Title
Recognizing October 7th to October 11th, 2024 as Digital Inclusion Week in the City of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, Digital inclusion refers to the activities necessary to ensure that all communities and individuals, including the most disadvantaged, have access to and use of information and communication technologies; and
WHEREAS, These activities can include technical support, access to digital literacy training, affordable robust broadband internet service, providing internet enabled devices that meet the needs of the user, and applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration; and
WHEREAS, Digital Inclusion Week is a week-long event that occurs every year during the first week of October to raise awareness about digital inclusion and digital equity. This event seeks to address the ongoing challenges that many individuals face when attempting to access digital resources and tools due to inadequate digital literacy, lack of digital devices, and limited access to internet; and
WHEREAS, The National Digital Inclusion Alliance created Digital Inclusion Week to highlight the importance of digital equity, increasing digital equity solutions, digital literacy, and celebrating the outstanding efforts by communities to promote digital inclusion. The primary focus is to support on the ground digital inclusion practitioners and advocates, educate policymakers, the media, and potential partners about the need for digital equity and the work of local digital inclusion programs, advocate for local, state, and federal policies to promote digital equity and support local digital inclusion strategies; and
WHEREAS, Digital inclusion requires an increase in investments and intentional strategies to assist in decreasing the institutional, historical, and structural barriers to use and access technology. The impact of digital inclusion has grown into a complex issue due to limited funding, digital skills, and inadequate access to digital devices; and
WHEREAS, The results of digital inclusion is digital equity, a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy. Digital equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia is home to a wide variety of organizations working on digital literacy, digital inclusion, and towards digital equity, including but not limited to Beyond Literacy, CEIBA, Coded By, Comcast, CCP, Drexel University, Esperanza, Generations Online, JEVS Humans Services, Movement Alliance Project, Philadelphia Works Philly CAM, Philly Community Wireless, SEAMAAC, Temple University, the Technology Learning Collaborative, T-Mobile, The United Way, and Verizon, who empower, serve, impact, teach, and inspire families, helping them navigate digital literacy, creating opportunities for the next generation of innovators, and providing equitable access to digital tools and resources to help bridge the digital divide; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes October 7th to October 11th, 2024 as Digital Inclusion Week in the City of Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an engrossed copy of this resolution will be presented to Beyond Literacy as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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