Editorial: We need more investment from stakeholders who believe in the importance of technical education and digital equity.
As the founder of a nonprofit dedicated to promoting STEM education and digital literacy, I have helped thousands of students from diverse communities overcome digital inequality. Through Digital Girl, Inc.'s programs, students gain valuable tech skills, increase their confidence, and close knowledge gaps. Many of Brooklyn's graduates have achieved great success, like Jadah Stone, who now works as an IT Systems Engineer at SAKS Technologies, and Amina Stone-Taylor, who recently graduated from Columbia Law School with a J.D. in Technology Law. My work with Digital Girl is essential to ensuring Brooklyn's students are well prepared to succeed in their personal and academic endeavors.
Next month, far too many students will return to the classroom with academic setbacks caused by the “summer slide,” a phenomenon in which students lose a significant portion of the knowledge they gained during the school year over the summer. This setback negatively impacts the math skills of up to 78% of students.
For fifth graders, this translates to up to three years of learning delay. The impact is even worse for students from low-income families and communities of color, who often do not have access to summer remedial programs and, since the pandemic, these have become increasingly scarce and under-resourced.
Digital inequality only puts more strain on children's education: According to New York City Council data, up to 13% of public school students lack internet access at home. The same is true for more than a third of households headed by black or Hispanic New Yorkers.
Brooklyn students need greater access to both digital connectivity and high-quality programming throughout the year, but especially during the summer. We must stop the summer learning decline and address its many consequences, from fewer college applications to negative effects on teen mental health.
These challenges affect students every day. Every September, many students return to school with gaps in knowledge, diminished confidence, and a sense of being left behind. As a result, students, especially girls and minorities, are significantly underrepresented in STEM fields.
That’s why DGI partnered with LinkNYC, the world’s largest free public Wi-Fi network, and the New York City Department of Technology and Innovation to establish the Brooklyn Gigabit Center in Crown Heights. Together, we provide free, high-speed Wi-Fi provided by LinkNYC, as well as access to tablets and laptops, digital literacy workshops, and a variety of STEM-focused programs that have served hundreds of students from diverse communities.
LinkNYC and OTI’s support has effectively expanded DGI’s reach, deepened our impact, and advanced our mission to make Brooklyn a more equitable borough.
This summer, everyone at Brooklyn Gigabit Center was committed to providing more opportunities for students in underserved neighborhoods to gain valuable tech skills through our new LinkNYC Leadership Academy. Young people ages 14-24 learn through real-world projects like coding, app development and robotics and are mentored by industry experts. Because DGI has partnered with LinkNYC and OTI, we are able to offer these programs at no cost to participants and their families. In addition to serving youth, Brooklyn Gigabit Center provides resources and digital literacy training to thousands of seniors, helping them navigate the digital world with confidence and ease.
Demand for our programs is high, and a lack of funding, facilities, and resources limits our ability to serve more students. To expand our efforts, we need further investment from stakeholders who believe in the importance of technology education and digital equity.
Coalitions like DGI, LinkNYC, and OTI have the power to close the summer learning gap and the digital divide in our city. The Brooklyn Gigabit Center model proves that real, positive change is within reach. When dedicated organizations, partners, and communities work together to create brighter opportunities for the next generation, we can make a real difference.
Michelle Gal is the Founder and Executive Director of Digital Girl, Inc.