Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition (BDEC)

3. Hosted a Coalition Summer Social with Special Guest Councilman Zeke Cohen, and sponsored by Comcast! Big thanks to the Councilman and Comcast. Our Coalition is keeping focused on our collective impact to close the digital divide in Baltimore. Join us!

2. Hosted a Workshop on Building Grant Readiness For Successful Applications with Wells Philanthropy. Thank you, Sheila Wells, for facilitating!

WE HAD A BUSY JUNE! Here’s a recap of what we did last month: 1. Hosted an Information Session with the Baltimore City Office of Broadband & Digital Equity on the 2nd cycle of the Baltimore Digital Equity Fund. Thank you, Taylor Carter-Disanto, for presenting!

Ursula Understands the Importance of the BDEC Survey! Please take 7-10 minutes to complete our Digital Equity Survey, linked below and let your voice be heard. docs.google.com/forms/d/1iJZ4P…

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK! Working in the digital space we are no stranger to innovating and evolving. We ask that you please complete the linked survey to help us learn how we may improve and grow to meet the needs of our communities and members. docs.google.com/forms/d/1iJZ4P….

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Summer Social @ Diamondback Brewery yesterday! Many thanks to Councilman @Zeke_Cohen for his continued leadership & to @comcast for sponsoring! Together, we are proving that BALTIMORE IS UNITED & COMMITTED TO CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE!

BNIA’s Vital Signs Full report can be viewed here: lnkd.in/eyZY-5XM. Great things coming to fruition!

Also on the agenda, Amanda Phillips de Lucas of the @bniajfi, who provided May’s Member Update. Take a look at BNIA’s project with the Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs, ARPA Impact Indicators here: lnkd.in/eAZpuuCm.

At May’s Coalition meeting, we were joined by Walter “Michael” Paroby from the @NTIAgov & Ronnie Hammond from the MD Office of Statewide Broadband. Pertinent digital equity updates were shared. You can view Maryland’s Final State Digital Equity Plan here: lnkd.in/e7aTnHx7.

We are proud to have the CASH Campaign as a member of our Coalition and thankful for Comptroller Lierman’s commitment to digital equity.

Amazing work by the @CASHMD which successfully advocated for the improvement of how some Marylanders file their taxes - making it easier & more accessible for all. We commend our Comptroller, @BrookeELierman, for championing policies/processes that knock down barriers.

In an op-ed story for The @baltimoresun, Comcast's EVP & former Obama Cabinet Secretary, @gobluebrod, remarks that Baltimore is a national leader in digital equity & advocates for the support of the Affordable Connectivity Program to ensure we stay ahead. baltimoresun.com/2024/05/06/bal…

Today, @GovWesMoore signed into law the Talent Innovation Program & Fund, legislation to support partnerships between our state’s public & private sectors to supercharge MD’s workforce pipeline in critical industries such as cybersecurity, healthcare, biomanufacturing, and AI.

It's exciting to see a continued investment in our city's institutions of higher education, especially HBCUs. @OpenWorksBmore’s expanded partnership with @CoppinStateUniv is fortuitous and will open doors and opportunities of greater technological impact. technical.ly/professional-d…

We invited U.S. Senate candidates in Maryland to answer questions on issues related to closing the digital divide. See where candidates stand on federal funding for digital equity efforts, their vision for closing the digital divide, and more. digitalequitybaltimore.org/_files/ugd/8dc…

We are excited for what is to come, and look forward to the work ahead to ensure a more equitable and connected Maryland. Implemented effectively, our State Digital Equity Plan can ensure we leave no one behind in the digital world.

@NTIAgov has approved our State Digital Equity Plan! ☑ Kudos to @GovWesMoore, the @MDHousing, the Office of Statewide Broadband, and all of the stakeholders doing the work on the ground and in communities.

Due to unseasonably warm temperatures, campuses without central air conditioning or air conditioning under repair will be released early on Thursday, May 2. Visit our air conditioning webpage to see the complete list here: baltimorecityschools.org/o/bcps/page/ac

We are delighted to share our 2023 Annual Report! Our success is evidence of our collective impact and commitment to bridging the digital divide in Baltimore — and across Maryland. You can read the report here: digitalequitybaltimore.org/2023-report.

We are celebrating our 4th Anniversary today!!! Wow, how time flies! Our Coalition has had an exceptional journey. Evolving intentionally from a “rapid response” initiative to a formidable influence in the advocacy space, we are bringing about real change.