Project Report
| Nov 11, 2021
The Next Stage ... A Hardware Lending Platform
By Joseph Ceasar | Executive Director
To all of our generous donors,
The last two years have been challenging for all of us. As we ended 2020, we all thought that the worst was over with the COVID-19 pandemic, but we were very wrong with that assumption. The Delta variant of 2021 has reminded us of how sensitive the topic is and how maintaining caution in how we operate is essential.
We are proud to announce the next phase of our Technology Access Program. We were able to give away computer hardware valued in excess of $30,000. We have provided access to digital literacy training to over 50 members of our community and low-cost internet to nearly 15 more. We know that our project is accomplishing its goals. The next phase is how to bring sustainability to our efforts. We have been in communication with several organizations within our community and there is a growing number of people who only need to borrow a computer for a short period of time. With this new reality, we are launching a hardware leasing program. We will have 15-20 machines available for leases as short as one month.
With this additional program, we are excited to add value to our community without being financially imposing. We're excited to share this information with you and look forward to informing you on how it's coming along.
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Jul 7, 2021
LIFE Tech Now Has Digital Navigators!
By Joseph Ceasar | Executive Director
![LIFE Tech Team and Volunteers]()
LIFE Tech Team and Volunteers
Our IT training program (LIFE Tech) has taken the road less traveled as we continue to create a positive impact in our community. We were recently approved as a Digital Navigator through a program offered by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) within their Rural department. This has provided us with better processes and great networking opportunities with other organizations that are doing their best to solve the same problem throughout other areas in our country.
We have given away more than 10 computers through this program already and provided two households with free WiFi for a year. We have directed several to free WiFi throughout our city and have made new partnerships that will impact how we operate for some time. We have also improved our efficiency by multiples as we have purchased a server that will allow us to install Windows operating systems within a Pxe boot environment. We can now install on up to five machines simultaneously which dramatically improves our efficiency. Through our LISC partnership, we now offer assessments through NorthStar to gauge how digitally literate our clients are and enroll them in free courses to strengthen their knowledge in their areas of weakness.
We have also enrolled two interns who are recent high school graduates to help with our summer camp and to participate in a Microsoft Hack-for-Good Hackathon project. We will share more information on these two in our next report, but we're very happy to have them on board.
Finally, thank all of you for your generous contributions to this project. We are grateful for your belief in us and our ability to make an impact in our rural community!
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Mar 4, 2021
We Are Now Digital Navigators!
By Joseph Ceasar | CEO
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2021 has begun with a bang as we have added a major component to our IT offering. Our organization had a pre-existing relationship with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Through their Rural LISC department, they have created a Digital Navigator program that aims to assess client access to technology and baseline digital skills and advise on free or affordable home internet service options and sources of affordable computers or other internet-connected devices, helping clients more fully participate in their communities. This partnership allows us to build a targeted approach to closing the digital divide in the places most needed.
We are excited about this new offering! We now have the resources to impact a much broader client base in a much more meaningful way. Your continued support is greatly appreciated!
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