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Closing the Digital Divide: The Knowledge House’s Fight for Tech Equity
Digital divide, the unequal access to digital technology, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and the internet, is a reality for many Black and brown communities struggling to access the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in today’s economy.
Who will understand this better than this Bronx native and Afro-Latina daughter of Dominican immigrants raised in a low-income single-parent household. Jerelyn Rodriguez Williams’ perspective and experience put her in a unique position to create an organization that would serve as a conduit for economic mobility and bridge the digital divide in the South Bronx and beyond.
Founded as The Knowledge House in 2014, this Bronx-based nonprofit is on a mission to train the next generation of technologists, ensuring that economic mobility isn’t reserved for the privileged few. The organization is founded and led by a Black woman and has a team that is 80% Black, Latinx, or Asian. “Our shared experiences help us connect with and serve our students in a way that other programs can’t,” Williams explains.
From Humble Beginnings to Nationwide Impact
The urgency of The Knowledge House’s work became clear during the pandemic.
“Communities of color were…
