What’s New in Civic Tech: Microsoft Funds Digital Skills Ed

Source: Gov Tech Published: July 2, 2020

A new program dubbed Accelerate: Atlanta aims to help underserved communities in that city learn digital skills that can boost regional economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program is a cross-sector effort between Atlanta, Microsoft and list of other partners such as Accenture, as well as the education organizations, General Assembly, OpenClassrooms and Tech Bridge. Microsoft announced the Atlanta effort this week with a press release, billing it as “the first of many city-focused digital skills and employment partnerships designed to upskill and increase employability.”

When it comes to closing the nation’s digital divide — which is the term used to describe a situation in which portions of the population are being left out of technological advancement in society — there are often three main areas: access to devices, Internet connectivity and digital skills training. Digital skills training, essentially, means possessing the knowledge to use devices and connectivity in a meaningful way that benefits one's life, be it from increasing employment opportunities, accessing healthcare or bolstering education.