disadvantaged communities to achieve socio-economic independence, with entrepreneurship and essential and digital skills in a way that fosters inclusion, digital equity and community development."

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.

A graphic quote reading "We engage young people who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, empower them with digital tools to tell their community's stories on their terms, and level the playing field when it comes to economic opportunities in the digital world."

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.

A graphic quote reading "Our organization provides women and girls with tools to pursue careers in science and technology, reaching more than 950 people and catalyzing the development of over 70 mobile applications by Moroccan girls."

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.

A graphic quote reading "We empower children with disabilities and special needs to find their own spaces within the education system through the use of innovative technologies."

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.

A graphic quote reading "Our organization leverages an innovative and evolving mobile platform to uplift immigrants seeking critical legal assistance and other forms of aid on their path to equity."

Mobile Pathways

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

A graphic quote reading "Oasis is expanding a new virtual platform to educate and assist aging adults as they take charge of their health and give back to their communities."

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.

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