In 2000, the Leonsis Foundation received a proposal from One Economy, a new nonprofit working to connect low-income people with technology and information, to create a youth program. One Economy recognized not only the natural affinity for technology among young people, but also their potential for spreading technology knowledge and a culture of use in their neighborhoods. We liked their ideas a lot, and the founders presented us with a solid business plan based on their previous experience running other nonprofits. We decided to go ahead and provide seed funding for this program.
With our grant, One Economy launched Digital Connectors, a program that provided technology training to Washington, DC youth and employed them to promote and support the adoption of technology among families and individuals in their communities. These teens gained new knowledge that helped them in school, experience at a part-time job, and the pride of knowing they had made a difference in their communities.
Today, One Economy has leveraged the Leonsis Foundation’s initial investment to establish Digital Connector programs around the country in cities from New York to San Francisco. More than 1,200 youth have completed the program and provided over 42,000 hours of community service to their communities. We are very proud of the Digital Connectors program’s success and congratulate One Economy on developing and scaling it so successfully. You can find out more about Digital Connectors at http://www.one-economy.com.