Jennifer Sanders
Explore our Recent and Past News and Views!
Explore our Recent and Past News and Views!

2021: DIA Partnerships to Help "Drive"​ Digital Equity Support in Dallas

It can be easy to miss the forest when you’re amongst the trees, and taking this time at the close of the year to review the work undertaken and accomplished is always a ‘holy s**t, we DID get a lot done this year. Today, I’m so grateful for our partners and team that made our digital equity work possible this year. There’s much to do, but am so encouraged by the strides made together. Some of our favorite moments of 2021 – there were so many, I had to create this separate article! Thank you to our partners that provided the resources necessary to carry out this work, including: Communities Foundation of Texas, Meadows Foundation, Santander, Cisco, State Fair of Texas, Capital One, Cradlepoint, GTS, Parsec, REI, T-Mobile, and all our community partners – more on them later!

1.     Celebrating the City of Dallas and Dallas Independent School District’s development and adoption of the first Broadband and Digital Equity Strategic Plan. This collaboration is critical to designing a network that serves both residents and the City of Dallas in streamlining operations, the foundation for smart technologies in transportation, traffic signals, sustainability and so much more. A true example of intra- and inter-organizational partnerships. If you haven’t yet seen the plan, please check it out https://bit.ly/3pyGmhC 

2.     Completing our first full year of the DIA Mobile Learning Lab ‘Wi-Fi bus’ program. The total number of community members through [Em]powerment pop ups, after school programs, and community events served was over 4,500, we have served at least 1,200 adults through [Em]powerment Pop Ups, where we collocated with other nonprofits at local events to provide public health information, vaccine registration, digital skills, job readiness, and support food access, and 95% of those served were low to moderate income (LMI) populations; and 97% represented people of color.

3. Expanding our partnerships with the CARDboard Project in on-the ground access and education support for broadband and digital skills. One of our partnerships, (Em)Powerment Popups, supports Wi-Fi access and services including awareness of programs like the Emergency Broadband Benefit, vaccine registration and signing up for free transportation to sites, basic digital skills and ‘start-up’ support for devices and hotspots, and many others.

4. Development of the Digital Ambassadors program: Creating a central resource for the community's questions and connections to programs is a major factor for both our neighbors, and for service providers in all areas, whether health, education, transportation and others. Our development of our Digital Ambassador program has the ability to increase capacity for these programs and to achieve this lofty goal of upward mobility for all, and we are currently in the process of securing support to implement the Ambassador program. One of the clearest gaps we (and all those we work with) have seen is in community awareness and understanding of the resources that are available to them, and how to access them.

5. Support of the Internet for All Coalition in moving from immediate crisis solutions to long-term programs to support permanent ongoing projects and programs to create digital equity throughout Dallas. In addition to continuing to ensure than all students had internet and devices in the home, community engagement campaigns including Connect Week brought direct insights from our communities and awareness of available programs, and collaboration on strategic planning for large-scale investments hit major milestones. www.internetfordallas.org

6. The Dallas Device Challenge! As a part of our organizations' shared commitment to expanding digital access across the Dallas area, the Dallas Innovation Alliance and the CARDboard Project partnered with Comp-U-Dopt to launch the Dallas Device Challenge! The Dallas Device Challenge is an easy way to support bridging the digital divide, by donating new or used laptops to our organizations. We are asking Dallas employers [and also individuals/employees!] to consider donating their used or new laptops to our organizations this holiday season so they can be gifted to families who need them. Devices will be securely wiped using DoD protocols, reconditioned and then redistributed to families and opportunity populations in the DFW area that need them to access services and opportunities. http://www.dallasinnovationalliance.com/news/2021/12/4/introducing-the-dallas-device-challenge

Explore our Recent and Past News and Views!

Celebrating Greatness With Gratitude - Mobile Learning Lab Favorite Allissa York!


The students at Frazier Revitalization and TR Hoover ask for her by name and rely on her presence week after week. Allissa York is consistently reliable, patient, creative and hardworking. This is how she builds trust with our students and programming partners. She specializes in educating and caring for students with autism which enables her to provide customized care plans for each student. Allisa has done everything from tutor students to teaching them to fly drones to attending partner roundtable events on behalf of DIA. Allisa has worked with the Mobile Learning Lab for just about two years and has left a lasting impression on our team but on the hundreds of students and families she has worked closely with through MLL programming. eam. This week, the team at DIA wants to celebrate Allissa York, our senior Mobile Learning Lab team member. Allissa brings 4 years of experience as a Registered Behavior Technician to our team. Not only does she work with students, she also participates in community outreach events like [Em]powerment Pop Ups where she leads our digital skills training program and educates families on federal benefits related to connectivity. We are so grateful to her for dedicating her time, energy and expertise to our Mobile Learning Lab programs. Allissa won’t be with us next semester because she has received a wonderful new work opportunity. Allissa, we hate to see you go but we are so grateful for having you on our team this long. We wish you so much success and fulfillment in your next opportunity.

Introducing the Dallas Device Challenge!

In today’s age, reliable access to a computer isn’t just a want, it’s a need. As a part of our organizations' shared commitment to expanding digital access across the Dallas area, the Dallas Innovation Alliance and the CARDboard Project are partnered with Comp-U-Dopt to launch the Dallas Device Challenge! The Dallas Device Challenge is an easy way to support bridging the digital divide, by donating new or used laptops to our organizations.

We are asking Dallas employers and individuals to consider donating their used or new laptops to our organizations this holiday season so they can be gifted to families who need them. We are accepting donations now until January 18th, 2022. We would love it if you would consider joining us from the start. If you'd like to pledge devices right now just click here! For donations of 25 devices or higher the Comp-U-Dopt team can coordinate a pick-up from your local office, for those under 25, the DIA will coordinate pick-up with you. Please note we are only accepting desktops, monitors, laptops, or tablets (excluding iPads) for this project. If you'd like to pledge devices right now just click here! If you’d like to sign-up for the computer lottery, please visit here.

If this isn't possible for this year, please know we understand and we hope that you will help us spread the word far and wide to employees and beyond!

Do you know anyone in need of a computer? Individuals can sign up for our distribution lottery here, and if you’re a nonprofit that would like to help promote this program to your communities and clients, please reach out and we can help with materials and outreach!

To learn more about how you can get involved, please see below, or feel free to contact us directly

FAQs:

What type of electronics do you take? 

We will accept any laptops, desktops, and monitors that are less than 5 years old.  We do NOT accept CRT monitors or cell phones in any condition. Please include the power cords where possible.  Mac’s are okay.  At this time we are also unable to take Tablets, tv’s, routers, appliances, servers or printers. 

My computer doesn’t work or I lost the cords, will you still take it? 

YES! However, we do ask that you keep the hard drive intact. 

How do I know my information is safe?

We take data security very seriously and have been doing this work for 13 years.  All computers which enter our warehouse are accessed only by authorized staff members and hard drives are wiped using a program called Kill Disk which is an industrial grade disk sanitation software

(http://www.killdisk.com) We follow the Department of Defense standard 5220.22-M method which securely overwrites all data with a minimum of three passes. 

Can I get a Tax Receipt?

Yes, Comp-U-Dopt is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.  Within a few days following your donation you will receive a thank you letter with an official tax receipt at the bottom.  The IRS prohibits non-profits from setting or determining a fair market value for in-kind donations, however, you will be able to do so in the space provided on your tax receipt. 

Where will my computer go?

Our mission at Comp-U-Dopt is to provide technology to students who need it most. During this COVID-19 outbreak and as students will be required to learn online, Comp-U-Dopt is distributing computers to families without a device at home free of charge. Your previously used computer will be data wiped, sanitized, and given to a family in need to help children in our community continue to learn.  If we’re unable to use your device for some reason it will still be data wiped and then recycled. 

  

Mobile Learning Lab Summer Recap!

The Mobile Learning Lab kept the pedal to the metal in the community this summer providing WiFi and enrichment programming across a number sites new and old! The team traveled to four sites in South and West Dallas. We continue to love to serve and learn how to remain agile to evolve our programming to provide the highest impact to students as we celebrated our one-year anniversary in June! The Mobile Learning Lab team provided two main services, a curated STEAM curriculum delivered by community partners and access to wifi and technology like laptops and tablets. Thanks to our community partners, Parker Autism Center, Visionary Vibes and instruction by DIA staff members, we were able to provide enrichment activities, digital access, wifi, homework assistance and STEAM programming to a total of 264 students between the ages of 5 and 14 over a five week period.  The Mobile Learning Lab served four sites for five weeks, providing 300 feet of internet access and extra supplemental educational materials on the bus.

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 On Mondays, we partnered with the Frazier Revitalization Center summer camp, and served 94 students by providing  an interactive drone curriculum where students used DIA laptops and wifi to practice flying drones on a simulator and then got to practice their skills in real life with mini drones. The children learned about different careers in aviation, drone technology and engineering. They children saw the drones as much more than toys and worked hard to practice steering the drones through obstacle courses - even how to land on ‘helipads’ on the roof of buildings of a model city they built together.

On Tuesdays the Mobile Learning Lab traveled to TR Hoover’s summer program where the kids got to get in touch with their creative sides with different forms of self expression like painting, tie dye, planting and mindfulness! In total, we served 124 children between June 29th and August 2nd at this site alone. Visionary Vibes partnered with us to provide the creative arts and mindfulness curriculum to the students. They walked away with new skills, new self-regulating tools and hopefully, a lifelong love of art. 

 This summer, through the support of the Santander Consumer USA Foundation, we were able to cultivate a new relationship with the Joppa neighborhood in South Dallas. Every Wednesday, we traveled to South Central Park, the heart of their community, and partnered with Parker Autism Center to provide interactive social and emotional skills for 46 children from July 7th- August 4th. We ended the summer with a Back to School Bash for the Joppa Neighborhood where nearly 100 community members and families got to enjoy a delicious lunch from In-N-Out, popsicles from Frios, snow cones from Kona Ice, a waterslide, bounce house, fresh food from UNT-Dallas’ Mobile Market, and receive free school supplies! We are so grateful to the South Central Civic League and  all of our partners, without whom, none of this would be possible. Many of the parents remarked that this was the first time their children had been able to enjoy something like this. We are so honored to have been able to provide that experience. 

We learned a lot at another new ‘bus stop’ with  the West Dallas Multipurpose Center. This is a great City of Dallas community resource, and due to the ever changing COVID guidelines and city facilities continuing to be closed off in the months leading into summer programming, families did not realize that the center was hosting programs during the summer. Our team enjoyed serving the local children that joined us, and we are looking forward to continuing a relationship with the folks at West Dallas Multipurpose Center with new learnings in our tool belt!

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Thank you to our Summer Partners who make our work possible!

The Future Requires a Blockchain Imperative – and the Time is Now

The potential of impact for the public, private and civic sector to improve economic growth, process efficiencies, security and protocols is here for the taking if we balance the bold with the pragmatic. 

Jennifer Sanders, Executive Director, North Texas Innovation Alliance and Natalie Smolenski, Board Chair, Texas Blockchain Council 

 For years, public sector leaders and policymakers have been exploring blockchain’s potential to address myriad challenges. These include inefficiencies in public sector processes, such as property records verification and verification of personal identification to support access to services (for example, by those experiencing homelessness). There has also been growing momentum to use blockchain as a smart grid technology that helps monitor and log renewable energy production in real time, as well as to track movement and compliance through a supply chain. 

As a result of these early investigations, the benefits of blockchain for the public sector are increasingly becoming clear: they include economic, environmental, service-oriented, and quality-of-life impacts. Resident services and other departments can realize dramatic efficiencies by moving to secure, decentralized ledgers for verification of high-stakes claims, and there are already examples of successful initiatives to that end. This enables applications that blockchain is particularly well-suited to for societal impact – support of the homeless and of unbanked populations are just two examples. Blockchain can also be used to ensure the provenance and integrity of goods and materials crossing borders or moving through a supply chain, which reduces costs and mitigates risk across the board. In addition, blockchain can be a key technology for ensuring energy grid reliability while incentivizing a move toward renewable resources. 

Another compelling benefit of blockchain technology for the public sector is its ability to generate new sources of capital. Earlier this month, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who has never shied away from innovative approaches to governance, launched MiamiCoin, a city-specific digital token, designed in partnership with CityCoins, that will be the first of its kind to go to market. The vision for the currency is to provide an ongoing revenue stream that could be put towards a variety of investments that benefit the city but might otherwise be difficult to consistently prioritize in general fund budgets. These include new public spaces, events, startup recruitment, and others. Think of it as an enterprise fund that allows for future investments without the traditional risk (or bond election) associated.

Of course, blockchain holds extraordinary promise for Texas businesses as well: this fast-growing industry presents a massive opportunity for economic development and workforce pipeline investments that build the skillsets to secure future prosperity. As the world’s 9th-largest economy by GDP, it makes sense that Texas would quickly develop a robust ecosystem of companies leveraging blockchain technology in their products and services. Last year, this growing community spurred the formation of the Texas Blockchain Council, a nonprofit trade association that advocates for blockchain-friendly policies and regulations in Texas. 

Despite its young age, the Council has already spearheaded the passage of two pieces of landmark legislation, which in turn led to a pronouncement that Texas banks can custody digital currencies; created a political climate where the technology is welcomed and encouraged at the highest levels; and facilitated an influx of Bitcoin miners helping to shape the next generation of Texas’s energy economy. 

Now it is time to build on that success by inviting the Texas public sector and policy communities to learn, discuss, ask questions, and engage with the industry shaping the future of Texas. That is why the Texas Blockchain Council is hosting the first-ever Texas Blockchain Summit in Austin on October 8th. 

Knowledge exchange amongst a diverse set of cross-disciplinary experts is a simple – but not always easy – approach to informed progress and policy. Yet it is valuable because it can quell the hesitation often exhibited by highly risk-averse sectors when they find themselves facing dramatic change. Neutral conveners and voices bring value by sourcing champions of change who have made building and implementing new technologies their lifelong mission to help drive an expedited path to progress.

The Texas Blockchain Summit is the first blockchain conference geared specifically toward the public sector and policy communities. It is the place to bring your questions, concerns, thoughts, and ideas about anything and everything pertaining to the promise and challenges inherent in the process of decentralizing value. And while there are still many unknowns, a certain level of comfort with the unknown is a prerequisite for progress. 

The North Texas Innovation Alliance has partnered with the Texas Blockchain Council to sponsor the Summit because we believe in the promise this emerging industry holds for the State of Texas--and for the world. As with most innovation, blockchain technology evolves far more quickly than policy. That means now is the time for the policy community to learn about blockchain and develop the focus and leadership necessary to fully embrace its potential. 

We invite you to join us in Austin on October 8th. Members of the NTXIA qualify for a special discounted ticket rate, as do public servants. Please reach out to Jen Sanders, Executive Director of the North Texas Innovation Alliance, to claim your discount and reserve your ticket today. 


The Mobile Learning Lab: What a Difference a Year Makes!

The Mobile Learning Lab: What a Difference a Year Makes!

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History:

The Dallas Innovation Alliance emerged as a 501c3 public-private partnership in 2015. Cofounded by Trey Bowles and Jennifer Sanders, the nonprofit was formed to unite public, private, civic and academic sectors to support the City of Dallas’ smart city strategy.  A Smart City takes a comprehensive approach to economic growth by leveraging infrastructure to reduce costs, and increase efficiency across the city by using technological improvements to improve all aspects of city life. This vision currently includes bridging the digital divide by providing accessible wifi options to underserved communities, improving transit options, reducing emissions, and integrating a data driven approach to prepare Dallas for the future. Its first initiative, the Smart Cities Living Lab in downtown Dallas’ West End Historic District, comprising 10 concurrent projects, was the fastest-to-market smart cities initiative in the country.

In 2018, the DIA focused on building partnerships with organizations and community leaders in South Dallas, and in 2020, the Mobile Learning Lab, a repurposed school bus equipped with seating areas, laptops, and internet access that spans 300 feet, was launched with the mission to provide internet access, homework support and enrichment planning to students in South Dallas. Recent studies have shown that over 60% of 8th Graders nationally need the internet to complete their homework each day, and in Dallas, only half of the city’s families in targeted zip codes had access or a subscription to broadband internet. 

Getting 'on the road’ - The Challenges of 2020 Brought Opportunity to Drive Broad Impact

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Last year, digital inclusion became an even larger priority as the nation slowed to a halt in response to COVID-19 that sent workers and children home from school for almost a year. The learning gap widened as research began to reveal that families in underserved zip codes were disproportionately impacted in both health, education and digital access. Dallas Innovation Alliance immediately went to work addressing this gap by increasing literacy, access and affordability by inviting partners to participate in the Mobile Learning Lab to bring the program to the places it was most needed. In addition, the DIA has been able to serve on initiatives such as the Internet for All Coalition, through more than 40 partners across ISDs, cities, higher education and community organizations, has been able to ensure K-16 students have access to internet in the home.

The Mobile Learning Lab serves as a mobile learning site for homework support, STEAM, mindfulness programs, art, social skills, digital and soon, financial literacy. The MLL, in partnership with CARDboard Project, provides additional resources for the whole family, including community pop up events and supporting jobs fairs.

Year One in Review:

Over 1600 students were served from July 2020 - March 2021, with more than 90% members of communities of color, desperately in need of safe and educational opportunities in light of the pandemic - particularly experiential learning after a day of Zoom burnout. The Mobile Learning Lab has had six “bus stops” throughout the community and makes surprise appearances at the Pop-Ups where our team supports community members to get connected with critical resources including vaccine registration, to increase their quality of life. Over 700 people have been served at these pop ups and we are excited to continue driving education and increased digital access. 

Looking Ahead

As we look toward summer programming and Mobile Learning Lab 2.0 for the 2021-22 school year, we’re excited to take the learnings gained, and continue to provide access, support and enrichment programming to communities, and adult programming and services to contribute to solutions to close the digital divide’s three legs of the stool: Access, Affordability and Training. Please reach out if you’re interested in supporting, hosting or providing programming with the MLL! 

A Note of MASSIVE gratitude

Thank you to our partners along the journey, without which NONE of this is possible: Santander Consumer USA Cisco Capital OneMeadows Foundation NETSYNC Presidio T-Mobile Cradlepoint GTS Parsec Technologies, Inc. Radio Engineering Industries; and our partners at Dallas Independent School District State Fair of Texas® Spectra Fair Park First, Fair Park, Frazier Revitalization, Inc. TR Hoover Community Development CenterPark South YMCA, West Dallas Multipurpose Ctr Project Still I Rise Inc. Seeds to STEAM #VisionaryVibes CARDBoard Project Better Block Foundation#digitalinclusion #remoteschool #COVIDpivot #digitaldivide#smartcommunities #smartcities #bettertogether

(Em)powerment Popups: A new partnership between DIA and CARDBoard Project

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

(Em)powerment Popups are a new initiative created through a partnership between the CARDboard Project and Dallas Innovation Alliance. Both Dallas based nonprofits focus on bridging the digital divide through the ‘three legs of the stool’ - access, affordability and training - to make a more connected community through outreach to areas that have unreliable access to the internet and need support to access critical services including vaccine registration, Federal benefits for internet service, and more. Communities can connect to public wifi, access to services at partner events including job fairs and readiness, laptops to use, among others. Popups can also provide staff that can help communities understand and register for federal benefits like the Emergency Broadband Benefit program.

Join the effort to connect communities by partnering with the CARDboard Project and Dallas Innovation Alliance and attend or host an [Em]powerment near you to receive on demand community services! Both Dallas based nonprofits focus on bridging the digital divide to make a more connected community through outreach to areas that have unreliable access to the internet, federal benefits, digital literacy and public health resources. This one stop shop  brings resources right to you with the option to walk up or drive through to receive services like food distribution, digital literacy skills and learning support for the whole family! Community members can connect with both organizations and receive free resources including access to public wifi, job fairs, job skills readiness, laptops, mobile hotspots, transportation and registration to receive the COVID-19  vaccine. Pop Ups can feature specialized staff that can also help underserved communities understand and register for federal benefits like  the Emergency Broadband Benefit program.

To learn more about (Em)powerment Popups, where our next events will take place, and how to bring a popup to your community, please contact Chelsea Strawn at chelsea@dallasinnovationalliance.com or call/text us at 817-714-5302.



Getting the Whole Story: April 2021 DIA & Partner Updates

April 2021: Innovate Smarter, Not Harder!

Have you been vaccinated? This past Saturday, April 24th, the Dallas Innovation Alliance and CARDboard Project assisted with online scheduling for free rides to vaccination sites in partnership with the City of Dallas, West Dallas Multipurpose Center, and other nonprofits. Guests and partners had access to our free wifi, fresh veggies, registration and much more! Thank you to all the organizations who came out to get our communities engaged in the fight against COVID! Watch for updates on upcoming (Em)powerment popup dates and locations.

What’s new in transportation? GoLINK is a DART pilot launching at the end of the month to provide on-demand, curb to curb rides for those in the South Dallas area. This pilot comes after months of research in two priority South Dallas zip codes. Researchers found that the 4 DART rail stations and the 10 bus routes are helpful for longer trips, but not for short essential trips like to the grocery store. Now residents can use theDART GoPass  app or by phone to request rides. For more information on getting connected to this amazing resource, click here. 

In Digital Inclusion News: 

The DIA delivered a detailed presentation to civic and community leaders last Friday at the Mobile Learning Lab Community Webinar to spread awareness about the learnings and accomplishments of the Mobile Learning Lab program so far and discuss ways that new partners can get involved! For a link to the recorded session, click here. 

(Em)powerment Pop-Ups: In partnership with CARDboard Project, we are bringing pop-up events that provide internet access, devices and services including vaccine registration support, transportation, and more. Check out some footage from last weekend's popup at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center! Visit our pop-up today at MLK Branch Library, details can be found below. For more information on the what and how of our (Em)powerment Pop-up program, please reach out!

Emergency Broadband Benefits: Internet connectivity is now that much more affordable thanks to the Emergency Broadband Benefit that will launch on May 13th. The Federal Communications Commission has rolled out this program to help low income families access broadband service. Families who lost a significant amount of income due to COVID-19, whose children receive free or reduced lunch, a pell grant qualifies for the Lifeline Program which entitles low income families to a similar discount on their wireless service. The FCC has emphasized that this benefit is temporary and will remain in place as long as funding lasts or 6 month after the pandemic is declared to be no longer a public health emergency. Participants are also eligible for a $100 discount on a device like a laptop or a tablet if they spend between $10 and $50 to purchase it.  Registration and applications can be found here.

Smart Regions; Smart Communities

The North Texas Innovation Alliance and its members continue to drive research, collaboration and design of collaborative Smart Cities initiatives across the region. NTXIA is looking at partnerships that can help drive resiliency, digital infrastructure, transportation, data sharing and standardization. Creating 'readiness as a region' for federal investment, economic recovery and citizen engagement are on the list for this spring!  Please email info@ntxia.org for more information on how to join the NTXIA on this journey! 

Member Highlight: This month we are celebrating the City of Richardson on the success of its Distributed Agent-Based traffic lights. The city began the pilot almost three years ago and has been able to expand it! Preliminary results show that the installation of these “traffic smoothing” lights and sensors reduced traffic flow by 40%. This is just the beginning of the benefits that these devices can have in making travel safe for Richardson residents! Congratulations! 

Dallas Innovation Alliance, 2022