The campaign — led by human- I-T, a nonprofit with locations in California and Detroit, as well as city partners — aims to collect used laptops, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers, hard drives, keyboards, scanners and other equipment and distribute devices to families by October of this year.
The move will keep the devices out of landfills, reduce waste and create jobs for Detroiters who will help prepare the devices for distribution, city officials and nonprofit leaders announced Wednesday during a news conference.
"The digital divide threatens to make inequality far greater," Mayor Mike Duggan said. "Those who are connected to the internet have better opportunities in school, have better opportunities for jobs, better opportunities for housing. Really everything in your life is now driven by those devices."
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Local companies can donate used technology instead of tossing those devices out, said James Jack, co-founder and chief innovation officer of human- I-T. The nonprofit will check devices for functionality and clear data before updating and redistributing them. Technology that can't be used will be recycled.
"We're just looking for businesses to pledge that when they have technology to get rid of, they're going to call us and work with us," Jack said.
To learn how to donate, go to detroitmi.gov/digitaldonations.
The campaign will require more hands on deck, so human- I-T is looking to hire Detroiters to do the job. People can apply at human-i-t.org under "Join The Team."
"The digital divide is a pandemic in itself, and it existed long before the pandemic," Joshua Edmonds, Detroit's director of digital inclusion, said.
Focus: HOPE CEO Portia Roberson said the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the digital divide and its crucial to bridge the gap.
"So many of our students had to go virtual, in our workforce training program. They could not have done that if we were not able to provide some of the devices they needed, and some of the internet services that they needed," she said.
Thirteen individuals on Wednesday received free computers refurbished by human- I-T.
Devin Waugh, 18, a rising senior at Southeastern High School, said having a computer can help him in school, prepare to enter the workforce, and as an athlete, look up training camps and colleges. Waugh plans to apply to the University of Michigan or Kansas State University, and aspires to become an aerospace engineer.
Sisters Andria and Andrea Garwood — set to graduate from Mumford High School on Wednesday as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, — said having a laptop helps with getting a college degree and staying connected.
Human I-T plans to work with community organizations and other nonprofits to identify families in need of refurbished devices, Jack said.
"When we work with a community-based organization that's focused on seniors, we're going to make sure that that technology is relevant to seniors, versus if we work with a community-based organization that's maybe helping kids code, those devices may need to be a little bit more powerful," he said.
The campaign distributes computers to families in need and one year of technical support. It does not offer internet access.
Detroiters who need technology help can call the city of Detroit's broadband benefit hotline at 313-241-7618, where they can also learn about a $50 subsidy to reduce internet costs through a federal program.
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