Charlotte Digital Inclusion Alliance: Digital Inclusion Playbook Launch

The Charlotte Digital Inclusion Alliance invites you to a press conference and reception for the unveiling of Charlotte’s Digital Inclusion Playbook. The Playbook is a living document that provides a pathway for community leaders and organizations to engage in the work of digital inclusion.

The Charlotte Digital Inclusion Alliance, supported by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is focused on strengthening digital equity in the Charlotte community. Development of actionable strategies to achieve goals remains paramount. Much like efforts and policy-based programs put forth by cities like Portland, Seattle, Kansas City and New York City, the Charlotte Digital Inclusion Alliance seeks to develop an iterative Playbook of strategies that can be adopted by local leaders and organizations.

The alliance is comprised of several long-standing community stakeholders and organization, individuals and entities who have provided a range of social services to residents over several decades and have been diligent in their work to address inequality, poverty, and digital access across the county.

By formalizing strategies and creating opportunities for knowledge sharing, the CDIA has developed several recommended “plays” to close Charlotte’s digital divide. The development of this playbook for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community provides an assessment of current barriers to digital equity and inclusion, a timeline of local and national initiatives addressing these barriers, and how stakeholders are making progress on digital equity.

Additionally, this Playbook expounds what the Charlotte Digital Inclusion Alliance has defined as the official “plays” for realizing milestones toward digital equity within Charlotte. These plays are comprised of six areas of focus, including access, technology, digital literacy, standards and policy, advocacy, and opportunity.

It is the intent of the CDIA to provide a foundation of data, research, and activity to realize its goals of closing the digital divide and ensuring digital access to all Charlotteans.