Note: Our current location list includes our Mahoning County locations such as Oak Hill Collaborative and OCCHA, as well as our Trumbull County locations such as TCAP, TriYounity and Thrive 10:10 in Girard.
Digital Advantage – What is it?:
The Digital Advantage is our solution to the bridging the Digital Divide. It is a three part problem, the first part being lack of affordable and usable internet, second lack of affordable and usable equipment like laptops, and last lack of knowledge and adequate training to boost that knowledge.
We believe that the best way to combat the Digital Divide is a three pronged plan, the first addressing lack of affordable internet to help lessen cost of monthly internet bills, second working in collaboration with PCs for People and Hardware for Homes ensuring affordable modern internet capable devices are available, and finally by providing classes to the local populace.
Part One | Reduce Cost of Internet
Speak on the committees that matter – and get internet to those who need it most
How do we accomplish this?
- Grass root survey of issues regarding internet plans, computer usage, etc.
- Monitor activity of local available ISPs and report dubious behavior.
- Creating a connected community via collaboration with other communities to take advantage of increased opportunities in an increasingly computerized world.
Part Two | Increase Technology Access
Internet is useless without a way to utilize it!
What are we doing?
- Raising awareness of non-profit organizations focused on refurbishing and redistributing low-cost computers, recycling what can’t be reused.
- Provide publicly accessible Wi-Fi at our facility
- Distribute mobile hot-spots to supplement local coverage
- Build networks and partnerships with state and federal technology firms
Part Three | Educate and Inform
Spread digital skills in a way that educates, informs, increases awareness, and promotes the digital well being of everyone
Objective
The final stretch with the Digital Divide is putting the leg work in to improve the general skill-set of a wide variety of people with numerous backgrounds. Acknowledging the different starting points, we deliver a wide curriculum of classes for free either by ourselves or in collaboration with other organizations.
Pictured: Multimedia Lab
Pictured: 3D Printing Lab
Pictured: CNC and Tooling Area
Classes We Currently Offer
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Explore our Digital Advantage Experience Today!
Primary Collaborators
Mahoning Valley Digital Inclusion Working Group, Mahoning County Board of Commissioners, Eastgate Development COG, Western Reserve Port Authority, St. Patrick’s Parish, ACTION, Youngstown State University, SCORE, Oak Hill Robotics Makerspace, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Premier Bank, Connected Nation, The City of Youngstown, The City of Warren, Trumbull County Commissioners, AT&T, Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority, Trumbull Community Action Program, TriYounity
