Past Digital Equity Grant Awardees

Youth using computers in a group setting

The Technology Matching Fund (TMF) program was established in 1997 to support the community’s efforts to close the digital divide and encourage a technology-healthy city. Over $5 million has been awarded since 1998. The fund continues the legacy of Bill Wright, a Central District community leader who embodied the program goals of creating digital equity and opportunities for all, and of using technology tools to engage residents, improve communications and strengthen communities. You can browse the lists of awardees from the past few years here.

2024 TECHNOLOGY MATCHING FUND PROJECTS

Casa Latina – $35,000 *funded by Comcast 

Digital Literacy Program for Latinx Immigrant Workers provides digital navigator services and digital literacy classes for Latino immigrant workers to develop basic digital literacy skills.  

Dabuli – $24,500 *funded by Comcast 

The Technology for All project provides digital literacy training to immigrants, refugees, and seniors in the Seattle area, including general workshops on technology use and deeper training on specific technologies such as the Microsoft Office suite.  

Eritrean Community in Seattle and Vicinity – $35,000 

The Technology for the ECISV project supports the technological needs of newly immigrated Eritreans, Eritrean youth, and Eritrean elders through the distribution of laptops, tablets, and hotspots along with access to information for the safety and health of the Eritrean community. 

Ethnic Cultural Heritage Exchange – $30,000  

DIGITIZE provides digital literacy instruction with culturally responsive support services to give youth and young adults a platform for building confidence in their expression of identity and heritage and sharing their “own voices” and impactful stories through digital storytelling. 

Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington – $35,000 

Digital Device Access and Navigation provides access to computers, in-person digital navigation, basic digital skills training, and technology assistance to support those furthest from economic opportunity. 

KD Hall Foundation – $35,000 

Elevating Future Female Tech Leaders through Digital Literacy provides a holistic approach that empowers women and girls by fostering skills, confidence, and inclusivity through digital literacy workshops, devices, technical support, and internet connectivity. 

Lao Senior Outreach – $25,000 

Lao Seniors Connect provides mobile devices, digital literacy skills training, and technical support to Lao-Southeast Asian seniors, enhancing their digital skills, increasing their access to information and opportunities, reducing their social isolation and loneliness, and improving their quality of life.  

Literacy Source – $35,000 

Classes and Training for Adults provides basic digital skills training to individuals and small groups of adults impacted by racial, economic, and digital disparities. 

Local Connectivity Lab – $35,000 

Seattle Community Network (SCN) provides smartphones and laptops with free mobile data and Wi-Fi using the Citizens’ Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) LTE wireless network, providing internet access for low-income and housing-unstable groups.  

Oromo Cultural Center – $35,000 

Digital Navigator Project provides a team of bilingual digital navigators in Oromo, Somali, Amharic, and English, addressing the unique cultural, linguistic, and economic challenges these communities face in accessing digital resources and technology and using online resources for education, employment, and civic participation. 

Path with Art – $35,000 

Digital Accessibility and Equity provides multidisciplinary arts engagement, community building, access to devices and the internet, and individualized technology assistance to close the digital divide for underserved adults in recovery from trauma. 

Renaissance 21 – $35,000 

Project Lift Off by Star Tech Global Academy provides workshops, devices, connectivity, digital literacy skills, and job market readiness for underserved young adults.  

Seattle Jobs Initiative – $35,000 

Digital Bridge provides digital literacy training, technology, and open labs to underrepresented and low-income residents, creating digital independence through sustained training in common applications and tools to write resumes, access benefits and health care, and search for jobs online. 

Serve Ethiopians Washington – $35,000 

Digital Empowerment for East African Seniors provides personalized support via digital navigators, smartphones, and digital literacy instruction in Amharic and Oromo. 

Solid Ground Washington – $35,000 

Resident Devices and Connectivity provides devices and hotspots across two housing sites for community members formerly experiencing homelessness and living on low incomes. 

Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle – $35,000 

Digital Navigation and Skills Training provides digital navigation services and culturally relevant one-on-one and group-setting digital skills training for diverse ethnic groups, including those experiencing homelessness, previously incarcerated, seniors, veterans, those under or unemployed with limited job-related skills training, and those who may or may not have a high school diploma or GED.   

Wasat Community – $35,000 

Digital Literacy Initiative provides essential digital skills, from basic computer literacy to internet safety, enabling BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee participants to access vital online resources, job opportunities, and community services. 

YWCA Seattle King Snohomish – $35,000 

Work$ Digital Equity Enhancement provides laptops and digital literacy instruction to low-income BIPOC residents enrolled in the YWCA’s Work$ vocational training programs who require access to the necessary technology and skills to find and maintain jobs and participate in career development activities.  

Applications were reviewed by 14 community volunteers from the Community Technology Advisory Board (CTAB), Washington State Library, Seattle Pacific University, and community-based organizations, as well as City of Seattle employees from Seattle IT, Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Human Services Department, Department of Neighborhoods, and The Seattle Public Library.   

2023 TECHNOLOGY MATCHING FUND PROJECTS 

The list below represents the 2023 Technology Matching Fund and Digital Navigator projects. 

Ada Developers Academy 

This project bridges the digital divide for low-income students by providing laptops for learning to code. This immersive, mission-based, coding program fast-tracks participants into high-paying software development positions in less than a year. The project supports low-income and BIPOC students in accessing and successfully completing its program through a variety of wraparound supports and individual coaching. Award: $35,100  

Boys & Girls Clubs of King County  

This project closes the digital divide that prevents underserved youth/young adults from attaining post-secondary success. Youth create and complete a unique plan for reaching individual career preparedness goals. Throughout the year, they use devices, reliable internet, and one-to-one instruction available through the Club to explore possible career paths; acquire essential digital literacy skills; and apply for jobs, apprenticeships, and/or internships. Award: $35,100  

Friends of Little Saigon

This project is a partnership with community partners and volunteers that utilize a curriculum built with The Seattle Public Library to match with businesses and build digital literacy skills. Many family-run businesses do not have adequate capacity to focus on business planning or capacity building. This project continues the work of the Chinatown International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) in 2021 to increase digital access. Award: $35,100  

InterConnection 

This project will provide digital devices to hundreds of Seattle residents through a network of trusted community partners. High-quality, refurbished laptop computers, along with mice, a one-year warranty, and ongoing technical support will be distributed by Seattle-focused community organizations. These devices will allow organizations to continue the work they are already doing as well as launch new programs and provide digital access to more people in our community. Award: $35,100  

 
National Asian Pacific Center on Aging

 
This project provides computer classes and device/internet/technical support to elders. The training program is designed to be conducted in Chinese or Vietnamese to cater to their language needs. Its objective is to promote employment and community engagement among these populations. By focusing on job readiness and computer skills, the program provides equitable access to technology and supports economic opportunities for Seattle residents. Award: $35,100  

Orquesta Northwest  

This project includes outreach to Latino families and enhanced learning for participants in weekly youth orchestra instructional sessions at Casa Latina. A loaner program provides iPads for use without charge by Latinx youth participants and their families, ages 12-20, as well as the necessary support in Spanish to use the iPads effectively, during instructional sessions and at home. Outreach to the broader Latino community will increase awareness of additional resources for technology training and internet access. Award: $34,800  

Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project

This project will provide new computers and software for the Vendor Center, a community hub for over 300 people with lived experiences of homelessness and poverty. The project includes installing and setting up a user-friendly computer lab and rolling out classes to support participants’ learning goals. Training, classes, and support empower participants (vendors of the Real Change newspaper) to learn new digital literacy life skills. Laptops will be available to meet vendors’ needs, encouraging a greater connection with friends or family. Classes offered will teach participants what to include in job applications, job searching, tracking expenses and income, accessing social services, how to use social media, and more. Award: $5,120  

Somali Family Safety Task Force

This project serves Somali families in their native language by delivering culturally informed digital literacy classes, distributing computers to participants, providing one-on-one assistance to clients needing navigational support and connecting community members to resources for free/reduced internet and digital devices. Award: $35,100  

Villa Comunitaria  

This project provides basic digital literacy classes to low-income and non-English-speaking Latinx community members. The curriculum for the course has been developed and refined with direct feedback from the community over the past 5 years and it will be taught in Spanish. Courses remove barriers to participation. Award: $35,100 

DIGITAL NAVIGATOR PROJECTS 

Beacon Hill Merchants Association doing business as Beacon Business Alliance


A workshop series will utilize established communication channels and coordinated outreach methods to invite SE Seattle communities to participate and learn. The workshops will be recorded and include live-streamed speaker presentations for ongoing use so they are accessible over time. The workshop series will include the Digital Navigator Train the Trainer certification program to open up opportunities to residents who are interested in increasing their own digital access levels and working in the community to help others. Award: $13,300 

Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle

This project will offer comprehensive technical support to Eritreans of all ages through dedicated staff, who will provide information and referrals to help community members access and utilize the internet and digital devices, assist with basic digital navigation and troubleshoot technology issues through both phone and one-to-one appointments at the Community Center in Seattle’s North Rainier neighborhood. The goal is to help East African residents have the technological capacity to access essential services, health and wellness opportunities, employment and financial benefits, academic resources, civic and cultural engagement opportunities, and social connections to decrease isolation, increase their sense of engagement, and help them meet their basic needs. Award: $35,100 

Horn Of Africa Services 

This project addresses the technology needs of Seattle’s Horn of Africa community by expanding an existing Digital Navigator program. The work will focus on implementing the following activities: Digital Navigator services, digital literacy training, devices and technical support, access to internet, and introducing and helping with an affordable connection program. Award: $35,100 

Kin On Health Care Center 

This project aims to provide linguistically appropriate information and technical support for low-income and non-English-speaking Asian seniors. By doing so, not only will they be able to stay informed and active at home, but they will also access benefits and resources they need online. The project provides free internet and digital connectivity, multi-language benefits and resource information, and one-to-one technical help to low-income Asian seniors. Award: $35,100 

Multimedia Resources and Training Institute 

This project will address digital adoption barriers experienced by community members disproportionately impacted by the digital divide: low-income BIPOC residents, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and other community members at high risk of exclusion to help them find and apply for affordable connectivity, obtain low-cost or free computing devices, complete online tasks, and connect to digital skills training and technical support. Linguistically/culturally appropriate Digital Navigators will provide one-to-one or small group assistance in person or via phone, email, text, or video chat to low-income residents living in Yesler Terrace, the Central District, South Seattle, Northgate and Lake City who speak Amharic, Somali, Tigrinya, Chinese, Vietnamese, Oromo, and English. Award: $35,100 

Sound Generations 

Digital Navigators at senior centers will provide services to hundreds of seniors. Digital Navigators empower seniors to confidently use technology and their digital devices, ensuring that they can connect to online resources, the online community, and the digital world. This project bridges the digital divide between older adults and younger adults, but also among older adults themselves—reaching BIPOC older adults and those with limited English language proficiency—with a focus on improving or building digital skills and bolstering confidence in these skills. Award: $35,100 

The Prison Scholar Fund 

This project is a partnership with the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Coding Dojo (CD), the Center for Ethical Leadership (CEL), and other local community organizations to launch the Sparking Reentry program to provide justice-involved community members an equal footing in the 21st century with access to technology, high-speed internet, and the skills to use it. Access to internet-connected devices and training in basic computer literacy and navigation will enable participants to use devices to reintegrate into society and acquire key skills for the digital age. Students who demonstrate an aptitude for computer coding are provided with a pathway to a coding boot camp. Award: $35,100 

Tigrean Community Association 

This project addresses the technology needs of Seattle residents, focusing on empowering senior citizens and Tigryian speakers who are refugees and immigrants. In partnership with Tegaru Professionals Network and the Tegaru Resource Group, the project provides digital literacy tools predominantly using Digital Learn, a free online platform. Through Tigray Digital Connect, the community will be empowered to navigate technology and bridge the digital divide in Seattle confidently. Award: $35,100 

The Friendship Circle of Washington 

This project provides group and one-to-one digital navigation training to young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, equipping them with the skills and confidence to perform essential life skills activities. Armed with these digital navigation skills, young people with disabilities are prepared to fully participate and succeed in the community. Programming includes money management and banking basics, internet safety, computer navigation, emails and resume writing, and job search and applications. Verizon Sponsorship: $25,000 

 

2022 Technology Matching Fund Projects

Seattle Jobs Initiative

Digital Bridge is a two-year-old program that offers multilingual training courses, including employment and education pathways, and no-cost laptops and/or hotspots with one-year unlimited access. The program also offers multilingual digital literacy skills training in both small groups and one-on-one instruction, in person and virtually, to no/low-income residents who are predominantly BIPOC, refugees and immigrants living in the Seattle area. Language-specific help desk hours occur outside class time to assist with assigned work and troubleshooting. By incorporating basic tech skills with employment skills and career navigation, Seattle Jobs Initiative is empowering participants to move into education pathways, training programs or full-time employment. 

Path with Art

Path with Art provides hardware and digital connectivity to no/low-income adults living in permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, tiny homes, or unsheltered. Path with Art is expanding the current program in several ways: deepening relationships with current providers with systems designed to equip and connect their new clients efficiently; adding technology to reach more users with Wi-Fi/hotspot-connected tablets and more. The program also includes digital literacy training and job/life skill building for 450 no/low-income adults. Grant funds will continue to support the program as well as purchase additional equipment to allow participants to build advanced skills useful in jobs and life.

Dress for Success Seattle

The program will be able to provide laptops, set-up, and one-on-one technical assistance with in-depth digital literacy skills training. The basic digital skills training will strengthen clients’ online learning capabilities such as helping them access remote programs and make the most of virtual interviews and hiring processes. Coupled with the agency’s one-on-one technical assistance, women will feel more comfortable and confident navigating the use of a computer for learning, job searching, or job performance.

Mini Mart City Park

Mini Mart City Park is designed to be a community-led cultural center whose doors are open for events, programs, and workshops - as well as public access throughout the day. Grant funds will be used to equip the center with an array of digital components including Wi-Fi, an equipment library for loans including laptops, tablets, speakers, and more, as well as hiring a digital equity coordinator who can ensure that community members have the support they need to use this equipment effectively. Community users include low-income residents, youth programs, and access for non-profit groups.

YWCA Seattle/King Snohomish

The YWCA will provide digital literacy instruction and coaching combined with a new “loan to own” laptop program to 70 limited-English-speaking residents, immigrants, refugees, and other BIPOC residents of White Center and the surrounding community. The YWCA will target residents who have not had access to technology resources and tools due to the “digital divide” and who need access to conduct successful job searches as well as other activities. The YWCA will use this grant to purchase and provide laptops and will supplement these devices with digital literacy instruction to enable all recipients to use the laptops, which they will ultimately keep once they accomplish digital literacy milestones.

PROVAIL

Award funds for the Technology for All project will greatly expand the utility of two established PROVAIL services, the Technology Lab and the Adaptive Technology Lending Library. The grant will help cover the costs of purchasing equipment and providing the related support and training to increase digital access and engagement for individuals with disabilities in our community.

Elizabeth Gregory Home

Grant funds will be used to purchase new computers for day center clients, as well as replace older equipment. Funding will also support staff with computer equipment, printers, Wi-Fi, and more, to better serve clients. Clients and staff use technology to connect to healthcare resources, jobs, housing, social security benefits, mental health and substance abuse referrals, legal advice, family and friends, to build resumes, and more.

Jewish Family Service of Seattle

Grants funds will be used to provide digital skills training and equipment including phones, laptops, Wi-Fi, and more to 50 refugees and immigrants in the City of Seattle over the course of a year. Jewish Family Service of Seattle’s goal is to ensure that our clients are equipped with the digital tools and skills that are necessary for successfully integrating into the community.

The Prison Scholar Fund

The Prison Scholar Fund (PSF), in partnership with the Filipino Community of Seattle (FCS), Coding Dojo (CD), and the Center for Ethical Leadership (CEL) will host a new program called the Information Highway Onramping (IHO) program. The goal is to provide justice-involved, BIPOC community members who are interested in becoming proficient in utilizing today’s technology with training in basic computer and email operations. The students that demonstrate an aptitude for computer coding are provided with a full scholarship pathway to a coding bootcamp in partnership with Coding Dojo. In partnership with CEL, PSF will also provide culturally relevant skills training, soft skills development, and conflict resolution strategies for formerly incarcerated adult learners.

Renaissance 21

The Technology Education and Employment Navigation (T.E.E.N.) Empowerment Project proposes to develop and launch an innovative, free workshop series in Fall 2022 that simultaneously develops digital literacy and job market literacy for underserved teens in South and West Seattle. Thirty youth from BIPOC and low-income communities will learn in-demand digital skills, get connected with digital equity resources and have a community of support. The project culminates with each participant producing a high-quality creative resume and applying for jobs, internships, or volunteer opportunities that align with their interests. Participants receive a tablet as a completion reward and are matched with a mentor to continue their digital journey. Partner locations receive workshop recordings and outreach materials for future use.

Ethnic Cultural Heritage Exchange

DIGITIZE Youth Programs provide an introductory understanding of coding, design, digital literacy concepts, self-expression through collaboration with peers, and project management for youth of color. These programs consist of remote and hybrid workshops and fellowships. The programs offer the next generation more opportunities to grow their digital literacy skills, pursue interests central to their identity, and harness their creativity as multimedia storytellers. This grant will provide staff with the necessary funds to consistently implement a strong and flexible digital access and digital literacy program to a broader range of students. 

Khmer Community of Seattle King County (KCSKC)

Khmer Community Connects will engage Khmer elders and youth in building a digital archive of Khmer histories and cultural practices that can be accessible to Khmer community members. The program will also support the purchase of computing devices to aid in accessing this information and for community members to utilize while participating in KCSKC programming. This will overall increase digital access and digital literacy within our low-income and refugee Khmer community by making technologies available, as well as culturally-appropriate digital information.

Helping Link/ Một Dấu Nối

Helping Link’s 2022-2023 Enhancing Equity with Education & Equipment project will support the Seattle/Puget Sound Vietnamese American community with a new technical curriculum and devices. Helping Link’s goal is to strengthen its digital literacy program to better support its limited-English students and expand its reach within the community. This support includes outreach, curriculum, and device access. Grant funding will also include new equipment and staff to coordinate the technology education program and revamp it into a strong, visually accessible, bilingual Vietnamese-English curriculum that can be used online or in person to support clients’ digital literacy at school, work, and in their neighborhoods.

SIFF

In partnership with Seattle non-profits LANGSTON and Red Eagle Soaring, Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is offering Crash Mobile, a series of free, immersive filmmaking workshops for BIPOC youth ages 8-13. Working with professional BIPOC film educators, students learn a wide range of digital media skills, including camerawork and how to use computers and software for film editing, sound design, and special effects, among others. During the workshops, students learn to create their own short films around culturally appropriate themes inspired by events and stories within their communities and leave with increased technical proficiency as well as creative filmmaking skills.

Multimedia Resources and Training Institute (MMRTI)

MMRTI’s existing Digital Navigators Project will continue addressing digital adoption barriers experienced by community members disproportionately impacted by the digital divide. This includes low-income BIPOC residents, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and other community members at high risk of exclusion to help them find and apply for affordable connectivity, obtain low-cost or free computing devices, complete online tasks, and connect to digital skills training and technical support. Linguistically and culturally appropriate Digital Navigators will provide one-on-one or small group assistance. The assistance will be provided in person or via phone, email, text, or video chat to 150 low-income residents living at Yesler Terrace or in the surrounding Central District neighborhood. Assistance will be provided to those who speak Amharic, Somali, Tigrinya, Chinese, Vietnamese, Oromo, and English. The Digital Navigators Project will focus on three main topics: 1) accessing and using devices and the internet, 2) assisting with basic digital navigation, and 3) troubleshooting technology issues.

Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle

The Eritrean Association’s Digital Navigator Project will offer comprehensive technical support to Eritreans of all ages. Dedicated staff will provide information and referrals to help community members. They will receive access to the internet and digital devices, assistance with basic digital navigation and help to troubleshoot technology issues through both phone or onsite appointments at the Eritrean Association’s North Rainier Community Center.   

The project will serve East African youth, adults, and seniors. Among those served, approximately 45% speak English as a second language and at least 75% are low-income. The primary languages spoken are Tigrigna, Kunama, and Amharic.  

The Eritrean Association’s goals are to help East African residents have the technological capacity to access essential services, health and wellness opportunities, employment and financial benefits, academic resources, civic and cultural engagement opportunities, and social connections to decrease isolation, increase their sense of engagement, and help them meet basic needs. 

Villa Comunitaria

Promotoras digitales de la comunidad, or Digital Navigators, will provide technical assistance and expertise for internet connectivity, devices, and the skills to use them in a holistic and culturally appropriate way. This will involve one-on one and small group culturally literate assistance in Spanish. It will serve people with limited access to services such as rental and food assistance, system navigation tools, unemployment, COVID-19-related information, job search and resume building, among other topics.  

This assistance will be provided primarily in person or by smartphone and video calls. Navigation will also be provided using email, text, chat, and other communication channels that work for the community.

Somali Community Services of Seattle (SCSS)

Digital Navigator services will focus on local Somali community members, many of whom lack financial and/or educational capacity to utilize digital technology. Somali Community Services of Seattle pledges to help all in need who request services. Program participants will be aided in getting online access and/or digital devices and building computer and online skills and troubleshooting. This help will allow more equitable participation in activities related to employment, community affairs, and education. It will also help with access to services and needed information to avoid unnecessary exposure to COVID-19.  

Kin On Health Care Center

Home Technology Service (HTC) is a senior-friendly technology program designed to enable Asian seniors aged 55+ to increase technology skills and improve access to digital resources. Partnering with 30+ community volunteers skilled in digital ability from the technology companies in the greater Seattle area, HTC will provide technology service and support  around the southeast Seattle area in its Seattle Community Center near Columbia City, the client’s home, or remotely. The service may include internet or device set-up, troubleshooting network or electronic equipment, one-on-one instruction in the use of technology equipment, and cyber fraud prevention tools in all digital devices. Asian seniors with limited English proficiency can get direct help in any digital difficulty they experience from an onsite digital navigator.  

 

2021 Technology Matching Fund Projects

Boys Girls Club of King County

Develop a Technology Station at Lowell Elementary School location serving 40 youth through age 12. Augmenting a donation of 15 Surface Go 2 devices by Microsoft, BGC will help youth devlope essential digital literacy skill enabling them to keep pace with their peers at school as well as with the advances occurring in the world around them. Award: $11,021.71

East African Community Services

The East African Digital Literacy program (EADL) designed to conduct in-person, small group digital literacy training sessions for 100 East African immigrant and refugee adults, ages 28-60. Student will receive 20 hours of training per month in 10, 10-person cohorts, in basic computer usage, social media and beginning and intermediate internet usage. Award: $25,000

Equity in Education Coalition

This project will integrate and train two AmeriCorps individuals to serve and offer digital navigation services in South Seattle, as well as develop a training curriculum for onboarding future AmeriCorps digital navigators. 400 multilingual, immigrant/refugee, low-income BIPOC communities in South Seattle will receive assistance through the EEC project.  Award: $25,000

Kin On Health Care Center

The Kin On SmartLab will feature a technology loan program and smart home device learning sessions for 120 older adults. The loan program will increase elders' access to new technology and online services, with tablets and hotspots that can be borrowed for three months at a time after attending training sessions. Award: $23,000

Literacy Source

This project will prepare the Learning Center in Lake City for a return to in-person classes and support infrastructure with digital literacy leads. With these updates, they will be able to host hybrid in-person and online learning sessions and the staffing will receive the skills needed to meet the digital skills needs of 500 adult and older adult students. Award: $20,140.45

Multimedia Resources Training Institute

MMRTI will provide online and in-person classes and workshops for 70 adults living at Yesler Terrace through the training and staffing of Digital Navigators, volunteers and technology professionals. They will help residents acquire computers and access to internet and assist them in navigating online services to secure additional supportive services. Award: $24,954

Path with Art

Path with Art will provide 30 wifi enabled tablets to 50 insecurely housed residents living in tiny home villages in partnership with Mary's Place, Low Income Housing Institute, Plymouth Housing and Camp Second Chance. Additionally, tablet recipients will have access to weekly technology literacy classes and 1:1 technical support and help. Award: $25,000

Renaissance 21

This project will provide Teen Learning Hubs in Seattle's underserved communities with 40 new laptops and virtual workshops in multiple languages to 80 teens in Seattle. Seattle's 8 Teen Learning Hubs have been opening COVID-compliant virtual learning spaces and this project will equip students with needed devices to increase their participation. Award: $24,957.50

Senior Center of West Seattle

Building Community Through Connections will provide access to technology for seniors at home as well as at the Senior Center of West Seattle. They will provide a 1-2 person Zoom Room on-site and tech support for individuals bringing their own devices. Additionally, they will host virtual classes via Zoom in real time to home-based older adults to improve their digital literacy skills. They anticipate supporting 300 seniors through this project. Award: $19,290

Simulated Immersive eXperimental Realities

The Future Founders Makers Fellowship is a paid 120-hour training, networking, and hands-on experience in product design, mentorship, and tech entrepreneurship. The 20-person inaugural cohort is open to all Seattle residents ages 16 to 24 years-old from historically underrepresented communities who have demonstrated interest in technology and targets Black and Latinx women, as well as recent immigrants. Award: $25,000

Somali Family Safety Task Force

This project provides tablets and hotspots to 20 East African immigrant and refugee women living in southeast and southwest Seattle. This funding will add two 10-week digital skills training sessions to COVID-19 delayed classes they are offering in winter and spring 2021. Additionally, they will hold three virtual workshops and trainings. Award: $25,000

Sound Generations

This project will equip 30 immigrant and refugee older adults in partnership with Sea Mar, Chinese Information Service Center and Horn of Africa Services with laptops, one-year of connectivity and provide workshops for services.  Sound Generations will hire a part-time Digital Equity Coordinator who will assist older adults in navigating their technology support needs.  Award: $21,900

The Vera Project

This two-part project will equip a Creative Equipment Lending Library for access by young artists to expand access and opportunities in inclusive creative industries with a special focus on at-home/DIY recording, production and live streaming. Their Digital Production Lab will support a cohort of 20 young people in a 6-month career-connected learning program of 20 classes and workshops. Award: $24,706

Wa Na Wari

This three-part project will develop a live-streaming lending library, establish an on-location studio and train and equip a paid cohort of 5 artists to gather oral histories from local BIPOC elders and community leaders in the Central Area. 80 older adults will benefit from this intergenerational project bringing together teens and adults to support their goals. Award: $23,160

Windz of Change Alliance

This project will equip indigenous individuals with technology tools and workshops to preserve their community relationship networks and prevent further loss of heritage protocol gathering practices and reduce isolation impacted by COVID-19. They will do this by creating a lending library, hosting workshops, and providing digital navigation support. Award: $25,000

Computing For All

This project will provide 12 students to develop professional and technical skills needed to earn industry certifications in HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Visual Design and UX/UI to design web pages and applications. This is in partnership with Bank of America and students work in real-world environments. Award:$24,500

Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association

This project will teach 45 Duwamish Valley youth animation skills, familiarizing adolescents with technology providing a pathway for technology or STEM related jobs. Students will produce 5 "how to" animations on obtaining adequate and affordable Wi-Fi, planning a public transportation trip on the web, using a quick response (QR) code on a smartphone, Zoom for beginners, and online job search. Award: $24,700

El Centro de la Raza

The Digital Literacy Lab bridges the digital divide in communities of color and promotes community learning through digital literacy skills training. Funding would enable El Centro de la Raza to upgrade their lab with the purchase of 25 new laptops. Approximately 250 low- to moderate-income Latino participants would use this training and these devices to guide work-related technology skills, secure a job, or continue post-secondary education. Award: $25,000

Filipino Community of Seattle

Through the Innovation Learning Center, FCS will provide culturally relevant skills training, access to devices, and technical support to over 200 members of the Rainier Valley community where they are located. They will provide 55 scholarships to cover the cost of STEAM classes and MakerSpace memberships, 10 desktop computers for their lab and cyber security workshops and train-the-trainer sessions.  Award: $25,000 

Organizacion Centro Americano

The project is a series of two-part workshops designed to teach digital literacy, internet, and social media skills to encourage technology adoption in the Central American community to support employability in today's labor industry. These workshops will be offered over a three-month period each and serve 40 Latinx adults.   Award: $25,000

Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project

Real Change will purchase and distribute phones for 100 program participants, referred to as vendors, over the calendar year. Through training, the program will increase the ability of Real Change's vendors to increase sales of the newspapers through social media and allow access to their cashless sales app (Venmo). This increases safety and reduces barriers to receiving up-to-date information necessary for their success.  Award: $15,000

Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation & Development Authority

This project will expand digital access for low-income housing communities in the Chinatown International District, including immigrant families, youth, and seniors. They will provide Wi-Fi internet, printing, scanning, and a shared computer workstation in common areas (lobbies, community rooms) of five residential buildings in the neighborhood managed by SCIDpda. Award: $17,000

Somali Community Services of Seattle

This project will provide 20 low-income Somali refugee families with laptops, digital skills training and 1:1 Tech Tutoring for parents. The training and supplementary tutoring will provide parents with the skills necessary for job search, assisting their K-12 children in accessing their classes and homework online, and doing common tasks online. Award: $24,800

The Breakfast Group

The Breakfast Group Project MISTER Online will partner with Seattle's public high schools to implement a mentorship program focused on improving the educational success of BIPOC males. BGPM mentors will host weekly afterschool digital classes with scholars in coding, computer security, data encryption, and digital communications. Award: $24,500

Totem Star

The Totem Star Mobile Studio will provide up to 120 youth and adult artists with digital audio workstations on loan to increase their capacity to produce, distribute and market their music from their homes. Totem Star will provide music technology fluency, audio engineering, career-connect learning, and music education. Award: $24,000 

Tribal Technology Training Organization

The Tribal Technology Training program will offer digital skills workshops centering on workforce development goals for natives and homeless clients most affected by digital inequities. The project will provide laptops, digital navigator support, and training tailored to the unique needs of native people, by other native people who understand their needs. Award: $25,000

Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle

This project will provide low-income communities of color with free digital skills computer training, online internet browsing, job search mapping and more at the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle Computer Learning Lab. Classes and workshops will be offered both in-person and virtually through loaner laptops and hotspots. Award: $25,000

Villa Comunitaria

Aula Digital en Accion will offer basic and intermediate digital literacy classes and workshops for the Latinx community and empower 25 non-English speaking residents, leading to increased results in obtaining employment, citizenship and accessing online information and resources. All classes and workshops will be held virtually, and funding will support laptop ownership and connectivity in conjunction with digital skills training and support.  Award: $25,000 

YMCA of Greater Seattle

The Y-Tech program is a partnership of the YMCA's Social Impact Center and Horn of Africa Services (HOAS) a robust training program for 40 youth with three components: (1) 12-hour job readiness training curriculum; (2) 88-hour group project working together to address a community cause and complete a digital media project around their service project; and (3) 60-hour paid work experience internship placement for participants in the program. Award: $25,000 

2020 Technology Matching Fund Projects

206 Zulu -- Coolout Academy Digital Literacy Program

Teach young people, particularly youth of color ages 13-17, the ins and outs of video and media production, from basics to technical aspects, from industry and professional development to hands on and in the field experience. Upgrade our video equipment to fully activate our space at Washington Hall, a historic venue and hub for many diverse communities. Award: $12,490

Boys & Girls Club of King County -- Bringing Technology to Northgate Boys & Girls Club

Purchase technology for the Northgate Boys & Girls Club and enable Club kids to acquire essential digital literacy skills and improve overall academic performance. This equipment would be used in the implementation of daily programming and enable them to become producers, as well as consumers, of technology. Award: $12,252

Empowering Youth and Families Outreach -- Computer Station Upgrade & Youth Laptop Provision

Purchase new computers so students in the Before and After School Program can use state-of-the-art technology for tutoring and coding lessons. College and Career Readiness students will use the computers to search for scholarships, career information, create resumes, write college essays, and submit applications. The computers will also be used in the Entrepreneurship training program.  Award: $25,000

Eritrean Association of Greater Seattle -- Digital Equity and Advancement Project 

This intergenerational project will build the capacity of the Eritrean Association to expand, update and improve the Community Center Computer Lab so that it is safe and fully functional. The project will provide computer training and access to Eritrean youth, adults and seniors. Award: $24,998

Filipino Community of Seattle -- FCS Innovation Learning Project

Expand digital access and literacy for low-income Rainier Valley residents with limited technical skills, including at-risk children/youth of color, immigrants/refugees and seniors. Teach critical thinking and team-building skills using state of the art technical equipment.  Award: $25,000

First Place -- The Diversity S.T.E.M Training Program

Provide a workforce development training boot camp for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) educators and youth leaders in order to build a community of educators that represent the new face of STEM. Award: $24,993

Garinagu HounGua -- Garifuna Technology Literacy

Teach digital literacy skills needed to compete in today's labor market to members of the Garifanu community. Provide workshops designed to teach digital literacy, including hardware and software, typing skills, Microsoft Office suite, accessing Internet, using email, and social media skills. Award: $25,000 

Literacy Source -- Basic Digital Literacy in North Seattle

Provide basic digital literacy classes to 350 low-income adults who lack the literacy and language skills needed to get a livable wage job. Provide digital skills capacity training to 110 trainers and equip up to 15 students with computers and internet access.   Award: $24,999

Low Income Housing Institute -- Sand Point Cottage Community (SPCC) 

Develop a computer lab in the community room and provide digital literacy training to residents in the Sand Point Cottage Community (SPCC), an innovative modular housing community that offers permanent housing for people who are homeless, but also employed. Award: $20,529

PROVAIL -- Adaptive Technology Lending Library 

 Expand the Adaptive Equipment Lending Library to provide children and youth, ages 5-26, with disabilities affordable access to the assistive technology they need to maximize their independence in their homes, schools, and community. Award: $25,000 

Seattle Goodwill Industries -- 2020 Technology Matching Fund 

Provide smartphone instruction for hundreds of low-income Seattle adults through Adult Basic Education (ABE) digital skills courses. Purchase smartphones for use in mobile device literacy instruction for students in newly revised ABE courses: Computer & Mobile Basics, ESOL Computer & Mobile Basics, Word & Google Docs, ESOL Word & Google Docs, Excel II, and Word II.  Award: $24,739

SIFF -- SIFF Education Mobile Youth Workshops

Provide immersive filmmaking experiences for African American youth, ages 9-12 and 13-18, to create narrative and documentary short films. Experienced teaching artists will guide students from script to screen three times over one workshop, with each session building in narrative complexity.  Award: $25,000

Somali Family Safety Task Force -- Somali Digital Access and Literacy

Provide basic computer literacy classes for East African immigrant and refugee women living in High Point, Delridge and Southwest Seattle to bridge the digital divide essential to earning a living wage. Participants will learn how to navigate online resources to become more engaged in their children's education and reduce isolation and stress as by learning how to digitally connect with friends and family overseas and at home in Seattle. Award: $25,000

Year Up Puget Sound

Provide professional and technical training to opportunity youth, individuals aged 18-24 who have obtained a high school diploma or GED but remain within the economic periphery, unable to find employment or progress past low-wage, low-security jobs. The project will blend relevant job skills, internships, college credits, and wraparound support.  Award: $25,000

Young Women Empowered -- Y-WE Code

Enable young women to develop college/career readiness through mentor-supported, project-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning using digital technology to explore coding and STEM careers. Empower young women to use technology tools for learning, career, financial success, self-expression and social change. Activities include learning how to develop apps, coding, studying robotics, technology workshops and panels with women STEM professionals. Award: $25,000 

2019 Technology Matching Fund Projects

Atlantic Street Center

Update the Family Resource Center's outdated technology lab in Rainer Beach. Add Chromebooks and Jetpacks for mobile use and internet access for clients at home. Award: $39,000

Computing For All 

Provide underserved youth ages 14-18 with computer science skills for entry level information technology job opportunities in web development, digital marketing and other high demand positions in the Seattle area. Award: $39,770

Dress for Success Seattle -- Empower Her Success

Help low-income women, especially women of color, to get and to succeed in web design and computer coding jobs, empowering them to break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families, and bringing more gender and racial balance to opportunities in the predominantly male technology sector. Award: $40,000

Full Life Care -- Device Integration into Assisted Living Project

Conduct workshops to teach low-income Seattle Housing Authority residents about smart speakers and other Internet of Things devices that can enhance daily living for people with disabilities. Award: $28,684

Indigenouz PlaceMakerz -- Interweaving Artistic Digital Literacy

Engage indigenous artists to interweave digital literacy with artistic practices to strengthen opportunity and career paths. Students will gain skills in using computer hardware, software, all associated peripherals, visual technology, and applied graphic artistry through a curriculum relevant to artistic career areas. Award: $25,000

Jack Straw Foundation -- Language and Technology for Underserved Youth

Youth with disabilities and English Language Learners will work with arts and technology professionals to gain hands-on experience and exposure to sound, multimedia, and other emerging technologies. Award: $20,429

Kin On Health Care Center -- Kin On Smart Lab: New Senior-Friendly Lunch and Learn

Expand the programming at the computer lab serving Asian seniors aged 55+. Provide monthly workshops, featuring "Life Made Easy With Tech", where students gather with a technology expert in a welcoming group setting over lunch and "Tele-health: Ask the Expert" that connects students with healthcare industry experts using a web-conferencing tool. Award: $40,000

Multimedia Resources and Training Institute -- Reviving Seattle Media Center for Immigrant Voices

Equip a new space in Yesler Terrace with media technology and furniture and provide training in digital storytelling, journalism, video production, and web design. Students will primarily be youth from East African families. Award: $40,000

Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project -- Real Access

Purchase equipment to set up a user-friendly computer lab for the Real Change Vendor Center. Provide technology classes to support participants' learning goals. These classes will include topics such as basic computer literacy, email basics, finding resources online, resume building, job searching, budgeting, and basic software lessons. Award: $5,000

Seattle Neighborhood Group -- 2019 Technology Matching Fund

Deliver computer skills training at Rainier Vista, a Seattle Housing Authority family community in the Rainier Valley. The Project will support a mobile computer lab, including laptops and a Wi-Fi hotspot, and provide classes in three languages to increase technology access, computer skills, and knowledge of job seeking and internet security for low-income residents. Award: $28,000  

Villa Communitaria -- Aula Digital en Accion - ADA 

Empower South Park non-English speaking residents to increase digital literacy skills to help them gain employment, access resources for immigration and citizenship in Spanish, navigate the Seattle Public Schools' online system (The Source), and to utilize other vital online services. Award: $38,000

Information Technology

Rob Lloyd, Chief Technology Officer
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 2700, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 94709, Seattle, WA, 98124-4709
Phone: (206) 684-0600
Phone Alt: Cable TV & Internet Discount Information: (206) 684-8498
SeattleIT@seattle.gov

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