Funding for Detroit Housing Commission, Human-I-T and St. Patrick Senior Center to Support the Work of Local Digital Experts, Digital Navigators
Comcast today announced it has awarded grants totaling $225,000 to three Detroit community-based organizations — Detroit Housing Commission, Human-I-T and St. Patrick Senior Center — as part of Project UP, the company’s comprehensive, one-billion-dollar initiative to advance digital equity. The grants will support the launch and scale of Digital Navigator programs to assist individuals and families with accessing the Internet and digital skills programs.
The announcement follows the launch of a nationwide study by the Boston Consulting Group, which found that Digital Navigators are critical to closing the digital divide and reducing socioeconomic inequalities by helping more people get online. Digital Navigators are individuals affiliated with trusted community organizations who are trained to help people access the Internet, use devices, and build digital skills.
The study surveyed 1,500 individuals across the country who received support from a Digital Navigator. With the support of these digital case workers:
- More than 65 percent of survey respondents said they obtained Internet access or a computer or tablet at home; among Hispanic and Black Americans, this increased to 72 percent.
- More than 85 percent of all respondents said they used the Internet more frequently.
- Almost half surveyed obtained better healthcare, and 40 percent received support with basic needs like food, rent, and housing.
- 1 in 3 found a new job or earned a higher income.
“Community organizations are the backbone of every city, and by empowering them with the resources they need to broaden their scope of work in digital equity, the possibilities are endless,” said Broderick Johnson, Executive Vice President, Public Policy and Executive Vice President, Digital Equity, at Comcast. “For over a decade, Comcast has invested in communities to bridge the digital divide, and we are excited for this new chapter of impact with Digital Navigators in Detroit. With both their expertise and local ties, they hold the key to making real transformative change happen for families across the city.”
These efforts are part of Comcast’s ongoing work to advance digital equity and help provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools and funding. Through Project UP, Comcast has committed $1 billion over the next 10 years to programs and partnerships that will reach tens of millions of people with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.