a year of powerful change.
2020 Impact Report
digital inclusion
Future-oriented workforce and wealth-building starts with access to and knowledge of digital skills and opportunities that require access to the latest technology and instruction. Our Digital Inclusion work is agile, responsive, and designed to bring the latest opportunities to the entire Pittsburgh region.
a year of powerful change.
2020 Impact Report
digital inclusion
Future-oriented workforce and wealth-building starts with access to and knowledge of digital skills and opportunities that require access to the latest technology and instruction. Our Digital Inclusion work is agile, responsive, and designed to bring the latest opportunities to the entire Pittsburgh region.
In early 2020, we launched a partnership with Verizon to construct multiple digital inclusion sites across the city. When COVID hit, those plans were put on hold and we launched Beyond the Laptops, a response to supply over one thousand devices across Pittsburgh. That was followed by the sponsorship of 1000 internet accounts through Pittsburgh Public Schools. We helped to coordinate several assistance pipelines for internet registration, including registering people on-site at school distributions, and through support organizations such as the Pittsburgh Learning Collaborative and United Way 211. We also activated the Financial Empowerment Center counselors to discuss budgeting for digital access with their clients, so that they could help people activate their vouchers from PPS or sign up for their own accounts.
What the Digital Inclusion Program provides:
Access to Computers and Internet via our Beyond The Laptops and LevelUp412 initiatives, which help individuals and families connect to remote work, education, and daily essentials like online banking, shopping, and telehealth.
Digital Skills Training for All Ages through LevelUp412, an equitable-access initiative that offers free courses on topics from digital literacy and STEM encounters to workforce and certificate-track coursework in Mechatronics, Cybersecurity, Programming, IT and more.
Mentorship, Tools, and other Resources for anyone looking to pursue fulfilling career opportunities in the growing tech industry.
Case Example: LevelUp412
In October, we launched LevelUp412.org in partnership with Verizon to provide equitable, tech-centered educational opportunities to all those interested in tech industry careers, ensuring full access to the mentorship, tools, and resources through partnerships with CCAC, Homewood Children’s Village, UPitt CEC and Hill CDC, Beta Builders, and Womxn in Tech Pittsburgh. This involved working with partners to develop, advertise, and recruit for our partners’ program offerings in computer basics, coding and software development, cybersecurity, and more. Preparing to offer this robust digital skills-building curriculum was a huge, but worthwhile, undertaking. Through the end of 2020, we registered 158 participants, 98% of which identified as Black and 95% of which were from low-income households, across 19 courses from 6 different providers.
Neighborhood Allies
429 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1900
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412.471.3727
www.neighborhoodallies.org info@neighborhoodallies.org