Recently El Puente received a $22K grant from Spectrum to facilitate its digital education curriculum and support the community tech lab. Spectrum presented the check to El Puente on December 13 at the organization’s DiscoTech, an interactive, hands-on digital workshop series featuring a unique blend of digital education and entertainment.
El Puente will utilize the funding to support hands-on training, in both English and Spanish, in tech skills and digital access to build the capacity and confidence of community members. The organization utilizes a digital education curriculum that introduces the fundamentals of technology and internet connectivity and trains community members at the El Puente Community Center. El Puente serves primarily low-income, Spanish-speaking residents with limited access to devices and internet connectivity at home.
“Digital justice removes barriers to access and connectivity and directs tools and technology for the leadership, engagement, and self-determination of those communities most impacted by the digital divide,” said Marco A. Carrión, Executive Director of El Puente. “The Spectrum Digital Education grant will advance digital literacy, navigation, and stewardship toward better education, employment, and health outcomes for youth and families in South Williamsburg and Bushwick.”
Spectrum Digital Education has committed more than $10 million to nonprofits focused on improving digital literacy, workforce development, and educational access in unserved and undeserved communities across Charter’s 41-state service area. It has helped distribute over 18,500 laptops and sponsor more than 42,000 digital education classes, benefiting over 173,000 community members since its launch in 2017. This year, El Puente is one of 66 nonprofit organizations across the country, is one of five in the New York City area, and is the only awardee in North Brooklyn that has been awarded a 2024 Spectrum Digital Education grant.
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