Digital Connectors

The City of Raleigh, in partnership with One Economy, is providing the Digital Connectors national training program for Raleigh youth. Digital Connectors is a nationally renowned program created by One Economy that provides technology training and mentoring for young people, ages 14 through 21.

In an innovative technology room at the new Saint Monica Teen Center, Digital Connectors learn skills in Twelve Core Competencies:

• Leadership & Diversity
• Personal Development
• Workforce Development
• Financial Literacy
• Community Mapping
• Digital Literacy
• Hardware and Networks
• Software and Programming
• Media Production and Civic Journalism
• Environment and Sustainability
• Service and Global Engagement
• Teaching and Facilitation

Digital Connectors alumni will serve as ambassadors teaching their families, friends and neighbors to take advantage of the digital economy. Digital Connectors practice real world job skills while serving their community. Each Digital Connector commits to 56 hours of community service. Raleigh's first 60 Digital Connectors will teach 900 members of the community how to use computers and the Internet.

Digital Connectors serve their community by:

• Performing community changing service projects
• Assisting underserved communities by teaching basic computer skills
• Training community members on computers and the Internet
• Promoting technology in the community

Digital Connectors receive long-lasting benefits by:

• Increasing their computer and Internet knowledge
• Gaining skills to succeed in high school, college, and the workforce
• Becoming certified in Ever-Fi financial literacy
• Learning entrepreneurship and life skills
• Becoming young leaders in the community
• HAVING FUN!

One Economy launched the Digital Connectors program in 2003. With federal funding from the American Recovery Reinvestment Act One Economy and the Broadband Opportunity Coalition, this country's leading civil rights organizations, will significantly expand Digital Connector programs throughout the United States.

Through this Broadband Technology Opportunities grant, One Economy is providing $78,000 to train 60 Digital Connectors in Raleigh through June 2012. Longer term the City of Raleigh intends to sustain the program through strategic partnerships and offer expanded levels of digital readiness, including Cisco Essentials training and certification.

Digital Connectors' class projects and videos include music from the award winning library of royalty-free music from RoyaltyFreeMusic.com.