Compudopt's Fabulous Summer of Impact!
As the seasons change and our journey to bridge the digital divide continues, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible strides we've made over the past several months. From transformative milestones, to heartwarming success stories, we are thrilled to share with you Compudopt’s recent accomplishments.
Thank you for your unwavering support and for being a vital part of our success. Together, we're rewriting the stories of countless lives, and we can't wait to have you by our side as we embrace the seasons to come.
ATLANTA:
Operational Milestones:
- We launched Compudopt Connected in another apartment complex, wiring 458 units at The Commons in Atlanta. We now have 4,907 total active and connected families in Atlanta, but we’re not stopping there! Our work with Althea continues to grow, and we’re assessing three potential properties for future builds. Our dedication to fostering tech access is evident in our ongoing distribution plans. We’ve distributed 2,359 computers this year and have partners lined up until the Fall of 2024.
Empowering Education:
- Fall 2023 is set to witness a remarkable feat with 16 confirmed programs that will contribute substantially to achieving our tech education objectives for the year. The forthcoming semester promises a vibrant learning journey for our youth!
Community Engagement Beyond Borders:
- The Atlanta Compudopt team received an esteemed invitation to participate in the Ebenezer Back to School Block Party. This historic event, hosted by the renowned Ebenezer Baptist Church, holds deep ties to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his father's powerful messages.
- Our involvement extends to promoting and enrolling participants in low-cost
and free internet solutions, including the Federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
Towards an Empowering Future:
- As we journey ahead, we're actively engaged in interviews to secure a new site lead for our Atlanta office. This strategic move reflects our unwavering commitment to a dynamic and dedicated team.
CHICAGO:
Empowering Digital Access:
- In July, the City of Chicago’s Digital Equity Coalition launched a computer donation drive. Compudopt was thrilled to be named a beneficiary, with several individuals pledging their support and promising leads emerging from several new companies.
- We concluded the summer in Chicago with over 10 computer distribution events, during which we handed out more than 800 devices.
Elevating Educational Initiatives:
- Progress marches steadfastly as we propel towards our program goals for the upcoming Fall semester. Our partnerships with enthusiastic hosts stand ready, awaiting the signal to launch engaging programs.
- We hosted 10 programs this summer in Chicago, impacting over 190 students.
- Currently on track to exceed all program goals by the end of our Fall semester.
Milestones in Development:
- We welcomed the support of several returning and new donors.
DALLAS:
On August 9th and 10th we celebrated with our partners and community members our milestone of serving 5,000 Dallas residents with free connectivity support services! Here’s a recap in case we missed you!
From games and ice cream to 66 families receiving computers, we loved getting to welcome community members to this celebration which took place at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center.
Representatives from Senator Cornyn’s office attended, and we received a letter of appreciation from Congressman Marc Veasey which was read aloud during the program. We heard the compelling story from a family who has received our service and recognized the 1,000th household to get internet! Another key part of this celebration was to recognize and thank Santander Consumer USA Foundation. Their initial $7M investment to support our work in Dallas is what has made it possible for us to do this work. In fact, thanks to their gift, across all our programs we’ve impacted more than 50,000 community members.
On the 10th we had a few more fireworks to celebrate at a noon zoom for our friends and partners who couldn’t attend in person the day before. The presentation highlighted impressive figures – positive shifts in households impacted, expanded computer access, and enriched educational opportunities for students. Don Smith, Santander's Chief Technology Officer, underscored the ongoing importance of digital inclusion. We also heard from Marycruz De Leon from the Dallas Federal Reserve also joined the gathering, shedding light on broader community efforts and sharing a link to a Digital Inclusion Research Forum that will be hosted on October 12th and 13th.
A sincere thank you goes out to everyone who contributed to this achievement. We remain committed to a digitally inclusive future and welcome future collaborative partnerships. Compudopt Dallas and our partners are united in our goal: to make digital inclusion the norm. For more information or to provide support, please visit: https://www.compudopt.org/dallas.
HOUSTON:
Computers Distributed:
- As summer came to a close, we successfully distributed more than 1,700 computers, enabling us to surpass our annual goal of distributing 5,700 devices.
Engaging the Community:
- Our commitment to community engagement shines through as we participated in noteworthy events like the Family Resource and Back to School Expo at DeKaney High School. These events enable us to connect with potential partners and expand our outreach.
Vibrant Volunteer Engagement:
- We fostered a culture of volunteerism by hosting engaging events that brought together partners like the Society of Hispanic Engineers, TC Energy, and the Houston Advisory Board. A total of 48 dedicated volunteers generously contributed 204 hours in July alone.
Successful Summer Programs:
- Summer 2023 marked a successful period as we completed a total of 21 programs, catering to the educational needs of 273 students.
Exciting Fall 2023 Plans:
- Anticipating an exciting fall season, we are already in discussions with 21 potential sites. Our ambition is to serve 27 diverse cohorts, ranging from Tiny Techs to Digital Skills programs.
Tech Lab’s Remarkable Endeavors:
- Our Tech Lab team has been hard at work, refurbishing over 600 donated devices with the invaluable assistance of volunteers. A remarkable 550 machines were expertly refurbished in the month of July alone.
Triumphant Back-to-School Bash:
- The Back-to-School Bash held on August 5 th was a resounding success. Partnering with HP, Compudopt proudly distributed 600 laptops and backpacks filled with essential school supplies to the local community, making a meaningful impact.
MESA:
Leadership Transition:
- This summer, we welcomed Donna Beedle as the new Mesa site director. Her swift acclimation to her role is promising and she’s quickly getting up to speed.
Enhancing Program Management:
- To strengthen our presence and relationships in Mesa, we’ve brought in a dedicated program director. Additionally, the recruitment process is ongoing for an Ops position, and we’re actively sourcing potential candidates for community engagement.
Expansion Plans:
- Upon securing the additional staff members, we’re gearing up to engage in Digital Life Clinic events. These events will significantly contribute to increasing our ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program) outreach figures and further expand our computer registration list.
Physical Location Consideration:
- We’re in the process of identifying a suitable physical location within Mesa. This strategic move is aimed at enhancing our flexibility and granting easier access to our equipment, ultimately streamlining our operations.
NATIONAL:
National Impact:
- A remarkable feat this summer is our significant impact on over 9,450+ individuals nationwide.
Educational Programs:
- Throughout the summer, we successfully conducted 23 educational programs, creating a positive influence on the lives of 178 students.
Diverse Regional Reach:
- Our commitment extends across various regions as we brought our Tech education programs to Galveston, St. Louis, Seattle, Dayton, and Evansville this summer.
Widespread Computer Distribution:
- Our efforts in computer distribution have been substantial this summer, with 717+ computers reaching individuals across the nation.
- Notable areas benefiting from our distributions include Cleveland, OH, Evansville, IN, Lexington, KY, Henryetta, OK, St. Louis, MO, Washington state, New Orleans, and Miami.
Together, we're charting a transformative path across the nation, one that bridges digital divides, empowers technology education, and paves the way for a brighter future. Thank you for your steadfast support, which is instrumental in driving these endeavors forward.
