The Long Beach-based nonprofit will organize community events to provide digital resources – including digital literacy training – to residents in Colorado and Georgia
Long Beach, CA – Human-I-T, a leading provider of digital inclusion services and a national advocate for digital equity, and Visa, the global payments technology company, have announced a national partnership to provide 2,000 beneficiaries with access to digital resources and support over the next twelve months. Working in collaboration with community-based organizations in Pueblo, Colorado, and Atlanta, Georgia, Human-I-T will supply underserved individuals with a laptop computer, foundational digital skills training, and free remote tech support for one year. Recipients will also receive complimentary enrollment in Visa’s financial literacy program. The partnership will kick off this month with a community event focused on digitally supporting small businesses, students, and low-income families.
Nationally, the Federal Communications Commission (“The FCC”) estimates that more than 21 million people in the United States don’t have access to the internet. And while the problem impacts people of all ages and backgrounds, it’s particularly concentrated among low-income families and seniors. According to the Pew Research Center, 44% of adults in households with incomes below $30,000 don’t have broadband internet, which creates barriers to participation in daily life. A home without internet can be locked out of services like online education, job applications, telehealth, digital banking, and social media. In addition, one in three seniors remained unconnected, despite near-universal adoption among other age groups.
“A computer and internet access are no longer just a luxury, which is why it’s so important for us to guarantee every American has access to a computer, home internet, digital literacy, and tech support,” said AJ Middleton, Senior Vice President of Programs at Human-I-T. “We’re proud to partner with Visa to launch the Digital Empowerment Program, which will support 2,000 recipients with a laptop computer and important skills training to get online and stay online.”
Founded in 2012, Human-I-T is a nonprofit social enterprise that creates equitable access to opportunity by providing affordable devices, low-cost monthly internet access, digital skills training, and free tech support for communities left on the wrong side of the digital divide. Nearly 300,000 individuals and families have benefitted from the organization’s various programs and partnerships.
“At Visa, we have been long-committed to increasing access to digital services and financial education resources for businesses, individuals, and communities across the United States,” said Sandya Magge, Vice President, North America Inclusive Impact & Sustainability at Visa. “With millions of Americans without access to high-speed internet in their homes, we’re proud to partner with Human-I-T to provide access to technology and digital financial literacy because these programs have the potential to truly transform lives and help support the recovery and success of small businesses.”
