Bridging the Gap: Duke Energy Powers Students With Laptops
Duke Energy has partnered with E2D (Eliminate the Digital Divide) to donate over 16,000 laptops to 10 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in North Carolina over three years. This initiative aims to close the digital divide and support students who arrive on campus without personal computers. On September 9, Duke Energy volunteers distributed laptops to 225 freshmen at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU).
E2D, a Charlotte-based nonprofit, refurbishes donated laptops in student-led technology labs and has distributed at least 48,000 computers since 2013. The program not only provides essential tools for academic success but also offers workforce opportunities for high school students who gain valuable STEM skills while refurbishing the laptops.
This effort aligns with Duke Energy Foundation's focus on economic mobility and STEM education, as well as Charlotte's Mayor's Racial Equity Initiative, which aims to address systemic inequities and bridge the digital divide.
Duke Energy ha collaborato con E2D (Eliminare il Divario Digitale) per donare oltre 16.000 laptop a 10 college e università storicamente nere (HBCU) nella Carolina del Nord nell'arco di tre anni. Questa iniziativa ha l'obiettivo di colmare il divario digitale e supportare gli studenti che arrivano nel campus senza computer personali. Il 9 settembre, i volontari di Duke Energy hanno distribuito laptop a 225 studenti del primo anno presso la Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU).
E2D, un'organizzazione non profit con sede a Charlotte, offre laptop ristrutturati in laboratori tecnologici guidati da studenti e ha distribuito almeno 48.000 computer dal 2013. Il programma non solo fornisce strumenti essenziali per il successo accademico, ma offre anche opportunità lavorative per gli studenti delle scuole superiori che acquisiscono preziose competenze STEM mentre ristrutturano i laptop.
Questo sforzo è in linea con l'attenzione della Duke Energy Foundation sulla mobilità economica e l'istruzione STEM, così come con l'Iniziativa per l'Equità Razziale del Sindaco di Charlotte, che mira ad affrontare le disuguaglianze sistemiche e a colmare il divario digitale.
Duke Energy se ha asociado con E2D (Eliminar la Brecha Digital) para donar más de 16,000 laptops a 10 universidades e instituciones históricamente negras (HBCUs) en Carolina del Norte durante tres años. Esta iniciativa tiene como objetivo cerrar la brecha digital y apoyar a los estudiantes que llegan al campus sin computadoras personales. El 9 de septiembre, voluntarios de Duke Energy distribuyeron laptops a 225 nuevos estudiantes en la Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU).
E2D, una organización sin fines de lucro con sede en Charlotte, repara laptops donadas en laboratorios de tecnología dirigidos por estudiantes y ha distribuido al menos 48,000 computadoras desde 2013. El programa no solo proporciona herramientas esenciales para el éxito académico, sino que también ofrece oportunidades laborales para los estudiantes de secundaria que adquieren valiosas habilidades STEM mientras rehabilitan las laptops.
Este esfuerzo está en línea con el enfoque de la Fundación Duke Energy en la movilidad económica y la educación STEM, así como con la Iniciativa de Equidad Racial del Alcalde de Charlotte, que busca abordar las inequidades sistémicas y cerrar la brecha digital.
Duke Energy는 E2D(디지털 격차 해소)와 협력하여 노스 카롤라이나에 있는 10개의 역사적으로 흑인 대학 및 대학교(HBCU)에 16,000대 이상의 노트북을 3년에 걸쳐 기부했습니다. 이 이니셔티브는 디지털 격차를 해소하고 개인 컴퓨터 없이 캠퍼스에 도착하는 학생들을 지원하는 것을 목표로 합니다. 9월 9일, Duke Energy 자원봉사자들은 Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU)의 225명의 신입생에게 노트북을 배부했습니다.
Charlotte에 본사를 둔 비영리 단체 E2D는 학생 주도 기술 실습실에서 기부된 노트북을 보수하고 있으며, 2013년 이후 최소 48,000대의 컴퓨터를 배부했습니다. 이 프로그램은 학업 성공을 위한 필수 도구를 제공할 뿐만 아니라 노트북을 수리하는 동안 소중한 STEM 기술을 얻는 고등학생들에게 직업 기회를 제공합니다.
이 노력은 Duke Energy Foundation의 경제적 이동성과 STEM 교육에 대한 초점과 Charlotte 시장의 인종 형평성 이니셔티브에 부합하며, 이는 체계적인 불평등을 해결하고 디지털 격차를 해소하는 것을 목표로 합니다.
Duke Energy a établi un partenariat avec E2D (Éliminer la Fracture Numérique) pour faire don de plus de 16 000 ordinateurs portables à 10 universités et collèges historiquement noirs (HBCU) en Caroline du Nord sur une période de trois ans. Cette initiative vise à réduire la fracture numérique et à soutenir les étudiants qui arrivent sur le campus sans ordinateurs personnels. Le 9 septembre, des bénévoles de Duke Energy ont distribué des ordinateurs portables à 225 étudiants de première année à la Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU).
E2D, une organisation à but non lucratif basée à Charlotte, remet à neuf des ordinateurs portables donnés dans des laboratoires technologiques dirigés par des étudiants et a distribué au moins 48 000 ordinateurs depuis 2013. Ce programme ne fournit pas seulement des outils essentiels pour la réussite académique, mais offre également des opportunités de travail pour les lycéens qui acquièrent des compétences STEM précieuses tout en rénovant les ordinateurs portables.
Cette initiative s'inscrit dans le cadre de l'engagement de la Duke Energy Foundation en faveur de la mobilité économique et de l'enseignement des STEM, ainsi que de l'Initiative pour l'Équité Raciale du Maire de Charlotte, qui vise à traiter des inégalités systémiques et à réduire la fracture numérique.
Duke Energy hat sich mit E2D (Die digitale Kluft beseitigen) zusammengetan, um über 16.000 Laptops an 10 historisch schwarze Colleges und Universitäten (HBCUs) in North Carolina über einen Zeitraum von drei Jahren zu spenden. Diese Initiative zielt darauf ab, die digitale Kluft zu schließen und Studenten zu unterstützen, die ohne persönliche Computer auf dem Campus ankommen. Am 9. September verteilten Freiwillige von Duke Energy Laptops an 225 Erstsemester an der Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU).
E2D, eine gemeinnützige Organisation mit Sitz in Charlotte, erneuert gespendete Laptops in von Studenten geleiteten Technologie-Labors und hat seit 2013 mindestens 48.000 Computer verteilt. Das Programm bietet nicht nur wichtige Werkzeuge für den akademischen Erfolg, sondern auch Arbeitsmöglichkeiten für Schüler, die beim Umbauen der Laptops wertvolle STEM-Fähigkeiten erwerben.
Dieses Engagement entspricht dem Fokus der Duke Energy Foundation auf wirtschaftliche Mobilität und STEM-Ausbildung sowie der Rassen-Gleichheitsinitiative des Bürgermeisters von Charlotte, die darauf abzielt, systematische Ungleichheiten zu beheben und die digitale Kluft zu überbrücken.
- Duke Energy pledged to donate over 16,000 laptops to 10 HBCUs in North Carolina
- Partnership with E2D aligns with Duke Energy's focus on economic mobility and STEM education
- Initiative provides workforce opportunities for high school students, equipping them with tech skills
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By donating used laptops to E2D, corporations can help close the opportunity gap between those who have computers and those who do not
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 2, 2024 / As a new school year kicks off, freshmen at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) are receiving more than just a warm welcome - they're getting a critical tool for their academic success. On Sept. 9, Duke Energy volunteers handed out laptops to 225 students who arrived on campus without one.
This initiative is part of a partnership with E2D, short for Eliminate the Digital Divide, a Charlotte, N.C., nonprofit that refurbishes donated laptops in student-led technology labs and distributes them to those in need. With help from Duke Energy and other corporate sponsors, E2D has distributed at least 48,000 computers since 2013.
The company's recent pledge of more than 16,000 laptops over three years will enable E2D to further close the opportunity gap between those who have computers and those who do not. These devices will be distributed to 10 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across North Carolina.
"With Duke Energy's commitment to donating laptops and volunteer hours, we'll be bridging the digital divide for a much larger swath of the state," said E2D President Pat Millen.
Closing the digital divide
College students without a laptop face significant disadvantages, including limited access to online resources and a lack of flexibility in their study environment. These issues can lead to increased stress and negatively impact their academic performance.
Receiving a laptop can have a profound and immediate impact on students without one, said John Oliver, Ph.D., project manager of JCSU's Charlotte's Inclusive Tech-Innovation Project (CITIP).
"The joy on students' faces when they receive their laptops speaks volumes about the difference this program is making," Oliver said. "Many express their shock and appreciation that someone they've never met is thoughtful enough to provide them with this vital resource."
Duke Energy's involvement with E2D began five years ago when Dominique Johnson, vice president of the Duke Energy Foundation, connected with Millen at a Charlotte event. She was immediately struck by the potential of E2D's mission, which aligns with the Foundation's long-standing focus on economic mobility and STEM education.
"College is hard even when you do have the resources," she said. "Some of these students were doing schoolwork on their phones."
Johnson found an ally in Duke Energy's Mark Cook, managing director of IT infrastructure, operations and CIOPS. As someone who started his IT career providing help desk (and desk-side) support, he understands the imperative of working technology. Cook and his team navigated internal processes to enable laptop donations to E2D, which paved the way for a commitment of more than 16,000 computers over three years.
Equipping students with the tools to succeed
The need for this initiative was underscored in 2023 when over a third of JCSU's students arrived on campus without a personal laptop. Within three weeks of learning about the situation, E2D identified the students in need and distributed laptops, ensuring that these students had the tools they required to succeed.
To assess whether JCSU's situation was unique, E2D hired a staff member to survey other HBCUs in the state. The findings were clear - almost every school faced similar challenges.
This realization spurred Duke Energy to broaden its support, integrating the program into its broader mission of promoting economic mobility, climate resilience, and opportunity and inclusion.
In 2021, the city of Charlotte, under Mayor Vi Lyles' leadership, launched the Mayor's Racial Equity Initiative - a
Beyond laptops, E2D also provides workforce opportunities by hiring young staff, many from Title I high schools, to refurbish the laptops, equipping them with tech skills and a paying job.
"These high schoolers are in the lab, learning valuable STEM skills that will be relevant across industries, all while earning more than minimum wage," Johnson noted.
Millen hopes Duke Energy's leadership in this space will inspire other corporations to follow suit.
"We're leveraging Duke Energy's example to encourage other companies to join this effort," he said. "Duke is setting a new standard for corporate responsibility in North Carolina."
Looking ahead, Millen is optimistic. "The goal is that everyone who needs a computer gets one. And that's not just wishful thinking - it's something we can achieve in the next five to 10 years. Every computer we provide could be the one that changes someone's life forever."
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