We are pleased to announce that the Greater Pittsburgh Digital Inclusion Alliance (GPDIA) and Neighborhood Allies have formally partnered to convene a network of local and regional leaders around collective digital inclusion and equity efforts.
“We recognize that the digital divide will take a collective effort, so we are proud to formally partner with GPDIA. Our collective belief and ultimate goals we strive for with this partnership are that computer ownership, safe and low cost internet, and computer literacy skills become an accessible right to everyone, instead of an unattainable privilege to a few.”
-Itha Cao, Director of Digital Inclusion & Innovation, Neighborhood Allies
Neighborhood Allies is a community and economic development nonprofit, with the mission of engaging residents and organizations with tools that expand opportunity for transformative community change. Neighborhood Allies is committed to furthering opportunities for Allegheny County residents in five key intersectional areas: digital inclusion, racial equity, neighborhood development, economic opportunity, and community-supported Black mental health. Founded in 2021 as a regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic and modeled after the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), the mission of the GPDIA is to foster collaboration amongst Pittsburgh regional leaders in digital inclusion work.
In an effort to speak with a representative community voice around digital inclusion, GPDIA seeks to:
- Support digital equity and inclusion providers through professional development, networking and information-sharing;
- Strengthen the impact of digital inclusion programs by coordinating and encouraging service partnerships with anchor institutions in the region;
- Raise awareness about digital inequities and the impact of those inequities on our communities;
- Build political and public support for greater investment in digital equity.
In 2023 and beyond, we will work collectively to increase awareness of established programs like the federal Affordable Connectivity Program; educate stakeholders on digital equity and inclusion initiatives across the region; increase awareness of the availability of low cost or free devices and internet; strengthen connections between agencies providing services; and continue to recruit organizations to join the GPDIA network. In the future, we aim to address workforce development issues related to digital skills and job readiness.
GPDIA has an established Steering Committee with members from 24 organizations, representing diverse focus areas including workforce development, digital technology services, community development, youth education, aging and disability issues, veteran services, and immigrant inclusion. We are currently recruiting individuals and organizations to participate in our Connectivity, Devices, and Skills workgroups.
GPDIA is hosting a Virtual Open House on Monday, February 13 at 1pm via Zoom; if you are interested in learning more about our efforts, please register here and a link will be emailed to you. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Blatz, Program Director for GPDIA, at gpdia2022@gmail.com.
If you are interested in receiving regular communication about Neighborhood Allies’ and GDPIA’s digital inclusion and equity work, please consider joining our mailing list. You can subscribe below. Please be sure to select “Digital Inclusion Initiatives” as an area of interest!
