The Western New York Digital Equity Coalition works collaboratively with community members and organizations to achieve lasting digital equity for all Western New Yorkers. We advocate for the access, literacy, support, and resources necessary to thrive in today’s digital ecosystem.
We envision a world where quality of life is enhanced through equitable access to technology.
When Western New York’s philanthropic community, united under the banner of the WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund, turned its attention from immediate responses to COVID-19 to longer-term pandemic recovery, it saw the opportunity to address issues that perpetuated inequity across the region. This gave rise to the Moving Forward Together initiative, which seeks to create system- and community-wide change by funding community innovations through responsive grants and community collaborations.
The WNY Digital Equity Coalition is one such community collaboration. Comprising representatives from community-based organizations, business, government, school districts, higher education, philanthropy, and unaffiliated community members, the coalition seeks to promote digital inclusion and digital equity for all Western New Yorkers. The Coalition was first convened in September 2020, and currently meets monthly as a full coalition, with committees meeting in between.
In December 2021, the WNY Digital Equity Coalition was awarded a six-month coalition planning grant from the Schmidt Futures New York State Digital Inclusion Fund. This grant allowed us to begin bringing community voice into the Coalition’s work through paid stipends for community members. A second Moving Forward Together grant in June 2022 allows us to continue this work, and is positioning us to do substantial digital equity advocacy work.
We take our lead on definitions from the National Digital Inclusion Alliance:
“Digital Inclusion refers to the activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most disadvantaged, have access to and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This includes 5 elements: 1) affordable, robust broadband internet service; 2) internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; 3) access to digital literacy training; 4) quality technical support; and 5) applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation and collaboration. Digital Inclusion must evolve as technology advances. Digital Inclusion requires intentional strategies and investments to reduce and eliminate historical, institutional and structural barriers to access and use technology.”
Again, from NDIA:
“Digital Equity is a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy. Digital Equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.”
Interested in supporting our work? Here’s how you can help!
The Western New York Digital Equity Coalition, comprising members from more than 50 non-profit agencies, businesses, philanthropic organizations, higher education institutions, school districts, local governments, and libraries across Western New York, is looking for some Read more…
The WNY Digital Equity Coalition is pleased to announce its 2021 regranting program. Grants of up to $5,000 for individual individual organizations and up to $12,500 for collaborating organizations are available for projects designed to Read more…
The Coalition sent a letter to elected officials representing Western New York in early July, 2021 asking them to use a participatory budgeting process to determine how federal and state broadband funding will be used. Read more…